Deserted (2016) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A former prisoner and a group of travelers struggle to survive after becoming stranded in the desert.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Prison Release And Departure

Jae leaves prison and reunites with Robin at their childhood home. She chooses to join Robin, Rosemary, and their friends on a trip to the desert festival.

Key Events

• Jae Leaves Prison — Jae is released after serving seven years for murdering her mother. Characters: Jae Location: Ridgecrest, California
• Sibling Reunion — Jae reunites with her older brother Robin amid painful memories. Characters: Jae, Robin Location: Childhood home
• Festival Trip Planned — Jae decides to join Robin and his companions at Burn the Moon. Characters: Jae, Robin, Rosemary, Heather Location: Ridgecrest, California
• Car Breaks Down — The group's car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Characters: Jae, Robin, Rosemary, Heather Location: Remote California road
• Clay Provides A Tow — Clay tows the disabled car toward a local mechanic. Characters: Clay, Jae, Robin, Rosemary Location: Remote road

A Ride Into Isolation

The group's car breaks down, and Clay helps tow it to a mechanic. A repair delay leads them to accept a ride with Troy, Dax, and Wade in an RV.

Key Events

• Clay Provides A Tow — Clay tows the disabled car toward a local mechanic. Characters: Clay, Jae, Robin, Rosemary Location: Remote road
• Repair Delay — The group learns that the car will take at least two days to fix. Characters: Jae, Robin, Rosemary, Heather Location: Local mechanic
• Bar Encounter — The stranded group waits at a bar while Lizard serves them. Characters: Jae, Robin, Rosemary, Heather, Lizard Location: Local bar
• RV Ride Offered — Troy, Dax, and Wade offer the group transportation in their RV. Characters: Jae, Robin, Rosemary, Heather, Troy, Dax Location: Local bar
• Journey To Death Valley — Both groups leave together in the boys' RV for the festival. Characters: Jae, Robin, Rosemary, Heather, Troy, Dax Location: Road to Death Valley

The Night Of The Wrong Turn

The travelers miss their route and camp in the desert. Peyote use, Jae's encounter with Troy, and Jasmine's accidental battery drain leave the group vulnerable.

Key Events

• Wrong Turn At Night — They take a wrong turn in darkness and camp for the night. Characters: Jae, Robin, Rosemary, Heather, Troy, Dax Location: Desert road
• Peyote Camp Night — The group experiments with peyote while Jae and Troy share a tryst. Characters: Jae, Troy, Robin, Rosemary Location: Desert campsite
• RV Battery Drained — Jasmine accidentally drains the RV battery while playing with the headlights. Characters: Jae, Troy, Robin Location: Desert campsite
• Rosemary Found Dead — The group finds Rosemary dead, possibly from a peyote overdose or reaction. Characters: Jae, Robin, Rosemary, Heather, Troy, Dax Location: RV

The Desert Takes Its Toll

Rosemary is found dead, and the survivors abandon the RV to seek help on foot. Wade is bitten, Dax stays with him, and Robin separates after conflict with Troy.

Key Events

• Rosemary Found Dead — The group finds Rosemary dead, possibly from a peyote overdose or reaction. Characters: Jae, Robin, Rosemary, Heather, Troy, Dax Location: RV
• Stranded In The Desert — Without reception and lost, the survivors leave Rosemary's body and walk. Characters: Jae, Robin, Heather, Troy, Dax, Wade Location: Remote desert
• Wade Is Bitten — A rattlesnake bites Wade, leaving him unable to continue. Characters: Wade, Dax, Troy, Jae, Robin Location: Desert wilderness
• Dax Stays Behind — Dax remains with Wade to care for him until Wade dies. Characters: Dax, Wade Location: Desert wilderness
• Robin Searches Alone — After tensions with Troy, Robin leaves alone to search for help. Characters: Robin, Jae, Troy Location: Desert wilderness

Scattered Survivors

A sandstorm kills Jasmine, Dax dies by suicide, and Heather dies from dehydration. Robin and Jae separately find possible rescue while Troy reaches the deserted festival.

Key Events

• Sandstorm Strikes — A sandstorm suffocates and kills Jasmine while the survivors struggle to endure. Characters: Jae, Troy, Heather, Dax Location: Desert wilderness
• Dax Jumps From Cliff — After surviving the storm, Dax sees no way out and commits suicide. Characters: Dax Location: Desert cliff face
• Heather Dies Of Thirst — Jae and Heather separate from Troy, and Heather dies from dehydration. Characters: Jae, Heather, Troy Location: Desert wilderness
• Robin Found By Helicopter — A helicopter finds Robin, and the plot implies that he is rescued. Characters: Robin Location: Desert wilderness
• Jae Reaches A Road — Jae finally reaches a road and is picked up by a passing family. Characters: Jae Location: Desert road
• Troy Finds The Festival — After the credits, Troy stumbles upon the festival after it has ended. Characters: Troy Location: Burn the Moon festival grounds

Story Breakdown

• Jae Returns Home — Jae leaves prison and confronts the family history surrounding her childhood home.
  • Prison Release — Jae is released after seven years in prison.
  • Sibling Reunion — Jae reunites with her older brother Robin.
• Festival Plans — Jae joins Robin's planned trip to the Burn the Moon festival.
  • Robin's Girlfriend — Robin plans to travel with Rosemary.
  • Joining The Group — Jae decides to tag along with the festival travelers.
• Breakdown And Detour — Mechanical trouble and a wrong turn transform a festival trip into an isolation ordeal.
  • Car Breaks Down — The car fails in a remote area.
  • Wrong Desert Turn — The group becomes lost after turning in darkness.
• Night Of Consequences — The group's night of peyote use creates both intimacy and practical danger.
  • Peyote Experiment — Several travelers experiment with peyote at camp.
  • Battery Drained — Jasmine accidentally kills the RV battery with the headlights.
• Rosemary's Death — The group discovers Rosemary dead and loses its only reliable vehicle.
  • Morning Discovery — Rosemary is found dead inside the RV.
  • Abandoned Vehicle — The survivors leave the body behind and continue on foot.
• Group Fractures — Injuries, death, and conflict progressively break the traveling group apart.
  • Wade's Snake Bite — A rattlesnake bite prevents Wade from continuing.
  • Robin Leaves — Robin separates from the others to search for help.
• Desert Catastrophe — The environment overwhelms the remaining travelers through a sandstorm and extreme dehydration.
  • Jasmine Suffocates — The sandstorm suffocates and kills Jasmine.
  • Dax's Suicide — Dax jumps from a cliff after seeing no way out.
• Separate Escapes — The surviving storylines end in uncertain rescue, exhaustion, and ironic arrival.
  • Jae Reaches A Road — Jae is picked up by a passing family.
  • Troy Finds Ruins — Troy reaches the festival after it has already ended.

Directed by

Ashley Avis

Key Cast

• Mischa Barton — Jae
• Jackson Davis — Robin
• Jake Busey — Clay
• Winter Ave Zoli — Rosemary
• Trent Ford — Troy