Is Incident in a Ghostland Based on a True Story?
by A Maria
Updated Apr 26, 2023
Incident in Ghostland
Ghostland is a horror movie that was written and directed by Pascal Laugier in 2018. The film was showcased in a competition at the Festival International du film fantastique de Gérardmer, where it was the recipient of three awards, including the Grand Prize. Ghostland is a Canadian-French co-production. The majority of the movie was filmed in Canada.
Ghostland was first screened in competition on February 3, 2018, at the Festival International du Film fantastique de Gérardmer, where it was awarded the Grand Prize, Audience Award, and the SyFy Award. The SyFy award was decided by a panel of five bloggers at the festival. The movie had its theatrical release in France on March 14, 2018. The title of the film was released as Ghostland in some countries and Incident in a Ghostland in others.
Is Incident in a Ghostland Based on a True Story?
No, the movie "Incident in a Ghostland" is not based on a true story. It's a work of fiction written and directed by French filmmaker Pascal Laugier, known for his distinct and disturbing filmmaking style. The movie features unsettling and violent scenes set in a creepy and rundown house filled with dolls and ominous writing.
While Laugier's previous film "Martyrs" focused on brutality and violence, "Incident in a Ghostland" explores the psychological impact of trauma. The story follows two sisters and their different approaches to coping with the violence they experience. Laugier employs clever cinematic techniques to maintain a sense of mystery and ambiguity throughout the film, leaving viewers guessing about what actually happened.
The movie also acknowledges the horror genre and includes references to famous horror-fantasy authors. The theme of escapism through storytelling is also present in the film. However, Laugier's affinity for open endings and ambiguous storytelling means that viewers are left to interpret the ending for themselves. Overall, "Incident in a Ghostland" is a fictional story that uses real-world phenomena as inspiration for a truly unsettling and novel horror experience.
Incident in a Ghostland Cast
Crystal Reed
Elizabeth "Beth" Keller
Emilia Jones
Young Beth
Anastasia Phillips
Vera
Taylor Hickson
Young Vera
Mylène Farmer
Pauline
Kevin Power
Candy Truck Woman
Rob Archer
Fat Man
Paul Titley
H.P. Lovecraft
CAST
CHARACTER
Incident in a Ghostland Ending Explained
The conclusion of the film provides a much-needed break from the constant barrage of violent attacks suffered by the sisters. But does it really offer any respite? We have already witnessed Beth's descent into delusions, where she believes that they have escaped and are safe. Thus, the final scenes of the movie could easily be a figment of her imagination.
In this scenario, both sisters could still be trapped in the house, while Beth has once again retreated into her own mind. What's even more unsettling is that Vera, who is typically vocal, remains completely silent in the last scene that Beth sees her. This may imply that she has been killed by their attackers.
Beth's delusions are based on real-world events, so it is possible that she is seeing her sister's body and imagining that they are being rescued while still being trapped in the same room where the Candy Truck Woman strangled Vera. Therefore, the film intentionally leaves the audience to decide whether the girls are rescued or not.
Although it shows the sisters being saved, it also raises enough doubt to make us question what we are seeing. However, no matter what, we know for certain that Beth is still alive, as the hallucinations are happening in her mind. If what she sees is true, then Vera must be alive as well. But if it is just another delusion, then Vera is likely dead after being choked by the Candy Truck Woman. Either way, their mother Pauline is dead, as she is only seen alive in Beth's delusions.
The Incident in a Ghostland Plot
The movie starts with Beth, Vera, and their mother driving to their new home, which was inherited from their aunt Clarisse. Beth, an aspiring horror writer, reads her latest work to her mother while Vera expresses disgust in the backseat. Upon arriving at their new, creepy house filled with eerie antiques and disturbing dolls, a candy truck that they had seen earlier parks in front of the house.
The Fat Man and the Candy Truck Woman attack the family, resulting in a brutal fight, but the mother manages to kill the intruders and save her daughters. Sixteen years later, Beth is a successful writer but is still haunted by the attack and has nightmares about it. She receives a call from Vera, who is being attacked, and learns that her sister has had a mental breakdown and is living with their mother in the same house where the attack happened.
As Beth visits them, she realizes that they are still captives of the intruders and that their mother is dead. In a surreal turn of events, Vera is found floating in the air, brutally beaten by an unseen entity. Finally, Beth wakes up from her delusion and discovers that she and her sister are still trapped in the house. Vera confirms that their mother is dead, and the movie ends with a battered and bruised Beth.
About Incident in a Ghostland
SPECIFICATIONS
DETAILS
Directed by
Pascal Laugier
Written by
Pascal Laugier
Starring
Cinematography
Danny Nowak
Release dates
Running time
91 minutes
Countries
Language
English
Is Incident in a Ghostland Based on a True Story - FAQs
Ghostland is a horror movie about a mother and her two daughters who are attacked by intruders in their new home. The film then jumps forward 16 years, where one of the daughters, Beth, is a successful horror author who is plagued by nightmares of the attack. When her sister, Vera, calls her saying she is being attacked, Beth returns to the house and discovers that the horrors of that night have not ended.
Ghostland was written and directed by Pascal Laugier.
Ghostland was first screened in competition on February 3, 2018, at the Festival International du Film fantastique de Gérardmer. It was released theatrically in France on March 14, 2018.
Ghostland won three awards at the Festival International du Film fantastique de Gérardmer: the Grand Prize, Audience Award, and the SyFy Award. The SyFy Award was decided by a panel of five bloggers at the festival.
Ghostland was released as Ghostland in some countries and as Incident in a Ghostland in others.