Campfire Tales

Campfire Tales

Year: 1997

Runtime: 88 mins

Language: English

Director: Martin Kunert

HorrorHorror the undead and monster classicsTerrifying haunted and supernatural horrorGory gruesome and slasher horrorTwisted dark psychological thriller

Deep in the woods, no one can hear you scream. Anthology of famous, scary urban legends done with a modern twist.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Campfire Tales yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Campfire Tales (1997)

Trace every key event in Campfire Tales (1997) 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

Jenny and Eddie share a nervous kiss at a viewpoint

In the 1950s, Jenny and Eddie kiss at a roadside viewpoint as a radio broadcast warns of a madman on the loose. Jenny grows anxious, fearing they are being watched, and urges Eddie to drive back toward town. They leave the viewpoint, unsettled by the creeping sense of danger around them.

1950s Viewpoint, car
2

A hook is discovered on the car door

The couple reaches a drive-in after returning to town, and Eddie goes to the window to order a milkshake. Jenny remains on edge, glancing around for signs of a watcher. When Eddie returns, he notices a hook hanging from the car's passenger door, signaling a chilling threat still near them.

1950s Drive-in car
3

Cliff crashes the car with friends after a concert

In the present day, Cliff, his girlfriend Lauren, her brother Eric, and friend Alex are driving home from a concert when Cliff, drunk and erratic at the wheel, crashes the car in the woods. They light flares to see in the darkness and discover an abandoned church foundation nearby, which they use as a makeshift campfire site.

Present day Woods, after a concert
4

The group tells campfire tales to pass the night

To pass the time after the crash, the group begins telling a series of campfire stories. Each tale unfolds with danger and supernatural hints, weaving fear into the survivors' nerves. The campfire becomes a grim ritual as the night wears on.

Present day Abandoned church site, by the campfire
5

First tale: Rick and Valerie reach caverns and are warned

The first story follows Rick and Valerie on their Nevada honeymoon, detouring to visit caverns and parking the RV in a rural area. A local man warns them not to stay, but they decide to park a little farther away anyway. An unseen creature begins to watch them from the shadows, increasing the sense of looming danger.

Past Nevada countryside near caverns
6

Rick leaves to find fuel and is attacked

Rick leaves the RV to walk to a nearby gas station and discovers the local man's body along the way. He is attacked by the unseen creature, choking him and damaging his vocal cords. The encounter marks the moment the couple's night spirals into a brutal nightmare.

Past Between RV and gas station
7

Valerie is attacked and Rick's fate is sealed

Valerie is attacked through the sunroof while Rick is unable to reach her in time. She peppers sprays the creature and triggers a panic alarm before passing out. When a police officer arrives, she wakes to the horrifying sight of Rick's eviscerated corpse hanging from a tree, his wedding ring scraping the roof.

Past RV in rural area
8

Amanda's online chat with a predator

The second story follows Amanda, an 11-year-old, as she chats online with Jessica, a predator posing as a peer. With her parents away and her sister Katherine out with her boyfriend, Amanda grows anxious as darkness falls and unsettling things occur. She later discovers the family dog dead under Amanda's bed and finds the window open, while a disturbing message lingers in the mirror.

Past Amanda's home
9

Scott's encounter with Heather and the haunting

Scott rides his motorcycle and seeks shelter at a rural farmhouse during a rainstorm. Inside, he meets Heather, a mute woman who communicates by writing on a chalkboard. The father arrives and reveals violence, throwing a severed head into the well; Scott and Heather flee, eventually riding away together, and in the morning, Scott discovers Heather's neck wound as her head falls into his lap.

Past Rural farmhouse and road
10

The stories intersect with Cliff's fate

After the final tale ends, Cliff heads back to the road and finds the police at the site of the car crash. Lauren, Eric, and Alex vanish along with their campfire, and the night grows eerily quiet as the legends seem to bleed into reality.

Present Roadside near the crash site
11

The paramedics and the twist of identity

Paramedics attempt to revive Cliff, but the scene reveals a surreal crossover: the rescuers include Rick and Valerie from the first story, Scott from the third, and the mother from Amanda's tale. The bizarre convergence blurs fiction with reality, and Cliff dies amidst the uncanny revival attempts.

Present Crash site
12

A new arrival with a hook

As the cleanup unfolds, a car approaches the crash site and a hook extends from the driver's window, echoing the earlier nightmare. The final image suggests the cycle of horror continues, with the hook serving as a chilling reminder that the stories may never truly end.

Present Crash site

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:05

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Unlock the Full Story of Campfire Tales

Don't stop at just watching — explore Campfire Tales in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Campfire Tales is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Campfire Tales Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Campfire Tales, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Campfire Tales Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Campfire Tales

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Campfire Tales. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Campfire Tales

Campfire Tales Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Campfire Tales that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Campfire Tales Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Campfire Tales

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Campfire Tales: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Campfire Tales

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