Star Leaf

Star Leaf

Year: 2015

Runtime: 77 mins

Language: English

ThrillerHorror

While hiking in the wilderness, a group discovers a hidden grove containing marijuana with extraordinary properties. They soon find themselves in a dangerous struggle for survival after disturbing the powerful, otherworldly beings that guard the unique plants and the secrets of the grove.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Star Leaf 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!

Timeline & Setting – Star Leaf (2015)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Star Leaf (2015). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Hindu Kush, Afghanistan; La Push, Washington; Olympic Mountains, Washington; Garden of Weeden

The story unfolds first in the Hindu Kush mountains of Afghanistan, where two Marines carry out a dangerous mission. A year later, the road trip heads toward La Push, Washington, letting coastal winds and forested landscapes shape the characters’ mood. They encounter a biker's house and the fabled Garden of Weeden among the Olympic Mountains, a surreal setting that drives the film's mysticism. The journey ends on a windswept beach, signaling renewal and healing.

🗺️ Afghanistan 🗺️ Pacific Northwest 🌲 Wilderness

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:17

Main Characters – Star Leaf (2015)

Meet the key characters of Star Leaf (2015), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

James Hunter (Julian Gavilanes)

A Marine sniper haunted by the accidental death of a child in Afghanistan, James is consumed by guilt and PTSD. He carries a heavy burden yet remains capable of leadership and quiet courage. His arc centers on confronting his memories and seeking redemption through an honesty with himself and the group.

❄️ PTSD 🎯 Sniper 🧠 Trauma 🕊️ Redemption

Tim Weaver (Tyler Trerise)

Tim is James’s close comrade whose own wounds surface after the mission. He supports James but wrestles with the temptation of Star Leaf and the consequences of stealing clippings. Through adversity, his bond with the others deepens and he learns to let go of guilt.

🫂 Friendship 🪖 War Veteran 🌱 Curiosity

Martha (Shelby Truax)

Tim’s girlfriend who joins the road trip with a hopeful spirit. She pushes for healing and offers grounding, even as she defies the grove’s rules by using her phone. Her presence helps anchor the group emotionally and provides a human counterpoint to their trauma.

❤️ Love 🧭 Grounding 📵 Willingness to face risk

Ranger Dave (Richard Cranor)

A forest ranger who becomes a mythic guide, offering an oral history of the Star Leaf. His appearances add an enigmatic, spiritual layer to the story and help steer the group toward reconciliation. He embodies weathered wisdom and a belief in second chances.

🗺️ Guide 🕯️ Mythology 🧭 Wisdom

Seth Guardrail Slaughter (Russell Hodgkinson)

A mysterious biker who runs a house and provides the map to the grove. He acts as a catalyst for the journey, presenting a sense of danger and wonder. Though enigmatic, his presence sets the group on a path toward confronting their pasts.

🗺️ Mapmaker 🗝️ Enigma 🏍️ Catalyst

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:17

Major Themes – Star Leaf (2015)

Explore the central themes of Star Leaf (2015), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🌿 Healing

The Star Leaf voyage becomes a vehicle for mending deep war-induced wounds. Shared vulnerability, trust, and ritual moments in nature push the group toward reconciliation. The film suggests that healing emerges through facing trauma, accepting forgiveness, and returning to a place of connection.

🕊️ Redemption

James’s act of returning the Star Leaf is presented as a sacrament of redemption, offering him a chance to lay down guilt. The journey reframes violence as a catalyst for growth rather than a final verdict. Relationships are repaired as each character confronts their own failures and seeks forgiveness.

👁️ Reality vs Illusion

The grove’s visions, UFO sighting, and Afghan voices blur the line between memory and myth. The group must decide what is real and what is a product of the plant’s effects. In this tension, faith and doubt coexist, guiding the path toward acceptance and clarity.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:17

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.

Psychedelic survival horror movies like Star Leaf

Characters discover a psychedelic secret that triggers a desperate fight for survival.If you liked the intense, otherworldly struggle in Star Leaf, explore more movies where characters face terrifying threats after a mind-altering discovery. These films combine psychedelic dread with survival horror, perfect for fans of tense sci-fi thrillers with supernatural forces.

psychedelicparanoidsupernaturalfearfulanxiousotherworldly

Narrative Summary

Stories typically begin with a discovery that alters perception or reality, quickly escalating from awe to paranoia and a desperate fight for survival against often invisible or incomprehensible enemies. The journey is defined by a loss of control and a struggle to distinguish reality from hallucination.

Why These Movies?

They are grouped by their shared core of using a psychedelic or supernatural catalyst to plunge characters into a high-stakes survival scenario, blending intense psychological tension with physical danger and otherworldly visuals.

Movies about trauma and redemption like Star Leaf

Traumatized characters confront their past through a harrowing supernatural journey.For viewers who appreciated Star Leaf's heavy emotional core and redemptive arc, this collection features stories where characters grapple with PTSD and guilt through a supernatural lens. Find similar emotionally heavy thrillers about finding hope after trauma.

redemptivemelancholicheavypsychologicaltraumaticcathartic

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows emotionally wounded protagonists who are pulled into a dangerous situation that mirrors their internal struggles. The physical and psychological battle against external forces forces them to face their past, ultimately offering a path toward catharsis and a hopeful resolution.

Why These Movies?

These films share a powerful combination of heavy themes like PTSD and guilt with a supernatural plot, using horror and tension not just for scares but as a mechanism for profound character redemption and emotional release.

Unlock the Full Story of Star Leaf

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

Star Leaf Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Star Leaf, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Star Leaf Summary

Star Leaf Timeline

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

Star Leaf Timeline

Star Leaf Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Star Leaf 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.

Star Leaf Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Star Leaf

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