Ghost Story

Ghost Story

Year: 1981

Runtime: 110 mins

Language: English

Director: John Irvin

ThrillerDramaHorrorHorror the undead and monster classicsTerrifying haunted and supernatural horror

Four prosperous elderly gentlemen, members of the Chowder Society, guard a grisly secret that has been buried for fifty years. When one of Edward Wanderley’s twin sons is killed in a bizarre accident, the men begin to notice a chilling series of events unfolding, suggesting the past is resurfacing.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Ghost Story (1981)

Trace every key event in Ghost Story (1981) 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

Chowder Society forms in Milburn

In the frigid winter of 1979, four elderly men in Milburn—Ricky Hawthorne, Sears James, John Jaffrey, and Edward Wanderley—form the Chowder Society to share tales of horror. They meet weekly as the small New England town settles into snow and silence. The club becomes a sanctuary for enduring friendships and the darkest stories that threaten to come true.

Winter 1979 Milburn, New England
2

David Hawthorne dies after a ghostly sight

David Hawthorne, Edward's son, dies in New York City after a woman he's been sleeping with suddenly turns into a living corpse. He falls from his apartment window, leaving his family and friends to grapple with a mystery stretched across generations. The tragedy plants the seeds of a haunting that will reach back to Milburn.

Early 1979 New York City
3

Edward witnesses David's apparition and dies

On a snowy night, Edward sees David's spectral figure wandering Milburn and chases him to a bridge. He confronts the apparition and then collapses, dying after crying out to his dead son and glimpsing a female form. The town begins to whisper of unfinished business from beyond.

Night (shortly after David's death) Bridge near Milburn
4

Escapees move into Eva Galli house

Two escaped asylum patients, Gregory and Fenny Bate, settle into the derelict Eva Galli house as rumors swirl about its cursed past. The ruined home becomes a focal point for the living and the dead, tying present fears to old sins. Their presence hints that Eva's story may not be finished.

After Edward's death Eva Galli house
5

Don tells a ghost story to join Chowder Society

Don, doubting that his father committed suicide, shares a ghost story with the Chowder Society to gain membership. The tale signals his willingness to confront the past and to seek the truth among friends. The mood shifts from lighthearted storytelling to a wary, ominous investigation.

Shortly after David's funeral Chowder Society, Milburn
6

1929 flashback: Eva Galli captivates four friends

Spring 1929, Eva Galli becomes the irresistible focus of Edward Wanderley and the other Chowder Society men. Edward takes Eva to bed, while Sears, Ricky, and John flirt with her from the shadows, inching toward a shared temptation. Eva hints at a secret that could unravel their bond, setting the stage for a deadly reckoning.

Spring 1929 Eva Galli house
7

Eva's murder and car pushed into pond

Eva reveals the truth about her dalliance with Edward, and Edward silences her in a fit of panic. The men load Eva's body into her car and push it into a nearby pond, believing they have disposed of a corpse. Inside the sinking car, Eva stirs and screams, suggesting a fate far darker than death.

Spring 1929 Near Eva Galli house / pond
8

Present day: John dies after Alma nightmare

Back in the present, John Jaffrey experiences a nightmare about Alma and dies of a heart attack the next day. The death shocks the group and intensifies their fear that Alma may be back from beyond. The town's legend begins to feel dangerously personal.

Next day after flashback Milburn
9

Sears and Ricky reveal the 1929 truth to Don

Present-day Sears and Ricky reveal the full 1929 backstory to Don, explaining how Eva Galli's supposed death concealed a pact among the four friends. They connect Alma to Eva and warn that vengeance has crossed generations. Don absorbs the truth with growing dread.

Present day Chowder Society, Milburn
10

Confrontation planned against Eva's ghost

Don proposes confronting Eva's ghost and dragging the truth into the open. The trio travels to Eva's old house, where the air grows thick with memory and menace. A sense of inevitability settles over them as they prepare to face the past.

Present day, night Eva's old house
11

Confrontation at Eva's house; Sears killed

Inside, Don faces the rotting Alma/Eva as Sears drives off to fetch help. On the road, Sears encounters Eva's accomplice Fenny Bate and is killed, leaving Don and Ricky to confront the haunting alone. The house's specter tightens its grip on the living.

Night Eva's old house and nearby road
12

Ricky escapes after meeting Gregory Bate

Ricky is picked up by Gregory Bate, who reveals Eva's plans for them. Ricky stabs Gregory and escapes to warn authorities, carrying chilling details of the revenant's vendetta. The pursuit of truth continues into the icy night.

Night Snow-covered road
13

Car retrieved from the lake; Eva's body revealed

Authorities pull Eva's car from the lake and uncover the rotting body inside, confirming the long-hidden truth. The town shifts from fear to closure as the haunting is exposed. Don and the others are finally freed from the specter’s grip.

Present day Lake near Milburn

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:50

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Ghost Story Summary

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Ghost Story Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Ghost Story

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Ghost Story

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