Masked Men

**Masked Men** was released in February 2023.

## Synopsis

A group of three park rangers come across a secret society in the woods with a thirst for dominance, manipulation, and mind control so that they can take over the political, social, and economic power of Modoc County and build from there, something that is revealed over time throughout the film. It doesn't seem as if they are as large as they appear to the naked eye, but over time, the group gains in membership as the three park rangers, along with their coworkers, regularly convene with them night after night and become accustomed and even welcoming to their appearances in the forest; partly out of coercion, but also from earning high sums of money from the society every night. This threatens the livelihood of Modoc County residents nearby the Modoc National Forest who were opposed to joining the secret society, despite the opposition dropping day by day with more people joining. In spite of this, little economic or social impact is made; the Supreme fails to grasp control over any business with local business owners on high alert, remaining opposed to the cult, and they are strictly limited so long as they cannot kill anyone or take over any business by force under their code of beliefs

Another secret society that was not associated (but also a rival) with the main secret society murders one of the park rangers, Ranger Denny, to subdue the main secret society's influence. A watchlist was found that had Ranger Michael and Davis on it, but no other names. Ranger Michael and Davis, upon finding the watchlist and believing that the secret society they were affiliated with had broken their code, go on a year-long murder spree of at least twenty secret societies across Northeastern California, subduing the efforts of these secret societies and seemingly defeating their influence. However, Michael and Davis continued to seek for blood, not for mind control or dominance, and did so even among Modoc County residents who were not affiliated with the now dissolved main secret society.

Not long after, however, Michael and Davis were captured by the same secret society that had murdered Ranger Denny a year earlier. It is revealed that they had gone into hiding and had replaced some of its members, including their leader. It is revealed that this secret society seeks not to gain influence over Modoc County, but break its political and economic structure and enact revenge among its residents with social anarchy, terrorism, and (unlike the central secret society) murder, which ultimately helps them be more successful compared to them. Businesses and homes are blown up with gas and fire, all while additional fires are started across the countryside and around the nearby towns to ensure that as many roads were blocked from through traffic as possible. The film ends with the cult watching news coverage of Modoc County, which only seemed to report the terrorist acts as annual wildfires spreading across California. Everyone in the cult nods their heads in agreement, knowing that their deception was working as planned.

## Plot

Ranger(s) James Michael, Brent Davis, and Richard Denny investigate the Modoc National Forest for a call that was placed regarding the robbery of a parkgoer's purse near Campground Reservoir F. As they searched the area, they observed a masked figure running away into the nearby forest. The three park rangers pursued him after he refused to answer their questions and took off. After five minutes of running, they caught him and pinned him down within a forest clearing, where they were ambushed by nineteen other masked men, all of whom were armed with semi-automatic rifles.

It is revealed that the masked figure had staged this setup to lure the three park rangers into their trap. Beside them were three other colleagues of theirs; Ranger Blackwood, Coleman, and Brown. They are coerced into bringing Supervisor Daniels and all other park rangers to a future planned meeting near Campground Reservoir F the following night at midnight, along with being offered huge sums of money (and greater financial and economic power) if they do so, something that led many of the park rangers, some of whom living in poverty at the time, to comply with their demands (this is revealed when the film skips forward).

The film skips forward to the six rangers all laying out individual traps for Supervisor Daniels, along with all [\*9?\*] other park rangers in Modoc County to bring them to the meeting.

## Characters

* Ranger Michael
* Ranger Davis
* Ranger Denny
* Supervisor Daniels
* Ranger Blackwood
* Ranger Coleman
* Ranger Brown
* Farmer Johnson - originally skeptical, but ends up believing
* Farmer Mike Griswold - skeptical and adamant with regard to his self-defense
* Mayor Reynolds - a skeptical, conservative mayor in Modoc County, California, who refused to increase law enforcement strength in his city to protect its residents from the secret societies near Modoc National Forest

### Secret Societies

* The Rival Anarchists (rival secret society)
	+ Motive: To
* The Supreme (central secret society)
	+ Leader: Richard
	+ Methods: Mind control, manipulation, strength in numbers, oration, coercion,
	+ Motive: To gain in membership so they can take over the political and socioeconomic influence of Modoc County, along with the surrounding area, under their authoritarian, mind-controlling beliefs.

While they both share the same common goal in seeking control and dominance over Modoc County (and beyond), their methods of doing so are different. While **the Rival anarchists** seek to gain control and dominance by force through murder and terrorism against businesses, their owners, and the rest of the opposition, **the Supreme leaders** seek to mind control people through coercion and oration so that hopefully, with strength in numbers through mass membership with little opposition left in Modoc County, it may include enough business owners and local politicians to influence the economic and social structure of Modoc County and beyond.

## Trivia

Themes: Mind control, dominance, brainwashing, skepticism, deception, secret societies are everywhere (and others remain masked to it)

* This story is set in the late 1970s in Modoc County, California.
	+ It takes place mostly in Modoc National Forest, while also featuring the towns of Canby, Alturas, and Davis Creek, along with the fictional town of Bronco, California.
* This story is told through limited third person point of view, exclusively following the three park rangers throughout the story. However, Ranger Denny is not followed as much as Rangers Michael or Davis are.
* The rival secret society who murders Ranger Denny wears the similar black clothing that the central secret society wears, but with different insignia. It is revealed towards the end of the film that this was meant to deceive Ranger Michael and Denny so that they would fall into their trap.
* One prevalent pop culture reference in this film is the presence of /
* One could argue that the main secret society believes in authoritarian communism, given their general beliefs and motives, while their rival secret society belives in right-wing anarchy. However, the evidence to the latter argument is limited, based on what is seen in the film.

### Hidden Meanings

* Michael and Davis are beloved sons of God, yet they go on a murder spree later on in the film. Denny is a follower of the Dane's village who is murdered by a rival secret society. Daniels, derived from the scripture name Daniel, "God is my judge." Griswold is derived from gravel and woodland, two central elements of the film's setting.