American Gothic

American Gothic

Year: 1987

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: John Hough

HorrorHorror the undead and monster classicsGory gruesome and slasher horrorTerrifying haunted and supernatural horrorCreepy chilling and terrifying horror

Six friends on a weekend trip encounter engine trouble and are forced to land on a remote island. They seek refuge with Ma, Pa and their odd children, an eccentric backwoods family whose customs hint at something more sinister. What begins as simple hospitality quickly turns into a deadly game, as the guests vanish one by one and are found dead.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – American Gothic (1987)

Trace every key event in American Gothic (1987) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Cynthia's vacation plan goes awry

Cynthia, haunted by her baby's death, joins five friends on a vacation. They charter a plane in Seattle but engine trouble forces an emergency landing on a lonely Puget Sound island. They begin to set up camp and try to figure out their next move.

Puget Sound island
2

Survival begins on the island

With the plane grounded, the group establishes a camp on the island and starts to explore their surroundings. The isolation and eerie weather set a tense tone as they search for help. Tension rises as they realize they are far from civilization.

morning Puget Sound island
3

Ma and Pa introduce themselves

The group discovers a large cottage in the woods and is welcomed by an elderly couple known as Ma and Pa. They are invited to spend the night, fueling a sense of unease about their hospitality. The couple's strange child, Fanny, heightens the strangeness.

evening cottage in the woods
4

Strict rules imposed

During dinner, Ma and Pa lay down strict rules, such as no swearing and separating boys and girls to avoid premarital sex. The rules deepen the sense that the house hides darker norms. The friends reluctantly accept as night settles.

evening cottage
5

Rob’s death on the swing

The next morning, Rob goes for a walk and encounters Fanny’s brother Woody on a crude swing. Woody climbs to the top, chops the rope, and Rob plummets to a rocky cliff below. The group mourns the sudden loss and realizes the danger surrounding the family.

morning woods/cliff
6

Lynn and Cynthia sense danger

Lynn and Cynthia discuss how the family seems like freaks, and Fanny overhears. Cynthia consoles Fanny and reluctantly agrees to play games with her. The bond between the outsiders and the child grows in a disturbing way.

outside cottage
7

Fanny reveals her baby

Fanny shows Cynthia her baby, which is actually the remains of an infant, not a doll. The revelation confirms the family’s disturbing secrets. Cynthia’s trust in Ma and Pa starts to crumble.

cottage yard
8

Lynn is attacked by the siblings

Lynn encounters Woody, Teddy, and Fanny playing together and insults them. In retaliation, they attack her in the woods, and she is left unseen and presumably dead. The threat from the cottage intensifies.

woods
9

Jeff is murdered by Fanny and Ma's involvement

Cynthia confides in Jeff about the mummified infant. Fanny confronts them and kills Jeff with a sword, directly foreshadowing the family’s reach. Ma then finishes Jeff off with knitting needles, sealing his fate.

evening cottage
10

Cynthia escapes Ma’s attack

Cynthia confronts Ma about her fears, but Ma attacks; Cynthia flees into the woods. She discovers Lynn’s corpse and Terri, who is frightened and needs help. The group’s escape plan begins to form.

night cottage/woods
11

Terri and Cynthia seek escape with Fanny's help

Terri and Cynthia find themselves cornered and decide to force Fanny to help them off the island. Terri pulls a gun and holds Fanny at bay, demanding the group’s chance to leave. The plan relies on Pa revealing a boat.

night woods
12

The boat and Paul’s corpse

Ma and Pa direct the women toward a dinky fisherman's boat, where Paul’s corpse lies with an ax buried in his skull. They debate their next move as night approaches. Woody and Teddy begin to close in.

night shore/boat
13

Terri’s fate and the turn to murder

Terri is captured by Teddy and has her neck snapped in a brutal moment in the woods. Teddy also rapes Terri’s corpse, an act revealed later as the family’s depravity degrades further. Cynthia watches in horror as the night darkens.

night woods
14

Cynthia joins the family, then turns violent

Overcome by trauma, Cynthia begins to imitate the family’s madness, joining in a disturbing birthday celebration for Fanny. Flashbacks of her drowned baby intensify, driving her to murder.

night cottage
15

Cynthia’s final rampage and aftermath

Cynthia murders Fanny with a bludgeon, then kills Woody with a sword and Ma with knitting needles. Pa confronts her and is killed by a shotgun blast, leaving Cynthia alone in the house. The film ends with her upstairs, rocking Fanny’s cradle and singing a lullaby.

finale cottage

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:37

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American Gothic Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in American Gothic

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