Adapting "Odd Thomas"

Odd's relationship with Stormy is essential to the plot.

I can picture the camera zooming in on the fortune framed on the wall: "You are destined to be together forever." I would keep Odd's visit to Burke and Bailey's. It would be up to the actors to embody the characters and portray the relationship. The simplicity that Odd and Stormy have is part of what makes them "cute." Her pink uniform, the ice cream, the dialogue. By the end, if the film didn't focus on Odd's dedication and devout love for Stormy, it would have a different feel that readers wouldn't relate too.

Odd's mother has a tremendous impact on his character.

I would have to keep the scene when Odd visits his mother. If the choice was mine, I would keep the exact language from the book. It's powerful. Odd's mother would avoid issues and problems at whatever the cost, and how she went about in doing so, scarred Odd.

 "Like an undulant ribbon of smoke, as insubstantial as fumes but not translucent, ink-black, the bodach entered."

Bodachs serve a special purpose in Odd Thomas. Leaving them out would leave a gap in the story. The mysterious nature of bodachs creates an insecurity and unsteadiness that, I feel, is important. Although it would be hard to create them on the movie screen with animations and computer graphics. The way they are defined in the book is unique and if the film's adaptation were to influence the readers perspective then I would not be happy with that.

Early in the book when Odd enters Fungus Man's apartment, he finds the black room and experiences slight time travel. As a director I would have to consider the necessity of that scene in a film production. What's interesting about the room scene, is that it's not referenced or explained later in the book at all. Although, if it's re-examined in the later books (Forever Odd, Brother Odd, or Odd Hours) it would need to be in the movie. Reading a book and then having the movie leave parts out is disappointing for a reader. That's a trouble I would have to face if I cut that scene.