Altergeist (2014) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A ghost-hunting team's investigation of a winery grows into an unresolved encounter with a mysterious presence, troubling family history, and missing investigators.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

The Professor's Warnings

A troubled physics professor describes orbs, a little girl, and a presence that appears able to influence people. His account establishes an ominous supernatural thread before the winery investigation begins.

Key Events

• Professor's Warehouse Recordings — A troubled physics professor recounts seeing mysterious orbs and a little girl in a warehouse. Location: Warehouse
• A Presence Invades His Mind — The professor says a presence can influence people and hides in a tank as it seems to enter his mind. Location: Tank
• The Woman in Black — The professor also recounts seeing a woman dressed in black. Location: Unspecified

The Team Enters the Winery

Theresa and Dax bring their ghost-hunting group to Ashen's winery, hoping to make a more ambitious show. Theresa's pregnancy disagreement with Dax and Dax's tension with Ashen complicate the group's arrival.

Key Events

• The Team Reaches the Winery — Theresa and Dax lead their ghost-hunting group to Ashen's winery to investigate. Characters: Theresa, Dax, Sarah, Mike, Ashen Till Location: King's Ransom Winery
• Pregnancy Disagreement — Theresa and Dax disagree about whether the baby was conceived during an earlier winery visit. Characters: Theresa, Dax Location: Winery
• A More Ambitious Investigation — The group hopes this investigation will make a stronger show after earlier disappointing ghost hunts. Characters: Theresa, Dax, Sarah, Mike Location: Winery
• Exploring the Property — The group searches the property for evidence as tensions grow between Dax and Ashen. Characters: Theresa, Dax, Sarah, Mike, Ashen Till Location: Winery property

Beatrice in the Footage

The investigation uncovers footage of a girl resembling Ashen's dead sister, recorded after her death. Ashen's account of the fatal crash and his continuing nightmares bring the family's painful past into focus.

Key Events

• Exploring the Property — The group searches the property for evidence as tensions grow between Dax and Ashen. Characters: Theresa, Dax, Sarah, Mike, Ashen Till Location: Winery property
• The Factory Footage — Old footage shows a girl resembling Ashen's dead sister, despite being recorded after her death. Characters: Ashen Till, Beatrice Blaine Location: Bottle factory
• Ashen Recalls the Crash — Ashen denies causing the crash that killed Beatrice and says he still has nightmares about it. Characters: Ashen Till, Beatrice Blaine Location: Winery

Evidence and Escalating Danger

Disturbing objects, an unseen presence, and an investigator's report of being lifted make the group's search increasingly frightening. Cut phone lines, slashed tires, and Maya's disappearance leave the investigators isolated.

Key Events

• Disturbing Signs Appear — The investigators find disturbing drawings, writing, grotesquely arranged dolls, and signs of an unseen presence. Characters: Theresa, Dax, Sarah, Mike Location: Winery property
• An Investigator Is Lifted — One investigator reports being lifted off the ground by an entity. Characters: Theresa, Dax, Sarah, Mike Location: Winery property
• Isolation at the Winery — The phone lines are cut, the group's tires are slashed, and Maya goes missing. Characters: Theresa, Dax, Sarah, Mike, Maya Location: Winery property

The Missing and the Unresolved Search

The group searches for the professor and finds recordings describing powerful beings influencing humanity. Sarah is found dazed but refuses to leave, vanishes again, and the surviving group searches nearby shacks without resolving either disappearance.

Key Events

• Search for the Professor — Believing the professor knows more, the investigators search for him. Characters: Theresa, Dax, Sarah, Mike Location: Winery property
• Recordings Reveal His Claims — They find the professor's recordings, in which he rants about powerful beings influencing humanity. Characters: Theresa, Dax, Sarah, Mike Location: Winery
• Sarah Found Outside — Sarah is found freezing and dazed, describing the beings as beautiful. Characters: Sarah, Theresa, Dax, Mike Location: Outside the winery
• Sarah Vanishes Again — Sarah refuses to leave with the others and disappears into the darkness again. Characters: Sarah, Theresa, Dax, Mike Location: Darkness near the winery
• Search Among the Shacks — The surviving group searches the shacks and calls for Sarah; the account ends before they find her or Maya. Characters: Theresa, Dax, Mike Location: Nearby wooden shacks

Story Breakdown

• Professor's Recordings — A troubled professor describes strange encounters and a presence he believes can affect people.
  • Orbs and Girl — He recounts seeing mysterious orbs and a little girl inside a warehouse.
  • Presence and Tank — He hides in a tank as the presence seems to enter his mind.
  • Woman in Black — His account also includes a woman dressed in black.
• The Winery Investigation — Theresa leads a ghost-hunting group to Ashen's property to investigate and improve their show.
  • Team Arrives — Theresa and Dax bring Sarah and newest member Mike to the winery.
  • Show Ambitions — The group hopes to make a more ambitious program after disappointing investigations.
• Personal Tensions — The investigation begins amid strained relationships and questions about the group's personal history.
  • Pregnancy Disagreement — Theresa and Dax disagree about when the baby was conceived.
  • Dax and Ashen — Tension emerges between Dax and the winery owner.
• Beatrice's Apparition — Old factory footage raises questions about Ashen's dead sister and his family's past.
  • Factory Footage — A girl resembling Beatrice appears in footage recorded after her death.
  • Crash and Nightmares — Ashen denies causing the crash that killed Beatrice and describes recurring nightmares.
• Signs of a Presence — The group's search produces disturbing evidence and reports of apparent supernatural activity.
  • Disturbing Objects — The investigators find unsettling drawings, writing, and grotesquely arranged dolls.
  • Investigator Lifted — One investigator reports being lifted off the ground by an entity.
• Isolation and Disappearance — The investigators lose their means of communication and face unexplained disappearances.
  • Cut Lines and Tires — The phone lines are cut and the group's tires are slashed.
  • Maya Missing — Maya disappears while the group is at the winery.
• The Professor's Clues — The group searches for the professor and finds recordings containing his claims about powerful beings.
  • Searching for Answers — The investigators believe the professor knows more about the events.
  • Beings and Humanity — His recordings describe powerful beings influencing humanity.
• Sarah's Final Disappearance — Sarah is found in a distressed state, refuses to leave, and vanishes again as the group's search remains unresolved.
  • Found Outside — Sarah is freezing and dazed and describes the beings as beautiful.
  • Search Among Shacks — The surviving group calls for Sarah in nearby shacks, without finding her or Maya before the account ends.

Directed by

Tedi Sarafian

Key Cast

• Kristina Anapau — Theresa
• Mark Hapka — Dax
• David Weidoff — Ashen Till
• Linsey Godfrey — Sarah
• Brendan Fletcher — Jason