Hoax (2019) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A film crew hunting Bigfoot uncovers a cannibalistic serial killer family posing as monsters in the wilderness.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

The Bigfoot Pitch

Struggling producer Rick Paxton pitches a sensationalized Bigfoot documentary to secure funding. He assembles a specialized crew and ventures into the wilderness to capture proof of the mythical creature.

Key Events

• Wilderness Attack — College students attacked, one goes missing, dubbed Mountaineering Massacre. Characters: Rick Paxton Location: Wilderness
• Bigfoot Pitch — Paxton pitches a Bigfoot spin-off show to his former employer. Characters: Rick Paxton Location: Office
• Team Assembly — Paxton gathers crew including security and pilot for wilderness expedition. Characters: Rick Paxton, John Singer, Jonesy Location: Campsite

Into the Wilderness

The expedition sets up trail cameras and bait, but early attempts fail. Tensions rise as the crew faces initial setbacks and the environment grows increasingly hostile.

Key Events

• Team Assembly — Paxton gathers crew including security and pilot for wilderness expedition. Characters: Rick Paxton, John Singer, Jonesy Location: Campsite
• Trail Cam Setup — Crew sets up bait and camera per expert instructions. Characters: Rick Paxton, John Singer Location: Woods
• Expert Killed — Peter checks camera and is killed by unseen creature. Characters: Rick Paxton Location: Woods
• Cave Discovery — Crew finds gruesome cave and hairy shape on camera. Characters: Rick Paxton, John Singer Location: Cave
• Vlogger Attacked — Paxton secretly adds pheromones to vlogger, causing attack. Characters: Rick Paxton Location: Woods
• Pilot Killed — Jonesy and his dog are attacked and killed at the helicopter. Characters: Rick Paxton, Jonesy Location: Helicopter
• Wilderness Camp — Base of operations for the film crew. Characters: Rick Paxton, John Singer, Jonesy Location: Woods
• Pheromones — Chemical bait used to attract creatures, later misused. Characters: Rick Paxton Location: Woods

Crew Decimation

The hidden threat reveals itself through brutal ambushes, eliminating key crew members one by one. Panic sets in as communication fails and survival becomes the only priority.

Key Events

• Pilot Killed — Jonesy and his dog are attacked and killed at the helicopter. Characters: Rick Paxton, Jonesy Location: Helicopter
• Equipment Destroyed — Creature trashes camp and leaves bloody paw print. Characters: Rick Paxton, John Singer Location: Camp
• Footprint Discovery — Crew finds large footprint belonging to Bigfoot. Characters: Rick Paxton, John Singer Location: Woods
• Rescue Attempt — Paxton sends pilot to fly injured vlogger to hospital. Characters: Rick Paxton, Jonesy Location: Landing site
• ATV Crash — Assistant crashes ATV after spotting creature and concusses himself. Characters: Rick Paxton Location: Woods
• Night Ambush — Singer is ambushed and killed while tracking creature. Characters: Rick Paxton, John Singer Location: Camp
• Wilderness Camp — Base of operations for the film crew. Characters: Rick Paxton, John Singer, Jonesy Location: Woods
• SAT Phone — Communication device destroyed during rescue attempt. Characters: Rick Paxton, Jonesy Location: Landing site

Cannibal Revelation

Survivors discover a cabin that exposes the true nature of the threat: a family of cannibalistic serial killers posing as monsters. The final confrontation unfolds with brutal violence and a shocking twist.

Key Events

• Night Ambush — Singer is ambushed and killed while tracking creature. Characters: Rick Paxton, John Singer Location: Camp
• Camp Massacre — Creature trashes camp, Paxton panics and grabs weapon. Characters: Rick Paxton, John Singer Location: Camp
• Cabin Discovery — Survivors find cabin with cars and escape creature. Characters: Rick Paxton, John Singer Location: Cabin
• Cannibal Reveal — Gage's family revealed as cannibalistic killers posing as monsters. Characters: Rick Paxton, Gage Location: Cabin
• Father's Death — Gage kills Cooper after recognizing missing daughter's corpse. Characters: Rick Paxton, Gage Location: Cabin
• Counterattack — Ellen defeats Charlotte and beats Gage to death. Characters: Rick Paxton, Gage Location: Cabin
• Car Escape — Ellen flees in victim's car, runs down Luc, crashes. Characters: Rick Paxton, Gage Location: Woods
• Final Attack — Charlotte attacks Ellen through car window. Characters: Rick Paxton, Gage Location: Cabin window
• Bigfoot Encounter — Paxton runs out of ammo and faces real Bigfoot. Characters: Rick Paxton Location: Woods
• Cannibal Cabin — Hidden hideout of the serial killer family. Characters: Rick Paxton, Gage Location: Cabin

Story Breakdown

• The Pitch — Introduction of the protagonist's goal and the inciting incident.
  • Massacre Backstory — Establishes the missing student incident.
  • Bigfoot Proposal — Paxton pitches the documentary concept.
• Expedition Setup — Formation of the crew and initial wilderness operations.
  • Crew Assembly — Hiring specialists and security personnel.
  • Bait Deployment — Setting up cameras and pheromone traps.
• Wilderness Perils — Escalating threats and early crew casualties.
  • Expert Ambush — Peter killed while checking equipment.
  • Cave Discovery — Finding gruesome evidence and footage.
• Crew Losses — Systematic elimination of team members.
  • Pilot Death — Jonesy killed at the helicopter.
  • Rescue Failure — SAT phone destroyed and ATV crash.
• Cabin Discovery — Survivors find shelter and uncover the truth.
  • Hidden Hideout — Locating the cabin and parked vehicles.
  • Trap Set — Justin caught in bear trap.
• Cannibal Truth — Revelation of the killers and their motives.
  • Family Reveal — Charlotte and sons exposed as killers.
  • Monster Myth — Brothers posed as creatures to misdirect.
• Final Confrontation — Last stand and resolution of the survival arc.
  • Gage's Demise — Ellen defeats Gage with frying pan.
  • Bigfoot Twist — Paxton encounters the actual creature.

Directed by

Matt Allen

Key Cast

• Adrienne Barbeau — Wilma
• Brian Thompson — John Singer
• Ben Browder — Rick Paxton
• Cheryl Texiera — Dr. Ellen Freese
• Hutch Dano — Justin Johnson