Ghosts of War

Ghosts of War

Year: 2020

Runtime: 94 min

Language: English

Director: Eric Bress

Echo Score: 52
ThrillerHorrorWar

During World War II, a group of exhausted American soldiers are billeted in a secluded and imposing chateau in France. As they attempt to recover from the brutal fighting, they find themselves increasingly disturbed by strange and unsettling events. The men suspect the chateau is haunted by unseen forces, and they must face not only the external threats but also the psychological toll of war and the internal demons they carry.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Ghosts of War (2020)

Trace every key event in Ghosts of War (2020) 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

Ambush en route to the chateau

As Allied forces drive through France in 1944, the five soldiers ambush a German unit operating a captured American jeep, leaving no survivors. They press on toward the chateau to take up guard duty and continue their mission.

1944 French countryside, en route to the chateau
2

Guard duty begins at the chateau

The unit takes over security at the chateau after the previous guards evacuate in a hurry. The quiet building and its surroundings hint at dangers beyond ordinary combat.

1944 Chateau, France
3

Refugees arrive and are sheltered

A group of Jewish refugees appears as the soldiers secure the chateau. The refugees are sheltered, and the guard unit is tasked with protecting them amid a war-scarred landscape.

1944 Outside the chateau
4

Morse code in the fireplace

Chris notices a repetitive banging from the fireplace that resembles Morse code. Eugene translates the sound and reveals a chilling message, hinting at a past that haunts the chateau.

1944, night Chateau fireplace
5

The Helwigs' diary and past brutality

Eugene discovers a journal that recounts how the Helwigs sheltered Jews and were murdered by the Germans. The father is burned, the daughter hanged, and the son drowns, exposing the brutal history tied to the house.

1944 Chateau
6

Another warning Morse message

A second Morse message appears, warning that if they leave the chateau they will die. The sense of a curse hangs heavier as the men debate whether to stay or go.

1944 Chateau
7

Night attack and Butchie's sacrifice

A German patrol attacks at night, and Butchie sacrifices himself by diving on a grenade. The others witness some of the Germans being killed by unseen forces in a manner that echoes the Helwigs' deaths.

Night, 1944 Near the chateau
8

The haunting intensifies; decision to bury

Feeling cursed, the survivors attempt to leave but experience the same events again on the way back. They decide the only way to end the haunting is to bury the Helwigs' bodies.

1944 Chateau grounds
9

The outhouse revelation

An invisible force drags Chris toward an outhouse where the Helwigs' remains are revealed. The burial closes a chapter, but a deeper dread hints that the past is not done with them.

1944 Outhouse near the chateau
10

The Arabic journal and Afghan twist

After the burial, the journal's text changes from German to Arabic, revealing the Helwigs were Afghan. The revelation reframes the haunting as a distortion of history and identity.

1944 Chateau
11

Spirit attack and near-drowning

The soldiers are assaulted by spirits; one tries to drown Chris. The haunting's power blurs the line between reality and illusion, forcing the men to confront what they have become.

1944 Near the chateau
12

The simulated reality exposed

In a hospital, doctors reveal the events were a simulated reality designed to treat PTSD. They explain that the soldiers are actually present-day operators whose mission occurred in Afghanistan.

Post-awakening Medical facility
13

The Afghanistan mission and the curse's setup

The memory centers on evacuating the Helwigs in Afghanistan, where the family is slaughtered by ISIS and the mother detonates a suicide bomb. The dying mother utters the ancient curse Vetrulek, ensuring the survivors are doomed to relive their trauma.

Present-day Afghanistan mission memory Afghanistan
14

Memory deletion, countdown, and reset

Power fluctuations threaten the hospital systems as memory is deleted and a countdown to reconnection begins. The staff races to keep the link intact while Chris fights to preserve his memories.

Countdown to reconnection Medical facility
15

The awakening back to the bivouac

The countdown reaches zero and Chris awakens back at the night bivouac with his comrades, a shadowy figure watching from the darkness. The twist leaves him questioning what is real and whether the cycle has ended.

Ending twist Night bivouac

Last Updated: January 08, 2026 at 12:00

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Ghosts of War Summary

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Ghosts of War Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Ghosts of War

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Ghosts of War

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Ghosts of War Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Ghosts of War

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