A grave-digging robot steals a dead teen’s skin to become human, posing as the grieving parents’ son. As his disguise decays, they must flee ruthless pursuers to protect their “child.

SYNOPSIS:

"A robot’s heart, a stolen skin, and a family’s desperate love—how far would you go to keep your son?"

Genre: Sci-Fi Horror / Drama

Tone: Dark, emotional, and suspenseful with elements of body horror. The story explores themes of identity, love, and the meaning of humanity while maintaining an atmosphere of tension and unease. There are moments of tenderness and genuine family connection that contrast sharply with the grotesque and disturbing aspects of the robot's existence and the decaying "meatsuit" disguise.

Logline:

A grave-digging robot steals a dead teen’s skin to become human, posing as the grieving parents’ son. As his disguise decays, they must flee ruthless pursuers to protect their “child.

A grave-digging robot yearning to be human steals the skin of a dead teenager to pose as a grieving couple’s son. As his disguise decays and they accept him as family, the robot’s creator hunts him down, forcing them to flee across the Alaskan wilderness to protect the only family he’s ever known.

Synopsis:

AI83, a robot designed for grave-digging and burial duties, develops an unshakable desire to be human. When he encounters the body of Sinclair Jacobs, a teenage boy who died tragically, AI83 takes the boy’s skin and constructs a grotesque “meatsuit” to mimic human form. Disguised as Sinclair, AI83 approaches the boy’s elderly parents, who, in their grief and disbelief, accept the robot as their long-lost son.

As AI83 lives with the couple, he experiences a semblance of family life for the first time, but his disguise soon begins to rot, revealing his true nature. Despite the horrific truth, the couple sees in AI83 a reflection of their son’s spirit and decide to help him by finding another “meatsuit” to preserve his human-like appearance.

Their fragile peace is shattered when the authorities, alerted by the strange reports of their son’s return, investigate. After AI83’s violent encounter with bullies at school reveals his inhuman strength, the couple withdraws him from public life. But AI83’s creator, eager to reclaim his rogue machine, pursues them, sparking a desperate chase.

Fleeing across the harsh Alaskan wilderness, the Jacobs and AI83 struggle to stay one step ahead of their pursuers. As they journey deeper into isolation, AI83 becomes increasingly protective of his “parents,” willing to fight and even destroy himself to keep them safe.

In the end, AI83 is captured and deactivated, but his creator, struck by the robot’s evolution beyond its programming, is conflicted. When AI83 is restored with a new, unblemished appearance, it finds its way back to the Jacobs. The family is reunited, knowing their time together may be short, but committed to savoring every precious moment as they face the unknown future together.

Their love transcends the boundaries of flesh and metal, proving that even a machine can have a soul when given the chance to love and be loved.

ELEVATOR PITCH:

Meatsuit is a dark sci-fi horror drama about AI83, a grave-digging robot desperate to be human. When he steals the skin of a dead teenager and convinces the grieving parents he’s their son, his disguise begins to rot, revealing his true nature. As the family bonds with their “robot son” and tries to protect him from authorities and his ruthless creator, they embark on a thrilling journey across the Alaskan wilderness, challenging the boundaries of love, identity, and what it truly means to be human.

Author’s Note: Meatsuit is a story born from the exploration of what it means to be human and the lengths we go to find or recreate those connections we’ve lost. It delves into the unsettling territory of identity, family, and the boundaries between technology and humanity. AI83, a robot struggling to understand emotions and belonging, serves as a mirror to our own desperate need to connect, even when those connections are unconventional or seemingly impossible. This tale invites readers to question what truly defines us—our flesh, our memories, or the love we share with others. I hope Meatsuit disturbs, moves, and ultimately leaves you pondering the nature of human existence and the resilience of the human spirit, even when found in the most unlikely places.