Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Havenhurst (2017) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Havenhurst (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 80 min · English
Loading streaming availability…
Directed by
Andrew C. Erin

Jackie returns to Havenhurst, a mysterious and sprawling apartment building, hoping to escape her troubled past. While investigating the disappearance of a friend, she finds herself confronting unsettling secrets and her own inner demons. As she delves deeper, Jackie uncovers a disturbing web of deceit and escalating terror within the building's walls, forcing her to fight for survival.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (4)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Every angle
Loading streaming availability…

4 main characters · contains spoilers

Havenhurst Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Havenhurst (2017), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Jackie

    Jackie is a resilient and determined woman who finds herself drawn into the dark secrets of Havenhurst. Despite her struggles with sobriety, she shows immense courage in seeking the truth about her surroundings. Her journey reflects both vulnerability and strength as she faces the dangers lurking within the apartment complex.

    • 💪 Strong-willed
    • 🕵️‍♀️ Curious
    • 🍷 Struggling
  • Eleanor Mudgett

    Eleanor is the mysterious and imposing landlord of Havenhurst, who possesses a chilling aura that hints at her family's dark legacy. She exhibits a stern demeanor and is fiercely protective of her family's secrets. Her character embodies the complexities of loyalty and malevolence, making her a formidable antagonist.

    • 👩‍👧‍👦 Maternal
    • 🕵️‍♂️ Cunning
    • 😈 Sinister
  • Sarah

    Sarah is a troubled teenager who represents the victims of abusive environments. Her bond with Jackie provides both emotional support and motivation for survival. As she navigates her grim reality, her character arc highlights themes of friendship and resilience.

    • 👧 Vulnerable
    • 🤝 Supportive
    • 👊 Resilient
  • Detective Tim Crawford

    Tim is a detective who initially struggles to believe Jackie's claims about Havenhurst. His skepticism is challenged as the events unfold, showcasing his conflicted nature between duty and personal belief. Ultimately, he serves as a pivotal character in the pursuit of justice.

    • 👮‍♂️ Skeptical
    • 🕵️‍♂️ Determined
    • ⚖️ Justice-seeker

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:24

Was this helpful?

Setting

Where and When Does Havenhurst Take Place?

The setting of Havenhurst (2017): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

The story unfolds in a contemporary setting, reflecting the complexities of urban life and the hidden struggles of its residents. The current societal issues, such as abuse and addiction, are evident throughout the narrative. The characters' lives intertwine in an environment where danger lurks just beneath the surface.

Location

Havenhurst, New York City

Havenhurst is an ominous gothic apartment complex located in the heart of New York City. Known for its unsettling atmosphere and hidden secrets, it serves as a maze for residents, leading to chilling discoveries about its past. The dark corridors and eerie presence of its inhabitants contribute to the building's sinister reputation.

  • 🏢 Apartment Complex
  • 🌆 City

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:24

Was this helpful?

3 major themes

Havenhurst Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Havenhurst (2017) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Mystery

    The theme of mystery permeates the story as Jackie uncovers the dark past of Havenhurst and its tenants. The presence of a hidden killer and the quest to unveil the truth drive the narrative forward. Each character adds a layer to the multifaceted enigma, illustrating how past traumas linger in the shadows.

  • Survival

    Survival is a critical theme as Jackie and Sarah navigate the horrors of their reality, facing threats from their captors. Their determination to escape the malevolence of Havenhurst highlights the instinct to fight against overwhelming odds. This theme underscores the lengths individuals will go to protect themselves and those they care about.

  • Family Legacy

    The theme of family legacy emerges through the revelation that Eleanor and her sons are descendants of H.H. Holmes. Their inheritance of dark tendencies showcases how the past can shape identities and destinies. This chilling connection serves as a reminder of the impact of familial ties on the choices individuals make.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:24

Was this helpful?

Character & theme questions

Havenhurst Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Havenhurst (2017): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is Havenhurst located?

Havenhurst is located in New York City. It is depicted as an ominous gothic apartment complex in the heart of the city, known for its unsettling atmosphere and hidden secrets. The building's dark corridors and eerie presence contribute to its sinister reputation throughout the film.

  • havenhurst location
  • new york city
  • gothic apartment building
  • setting
Q2

What kind of building is Havenhurst?

Havenhurst is a sprawling gothic apartment complex that serves as the primary setting. It is described as a maze of dark corridors and unsettling spaces. The building has a chilling, ominous atmosphere that contributes to the horror elements, with its architecture and design reflecting a dark, sinister character.

  • apartment complex
  • gothic building
  • horror setting
  • havenhurst building
Q3

When does the story take place?

The story unfolds in a contemporary setting, reflecting modern urban life and current societal issues. While no specific year is mentioned, the film addresses present-day concerns such as abuse and addiction, placing it squarely in the modern era.

  • contemporary setting
  • modern era
  • time period
  • urban life
Q4

What is the mystery theme in Havenhurst about?

The mystery theme centers on Jackie uncovering the dark past of Havenhurst and its tenants. A hidden killer drives the narrative as Jackie investigates, with each character adding layers to the enigma. The theme illustrates how past traumas linger and how the truth behind the building's secrets gradually emerges.

