Ghostland

Ghostland

Year: 2018

Runtime: 91 mins

Language: English

Director: Pascal Laugier

HorrorMysteryThrillerHorror

A grieving mother and her two daughters find themselves targeted by violent intruders shortly after inheriting a house from her aunt. Years later, the daughters return to the house, now adults, and unsettling events begin to unfold, forcing them to confront the lingering trauma of that terrifying night and the mysteries surrounding their family's past.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Ghostland 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!

Ghostland (2018) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Ghostland (2018), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Pauline Mylène Farmer takes her teenage daughters Beth and Vera to their recently deceased aunt Clarisse’s secluded home after they inherit it in her will. Beth reads an article about a string of home invasions where parents are murdered, but the children are spared. Unbeknownst to them, they are being stalked by a mysterious driver in a candy truck.

Shortly after they settle in, two intruders break in: a large, troubled man known as the Fat Man Rob Archer and a woman who drives the Candy Truck Kevin Power. Vera is raped by the Fat Man, while Beth tries to escape but is confronted by the Candy Truck Woman. When Beth asks what they want, the Candy Truck Woman answers, “We just wanna play with dolls.” Pauline reacts with swift, fatal force, killing both intruders.

Sixteen years pass. Beth becomes a successful horror author living in Chicago with her husband Adam Hurtig and her son Denis Cozzi. She appears on a talk show to promote Incident in a Ghostland, a novel inspired by that terrible night. Vera remains haunted, suffering delusions and living in a padded room in Clarisse’s house, where she still resides with Pauline. Beth starts having strange dreams, and Vera insists that their tormentors are still out there.

During a tense episode, Beth discovers Vera in chains, arranged to resemble a doll. Pauline calls an ambulance and warns Beth not to listen to Vera. Beth doses off, only to wake up in the hands of the Candy Truck Woman. She finds Vera badly injured in the basement, and the truth erupts: the Candy Truck Woman killed Pauline that night, and Beth and Vera have been reliving their teenage captivity in Clarisse’s house. Beth’s adult life, her career, and her marriage, appear to be a hallucination.

The Candy Truck Woman dresses Beth like a doll and leaves her in a room filled with other dolls while the Fat Man molests and tortures her. When he attacks Beth, she fights back and escapes, freeing Vera. They reach a road where two state troopers try to help, but the Candy Truck Woman shoots them and recaptures the sisters.

Beth retreats into her adulthood fantasy again, wandering a cocktail party where her idol, H.P. Lovecraft, praises her novel as a masterpiece. In the same moment, she sees Vera screaming for help and resolves to rescue her. Beth breaks free from the Fat Man and confronts the Candy Truck Woman in a climactic confrontation. A second state trooper arrives just in time to gun down both captors. As authorities arrive, Beth envisions her mother waving from the house, and she and Vera are taken to a hospital, finally bringing a fragile sense of relief after years of fear and confusion.

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 13:04

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about trauma and escapism like Ghostland

Characters who survive extreme trauma by retreating into protective fantasy worlds.If you were captivated by Ghostland's exploration of fantasy as a refuge from trauma, you'll find similar themes here. This collection features movies where characters use elaborate mental escapes to survive horrific events, resulting in psychologically complex and emotionally heavy stories with a dark tone.

psychologicaltraumaticdreamlikeunsettlingclaustrophobicdisturbinggripping

Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread often begin with a profound, tangible trauma that shatters a character's world. The plot then bifurcates, following both the grim reality of their suffering and the intricate, often beautiful or empowering, fantasy they construct to psychologically survive. The climax typically involves a painful confrontation where the two worlds collide.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped together because they share a unique focus on internal psychological survival as the primary response to external horror. They blend high-intensity violence with complex, dreamlike structures, creating a specific, unsettling mood where the mind itself becomes both the battleground and the sanctuary.

Intense home invasion horror movies like Ghostland

Stories where the safety of home is violently shattered by intruders.For viewers who found the violent intrusion and prolonged captivity in Ghostland so gripping, this list features similar movies. Discover other horror and thriller stories where characters fight for survival within the confined space of their own home against merciless attackers, often dealing with heavy themes of trauma.

anxiousoppressivegrippingunsettlingviolentclaustrophobicdisturbing

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern typically involves a sudden, brutal attack that disrupts a state of normalcy, followed by a prolonged struggle for survival within a confined space. The conflict is intensely personal and physical, pitting vulnerable inhabitants against ruthless invaders. The story often extends beyond the immediate event to explore the long-term trauma of the survivors.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a core premise that generates immediate, high-tension dread. They deliver a specific kind of visceral fear through their focus on confined settings, intimate violence, and the violation of personal safety. The mood is consistently anxious, oppressive, and unsettling, prioritizing raw survival over complex mystery.

Unlock the Full Story of Ghostland

Don't stop at just watching — explore Ghostland 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 Ghostland is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Ghostland Timeline

Track the full timeline of Ghostland with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Ghostland Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Ghostland

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

Characters, Settings & Themes in Ghostland

Ghostland Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Ghostland 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.

Ghostland Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Ghostland

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Ghostland: 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 Ghostland