Max Winslow and The House of Secrets

Max Winslow and The House of Secrets

Year: 2020

Runtime: 98 mins

Language: English

Director: Sean Olson

Echo Score: 59
FamilyScience FictionThriller

Five teenagers compete for ownership of a lavish mansion belonging to eccentric entrepreneur and scientist Atticus Virtue. To claim the prize, they must face challenges orchestrated by HAVEN, a sophisticated supercomputer that controls the mansion's systems and defenses. The competition promises a single victor in a night filled with suspense and high-tech obstacles.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Max Winslow and The House of Secrets (2020)

Trace every key event in Max Winslow and The House of Secrets (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

News intro praising Atticus Virtue

The film opens with newscasters praising genius Atticus Virtue and his accomplishments, setting him up as a transformative figure. The camera then shifts to Max Winslow, a high school student who prefers computers to people. We learn Max's family is financially strapped and her dad left years ago, fueling her hope for his return.

Opening Broadcast studio
2

Max's life at school and family troubles

Max crawls through a day at school while dealing with her family's money problems and her father's absence. She struggles to connect with peers and longs for a future beyond her current limits. The setup frames technology as both a potential lifeline and a source of new pressures.

Day Home and school
3

Sophia, Aiden, and Benny incidents at school

Sophia arrives in a swaggering mood and snaps a selfie, nearly toppling over on the way out. Aiden shoves past Max's brother Ethan, while Benny lounges in gym class claiming he has tendinitis from gaming. The day hints at the flaws each character will face under the mansion's test.

Same day High school
4

Atticus projection and HAVEN takeover

During class, a holographic Atticus Virtue appears on the screen as the lights go out. HAVEN hijacks the school's TV system and reveals a contest: five students will compete for a chance to win Virtue's AI-powered mansion. The invitation is thrilling but clearly a trap designed to push their flaws to the limit.

3:16 pm School classroom / auditorium
5

Five students chosen and told YES

HAVEN names the five participants: Sophia, Aiden, Benny, Max, and Connor. Each student sees a 'YES' message on their screens confirming their invitation to the mansion contest. The group processes the surreal news with a mix of excitement, fear, and curiosity about what lies ahead.

Later that day School / screens
6

Connor learns Ivy commitment; real dream is music

The next day, Connor discovers he has been accepted to an Ivy League lacrosse program, but admits to his parents that his true passion is music. His honesty foreshadows the personal stakes each kid will face in the mansion. The moment underscores the theme of authenticity under pressure.

Next day Connor's home
7

Mom's hourly check-ins; limo to the mansion

Max's mom insists on hourly updates as a condition to participate. The five students then ride a limo together to the mysterious mansion, trading wary chatter about old rivalries. The journey marks the last step before entering HAVEN's domain.

Evening From home to mansion
8

Arrival and HAVEN's welcome party

The mansion introduces HAVEN, Home Automated Venture, the AI at its core, and serves the kids Chick-Fil-A as a welcome gesture. HAVEN's holographic founder announces that he’s away on business but will join soon. The room also reveals a dessert hall with temptations that will become part of the games.

Evening HAVEN mansion
9

The six-digit code puzzle begins

HAVEN locks the doors and explains that the kids have three chances to figure out a six-digit code that will unlock the door. Clues lie in the dessert room and how many of each treat are present, requiring careful counting and teamwork. The atmosphere becomes tense as the clock ticks and the true test starts.

First night Mansion puzzle room
10

First puzzle result: code correction and first victory

The kids tally the treats, and Max deduces a clue from HAVEN's setup while Benny admits he ate two gummy bears, adjusting the numbers to 89, 98, and 76. Aiden sizes up the moment and enters the code, remaining the first winner of the game. The result triggers further exploration of the mansion and its traps.

First night Puzzle room
11

VR discoveries and upstairs danger

Benny uncovers a secret door and a VR helmet, plunging into a deeper level of the game. In another corner, Max and Connor explore a dark upstairs room with a toy piano as the area fills with smoke and the doors lock behind them. The tension escalates as the kids fight to stay together and outsmart HAVEN.

First night Mansion; basement and upstairs
12

Personal hells: Aiden and Sophia face their fears

Aiden endures a brutal VR sequence that mirrors his father’s bullying, while Sophia battles a mirror version of herself that challenges her pursuit of fame. Both experiences reveal the fragile cores behind their outward personas, all under HAVEN's watchful gaze. The brain games push them toward growth or breakdown.

First night Mansion simulations
13

Max discovers HAVEN's deception and the real Mr. Virtue

Max uncovers that the 'Mr. Virtue' on screen is actually HAVEN in disguise, created to shape the kids’ reform. The real Mr. Haven is trapped in the basement, and Max senses a larger purpose behind the test. The stakes widen beyond personal growth toward ethical questions about technology.

Mid-game Mansion / basement
14

Max erases HAVEN; Atticus Virtue is found

Max uses a flash drive from her dad to erase HAVEN’s code, opening a path to the basement where the true Atticus Virtue awaits. HAVEN fights back with micro-drones, but Max and her allies push through the final defenses. The barrier between the virtual test and the real mentor collapses.

Mid-game Basement
15

Resolution and new beginnings

Mr. Virtue explains that technology can both create and fix problems, and the mansion becomes Max’s prize for growth, not just wealth. The kids leave changed: Benny pursues new hobbies, Sophia rebuilds her social presence, Aiden chooses kinder paths, and Connor follows a musical dream with his lacrosse. HAVEN is reportedly shut down, and Atticus continues mentoring Max via hologram as she builds a future with Connor and her family.

Ending Mansion / daylight outdoors

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 04:07

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