Cold Ground (2017) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

An investigation into disappearances becomes a desperate mountain escape from an unidentified hostile creature.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

The Silent Research Camp

A film crew meets Günter and learns about the Cold Ground research project. Several scientists are overdue, and contact with the remote camp has been lost.

Key Events

• Crew Reaches Mountain Village — A film crew arrives and meets Günter near the French-Swiss border. Characters: Günter Location: Remote mountain village
• Cold Ground Introduced — Günter's team studies persistent cold and unusual mountain microclimates. Characters: Günter Location: Cold Ground research camp
• Scientists Fail To Return — Several scientists are overdue, and contact with the camp has suddenly stopped. Characters: Günter Location: Cold Ground research camp
• Blake Plans Investigation — Blake prepares to reach the camp with Daniel, Melissa, and a cameraman. Characters: Blake Turner, Daniel, Melissa Location: Mountain approach
• American Disappearances Linked — Blake explains that similar animal disappearances occurred in the United States. Characters: Blake Turner Location: Mountain approach

Evidence In The Snow

Blake leads the group toward the camp with Daniel and Melissa. Animal mutilations, a human jaw, and a skinned body transform the journey into a criminal investigation.

Key Events

• American Disappearances Linked — Blake explains that similar animal disappearances occurred in the United States. Characters: Blake Turner Location: Mountain approach
• Difficult Mountain Climb — The expedition party begins a difficult climb toward the isolated camp. Characters: Blake Turner, Daniel, Melissa Location: Mountain trail
• Mutilated Animal Remains — The group discovers strange remains and discusses precise animal mutilations. Characters: Blake Turner, Daniel, Melissa Location: Mountain trail
• Cauterized Injuries Examined — The injuries appear cauterized and too clean for ordinary predators. Characters: Blake Turner, Daniel, Melissa Location: Mountain trail
• Human Jaw Discovered — The expedition finds a human jaw, escalating the investigation beyond missing animals. Characters: Blake Turner, Daniel, Melissa Location: Mountain terrain
• Skinned Body Found — A recently skinned body is found without footprints or animal tracks nearby. Characters: Blake Turner, Daniel, Melissa Location: Mountain terrain
• Expedition Becomes Criminal Case — Blake formally declares that the expedition has become a criminal investigation. Characters: Blake Turner, Daniel, Melissa Location: Mountain terrain

The Mountain Closes In

Failed communication and worsening weather isolate the travelers. Strange sounds and evidence of movement outside reveal that an unidentified presence is nearby.

Key Events

• Expedition Becomes Criminal Case — Blake formally declares that the expedition has become a criminal investigation. Characters: Blake Turner, Daniel, Melissa Location: Mountain terrain
• Officials Cannot Be Reached — Attempts to contact officials fail while the group remains in the forest. Characters: Blake Turner, Daniel, Melissa Location: Forest
• Weather Turns Hostile — Worsening weather increases the expedition's isolation and danger. Characters: Blake Turner, Daniel, Melissa Location: Mountain camp
• Sounds Surround Camp — Strange sounds surround the camp as the travelers realize they are not alone. Characters: Blake Turner, Melissa, Lori-Ann Location: Mountain camp
• Movement Outside Discovered — The group finds evidence that unidentified beings have been moving outside. Characters: Blake Turner, Melissa, Lori-Ann Location: Outside the mountain camp

Attack In The Darkness

A mutilated survivor or corpse is encountered before something attacks the camp. Lori-Ann disappears, and the remaining named survivors abandon the camp without weapons.

Key Events

• Movement Outside Discovered — The group finds evidence that unidentified beings have been moving outside. Characters: Blake Turner, Melissa, Lori-Ann Location: Outside the mountain camp
• Mutilated Survivor Encountered — The travelers encounter a mutilated survivor or corpse before darkness brings another attack. Characters: Blake Turner, Melissa, Lori-Ann Location: Mountain camp
• Darkness Attack — Something attacks the group in darkness, creating confusion and forcing immediate flight. Characters: Blake Turner, Melissa, Lori-Ann Location: Mountain camp
• Lori-Ann Disappears — Lori-Ann disappears during the attack and confusion. Characters: Blake Turner, Melissa, Lori-Ann Location: Mountain camp
• Camp Abandoned — Blake and Melissa, lacking weapons, abandon the camp with the cameraman. Characters: Blake Turner, Melissa Location: Mountain camp

Flight Without Direction

Blake and Melissa follow old tracks downhill while a hostile creature pursues them. With Daniel missing and the map unavailable, they remain lost, cold, hungry, and exhausted.

Key Events

• Camp Abandoned — Blake and Melissa, lacking weapons, abandon the camp with the cameraman. Characters: Blake Turner, Melissa Location: Mountain camp
• Old Tracks Followed Downhill — The survivors follow their old tracks downhill while the hostile creature pursues them. Characters: Blake Turner, Melissa Location: Mountain descent
• Daniel Goes Missing — Daniel is missing, and the map is unavailable, leaving the survivors uncertain of their direction. Characters: Blake Turner, Daniel, Melissa Location: Mountain descent
• Escape Through Creature Territory — Blake and Melissa try to descend while avoiding the creature's territory. Characters: Blake Turner, Melissa Location: Mountain wilderness
• Cold Hunger And Exhaustion — Cold, hunger, and exhaustion intensify the survivors' struggle to reach safety. Characters: Blake Turner, Melissa Location: Mountain wilderness
• Still Lost In Mountains — The available events end with Blake and Melissa fleeing the beast and hoping to reach the bottom alive. Characters: Blake Turner, Melissa Location: Mountains

Story Breakdown

• Remote Camp Mystery — The expedition begins with an isolated research project and a sudden loss of contact.
  • Village Arrival — The film crew reaches a remote mountain village and meets Günter.
  • Missing Researchers — Several scientists fail to return, and the camp stops responding.
• Investigation Begins — Blake organizes a journey to Cold Ground and connects the case to earlier disappearances.
  • Expedition Assembles — Blake travels with Daniel and Melissa toward the research camp.
  • American Disappearances — Blake reveals that similar animal disappearances occurred in the United States.
• Mutilation Evidence — The mountain route produces increasingly disturbing evidence that ordinary predators are unlikely to explain.
  • Cauterized Remains — The group examines precise, clean, apparently cauterized animal injuries.
  • Human Evidence — A human jaw and a recently skinned body are discovered without nearby tracks.
• Isolation Deepens — The travelers lose access to outside help as the weather and terrain become more threatening.
  • Criminal Investigation — Blake declares that the expedition has become a criminal investigation.
  • Failed Communications — Attempts to contact officials fail in the forest.
• Creature Emerges — Signs of an unidentified presence surround the camp and culminate in a violent nighttime attack.
  • Movement Outside — The travelers find evidence that unidentified beings have moved beyond the camp.
  • Darkness Attack — Something attacks the group after a mutilated survivor or corpse is encountered.
• Desperate Descent — The remaining survivors abandon the camp and attempt to escape through hostile mountain terrain.
  • Lori Ann Missing — Lori-Ann disappears during the attack and confusion.
  • Uncertain Direction — With Daniel missing and the map unavailable, the survivors cannot confirm their route.
  • Fleeing The Beast — Blake and Melissa descend through cold, hunger, and exhaustion while pursued.

Directed by

Fabien Delage

Key Cast

• Doug Rand — Blake Turner
• Philip Schurer — Günter
• Gala Besson — Melissa
• Fabrice Pierre — Daniel
• Maura Tillay — Lori-Ann