  • mystery plot
  • hidden secrets
  • investigation
  • uncovering truth
Q5

How is survival explored in Havenhurst?

Survival is a critical theme as Jackie and Sarah face threats from dangerous individuals within Havenhurst. Their determination to escape the building's malevolence highlights the human instinct to fight against overwhelming odds. The theme explores how far people will go to protect themselves and those they care about.

  • survival
  • escape
  • threat
  • danger
  • resilience
Q6

What does the family legacy theme represent?

The family legacy theme emerges through the revelation that Eleanor and her sons are descendants of H.H. Holmes, America's first serial killer. Their inheritance of dark tendencies shows how the past shapes identities and destinies. This connection serves as a reminder of how familial ties can influence choices, even toward murderous behavior.

  • family legacy
  • h.h. holmes
  • inheritance
  • ancestor
  • dark family history
Q7

Who is Jackie in Havenhurst?

Jackie is the resilient protagonist who returns to Havenhurst seeking to escape her troubled past, specifically her struggles with sobriety. Despite her vulnerabilities, she shows immense courage as she investigates the disappearance of a friend and confronts the building's dark secrets. Her journey reflects both weakness and strength.

  • jackie protagonist
  • main character
  • sobriety
  • determination
Q8

Who is Eleanor Mudgett?

Eleanor Mudgett is the mysterious and imposing landlord of Havenhurst. She possesses a chilling aura and is fiercely protective of her family's dark legacy. Her stern demeanor masks complex loyalties, making her a formidable antagonist who embodies both loyalty to her family and malevolence.

  • eleanor mudgett
  • landlord
  • antagonist
  • family secrets
  • havenhurst owner
Q9

Who is Sarah in the story?

Sarah is a troubled teenager who represents victims of abusive environments. She forms a bond with Jackie that provides emotional support and motivation for survival. Her character arc highlights themes of friendship and resilience as she navigates her grim reality within Havenhurst.

  • sarah
  • teenage character
  • abuse victim
  • supporting character
Q10

What role does Detective Tim Crawford play?

Detective Tim Crawford is a law enforcement officer who initially struggles to believe Jackie's claims about Havenhurst. His skepticism is challenged as the investigation unfolds, showcasing his conflicted nature between professional duty and personal belief. He ultimately plays a pivotal role in the pursuit of justice.

  • detective tim crawford
  • police
  • investigator
  • skeptic
Q11

How is H.H. Holmes connected to Havenhurst?

The film reveals that Eleanor Mudgett and her sons are descendants of H.H. Holmes, the notorious 19th-century serial killer known as America's first serial killer. This family connection explains the building's dark history and suggests inherited murderous instincts that continue through the family line.

  • h.h. holmes
  • serial killer
  • descendents
  • america's first serial killer
  • family tree
Q12

What societal issues does Havenhurst explore?

Havenhurst addresses contemporary societal issues including abuse and addiction within urban environments. The film portrays how hidden dangers lurk beneath the surface of everyday urban life. These themes reflect the struggles of residents in the complex and the darkness that can exist in seemingly normal settings.

  • societal issues
  • addiction
  • abuse
  • urban struggles
  • hidden dangers

Movie threads

More Movies Like Havenhurst, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Havenhurst tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Claustrophobic building horror movies like Havenhurst

Sinister settings where the location itself is the primary antagonist. If you liked the oppressive atmosphere of Havenhurst, you'll appreciate these movies where the setting is a character. This thread collects similar thrillers and horror films about mysterious buildings with deadly secrets, perfect for fans of architectural horror and survival stories.

  • claustrophobic
  • sinister
  • oppressive
  • tense
  • dark
  • desperate
  • Tone: dark, sinister
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories typically follow an outsider or new resident who uncovers a building's horrific secret. The investigation is paired with escalating threats from the environment itself, creating a sense of inescapable dread. The climax often involves a final confrontation with the building's legacy or a desperate attempt to escape.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared focus on a terrifying, sentient-feeling location. They create a consistent mood of claustrophobia and paranoia, using the setting to generate suspense and embody the central threat, making the physical space as important as any human antagonist.

Bleak investigation thrillers similar to Havenhurst

Grim investigations where uncovering the truth leads to a hopeless outcome. For viewers who enjoyed the grim mystery and fatalistic ending of Havenhurst. This section features movies with similar narrative patterns: a personal quest that exposes a dark legacy, leading to a desperate fight for survival and a ultimately bleak conclusion.

  • dark
  • bleak
  • tense
  • desperate
  • sinister
  • oppressive
  • Tone: dark, bleak
  • Pacing: steady, unfolding
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a determined but vulnerable protagonist probing a mystery close to them. Each clue reveals a more disturbing and systematic evil, often implicating powerful, hidden forces. The journey is less about triumph and more about survival, frequently ending with the evil persisting or the protagonist being consumed by it.

Why they belong together: These films share a specific tonal and narrative DNA: a dark, methodical pace, a heavy emotional weight, and a conclusion that is unflinchingly bleak. They are united by the experience of a futile struggle against an overwhelming, often cyclical, malevolence.

Every angle

Havenhurst (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Havenhurst in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app