Altar (2014) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A family's restoration project becomes increasingly threatening as the old house's history, Penny's fears, and Alec's artistic fixation strain their plans.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

A New Home Under Strain

Meg brings her family to an isolated old house for a restoration job. The rundown property unsettles them, but Meg needs the income and Alec hopes to work on his art.

Key Events

• Family Arrives at the House — The family moves into the old house for Meg's months-long restoration job. Characters: Meg, Alec, Penny, Harper Location: Isolated countryside house
• The House Feels Unwelcoming — The family finds the house rundown and uncomfortable; Meg needs the income. Characters: Meg, Alec, Penny, Harper Location: Old house
• Strange Noises Begin — Odd noises and unexplained events begin unsettling the family. Characters: Meg, Alec, Penny, Harper Location: Old house

The House's Dark Story

Odd noises and unexplained events intensify the family's discomfort. Penny reports seeing a woman, while stories about Radcliffe and the hidden cellar give the house a troubling history.

Key Events

• Penny Reports a Woman — Penny says she has seen a woman in the house; Meg tries to reassure her. Characters: Penny, Meg Location: Old house
• Radcliffe Story Emerges — The family hears a story that painter Radcliffe killed his wife in a ritual and was haunted by her. Characters: Meg, Alec, Penny, Harper Location: Old house
• The Hidden Cellar Adds Unease — The house's mysterious construction and hidden root cellar deepen the family's unease. Characters: Meg, Alec, Penny, Harper Location: Old house and root cellar
• Penny Finds the Image — Penny finds an image matching the woman she saw, including cuts on the woman's arms. Characters: Penny, Meg Location: Old house

Penny's Fear and Alec's Art

Penny finds an image that matches the woman she claims to have seen and begs to leave. Meanwhile, Alec becomes absorbed in new work, and Meg discovers a sculpture resembling Radcliffe's wife.

Key Events

• Penny Begs to Leave — Penny begs Meg to leave; Meg offers to send her to her grandfather in London. Characters: Penny, Meg Location: Old house
• Alec's New Work Takes Hold — Alec becomes absorbed in an artistic project and behaves in a disturbing way. Characters: Alec Location: Old house
• Meg Finds the Sculpture — Meg discovers Alec is sculpting a figure resembling Radcliffe's wife and confronts him. Characters: Meg, Alec Location: Old house

Plans Interrupted by Danger

Alec refuses to leave, while Meg considers taking the children to London but will not abandon him alone. Harper becomes trapped in the root cellar, and Meg rushes to search for him; the available account ends before the outcome is known.

Key Events

• Alec Refuses to Leave — Alec calls the work the best of his life and refuses to leave the house. Characters: Meg, Alec Location: Old house
• Meg Plans a London Move — Meg says she will take the children and manage the restoration from London, but will not leave Alec alone. Characters: Meg, Alec Location: Old house
• Harper Trapped in Cellar — Harper becomes trapped in the root cellar, and Penny calls for help. Characters: Harper, Penny Location: Root cellar
• Meg Searches for Harper — Meg rushes to find Harper and warns him to get away from the wall; the available account ends during the search. Characters: Meg, Harper Location: Root cellar

Story Breakdown

• Country House Arrival — Meg's restoration job brings the family to an isolated, rundown house.
  • Restoration Job — Meg takes a months-long job because the family needs the income.
  • Family Relocation — Meg, Alec, Penny, and Harper arrive at the countryside house.
• Growing House Unease — The property's condition and unexplained disturbances make the new home feel threatening.
  • Strange Noises — Odd noises and unexplained events unsettle the family.
  • Hidden Root Cellar — The house's mysterious construction and hidden cellar add to the unease.
• Penny Sees a Woman — Penny reports a frightening presence, while Meg struggles to reassure her.
  • Reported Apparition — Penny says she has seen a woman in the house.
  • Matching Image — Penny finds an image of the woman, including cuts on her arms.
• Radcliffe's Troubling History — A story about the painter and his wife gives the house a disturbing past.
  • Ritual Murder Story — The family hears that Radcliffe supposedly killed his wife in a ritual.
  • Haunting Rumor — The story says Radcliffe was haunted by his wife, though some dismiss it as rumor.
• Alec's Artistic Fixation — Alec's new project draws him deeper into the house's troubling history.
  • Disturbing New Work — Alec becomes absorbed in an artistic project and behaves disturbingly.
  • Wife-Like Sculpture — Meg discovers that Alec is sculpting a figure resembling Radcliffe's wife.
• Family Plans Fracture — The family considers leaving, but Alec refuses and Meg does not want to abandon him.
  • Alec Refuses Departure — Alec insists the sculpture is the best work of his life and will not leave.
  • London Plan — Meg proposes taking the children to London and managing the restoration from there.
• Cellar Emergency — Harper's entrapment interrupts the family's plans and prompts an urgent search.
  • Harper Trapped — Harper becomes trapped in the root cellar, and Penny calls for help.
  • Meg's Search — Meg rushes to find Harper and warns him to get away from the wall; the account ends before the outcome.

Directed by

Nick Willing

Key Cast

• Olivia Williams — Meg
• Matthew Modine — Alec
• Antonia Clarke — Penny
• Steve Oram — Nigel Lean
• Adam Thomas Wright — Harper