Flay (2017) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Moon's family grief and disturbing experiences unfold beneath the shadow of an old curse, while the cause of the deaths remains uncertain.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Curse in the Past

An opening account describes settlers forcing Native people to abandon their culture and recounts the capture and torture of a Hawea medicine man. Before dying, he places a curse on the chains used against him.

Key Events

• The Medicine Man's Curse — A Hawea medicine man is captured and tortured; his dying curse is placed on the chains. Characters: Flay / Shaman Location: Historical setting
• Moon Returns Home — Moon returns to find her family mourning her mother's death. Characters: Moon Crane, River Crane Location: Family home

Grief at Home

Moon returns home after her mother's death and finds her family in mourning. As she helps prepare for the wake, she tries to reconnect with River despite their strained relationship.

Key Events

• Preparing for the Wake — Moon helps prepare the house for the wake and tries to reconnect with River. Characters: Moon Crane, River Crane Location: Family home
• Strained Sibling Bond — Moon and River's relationship is strained as they deal with their mother's death. Characters: Moon Crane, River Crane Location: Family home
• Teacher's Death — A teacher dies, adding a second death after the family's bereavement. Characters: River Crane Location: School

Suspicion and Visions

A teacher's death and River's account of being in the school locker room place him under suspicion. Moon defends him while beginning to experience visions and unexplained noises.

Key Events

• River Becomes a Suspect — River says he was in the locker room around the time the teacher was pursued there. Characters: River Crane Location: School locker room
• Moon Defends River — Moon insists that River did not kill anyone. Characters: Moon Crane, River Crane Location: Unspecified
• Torture Visions — Moon experiences disturbing visions of someone being dragged and tortured. Characters: Moon Crane, Flay / Shaman Location: Unspecified
• Unexplained Noises — Moon hears unexplained noises as her disturbing experiences continue. Characters: Moon Crane Location: Unspecified

A Pattern of Deaths

Moon confides in Tyler, who offers grief and stress as possible explanations and urges an evidence-based approach. His research uncovers clusters of unexplained deaths dating back to the 1930s, often among people who knew one another.

Key Events

• Moon Confides in Tyler — Moon tells Tyler about her visions and unexplained experiences. Characters: Moon Crane, Tyler Forman Location: Unspecified
• Tyler Urges Evidence — Tyler suggests grief and stress may explain the visions and advises Moon to focus on evidence. Characters: Moon Crane, Tyler Forman Location: Unspecified
• Moon Questions the Deaths — Moon wonders whether the deaths are connected. Characters: Moon Crane, Tyler Forman Location: Unspecified
• Historical Cases Surface — Tyler finds clusters of sudden, unexplained deaths dating back to the 1930s. Characters: Tyler Forman Location: Unspecified
• Connections Among the Dead — Earlier cases often involve people who knew one another, though none were officially treated as crimes. Characters: Tyler Forman Location: Unspecified

An Unanswered Threat

The historical pattern strengthens Moon's suspicion of a supernatural cause, and a strange event appears to threaten her life. The story leaves Moon and Tyler without certainty about the deaths or the possibility of a ghost.

Key Events

• Moon Suspects a Supernatural Cause — The historical pattern leads Moon to suspect a nonhuman killer linked to the old curse. Characters: Moon Crane, Tyler Forman, Flay / Shaman Location: Unspecified
• Apparent Attempt on Moon — A later strange event appears to be an attempt on Moon's life. Characters: Moon Crane Location: Unspecified
• Unresolved Supernatural Threat — Moon and Tyler remain uncertain whether the deaths are connected or a ghost is involved. Characters: Moon Crane, Tyler Forman, Flay / Shaman Location: Unspecified

Story Breakdown

• The Old Curse — A historical account introduces violence against Native people and a medicine man's dying curse.
  • Forced Cultural Abandonment — The opening account describes settlers forcing Native people to abandon their culture.
  • Cursed Chains — A captured and tortured Hawea medicine man places a curse on the chains used against him.
• Moon Returns Home — Moon comes home after her mother's death and rejoins a family in mourning.
  • Family Mourning — Moon finds her family grieving her mother's death.
  • Wake Preparations — Moon helps prepare the house for the wake.
• Strained Siblings — Moon tries to reconnect with River while they cope with bereavement.
  • Uneasy Reunion — Moon and River's relationship is strained when she returns.
  • Moon Defends River — Moon insists River did not kill anyone after he becomes a suspect.
• Deaths and Suspicion — A teacher's death draws attention to River's presence at the school.
  • Teacher Dies — The teacher's death follows the family's loss.
  • Locker Room Account — River admits he was in the locker room around the time the teacher was pursued there.
• Moon's Disturbing Visions — Moon's experiences make her question whether the events have an ordinary explanation.
  • Torture Visions — Moon sees someone being dragged and tortured.
  • Unexplained Noises — Strange noises accompany Moon's disturbing experiences.
• Tyler's Investigation — Tyler remains skeptical but looks into earlier cases after Moon raises questions.
  • Evidence Over Fear — Tyler suggests grief and stress may explain Moon's visions and urges her to focus on evidence.
  • Historical Death Clusters — Tyler finds clusters of unexplained deaths dating back to the 1930s.
• Unresolved Supernatural Threat — Moon's suspicions grow, but the story does not settle whether a ghost or connected killer is responsible.
  • Possible Connection — Moon wonders whether the deaths are linked and suspects a nonhuman cause.
  • Threat to Moon — A strange event appears to be an attempt on Moon's life.

Directed by

Eric Pham

Key Cast

• Violett Beane — Bethany
• A. Michael Baldwin — Billy Salcedo
• Elle LaMont — Moon Crane
• Dalton E. Gray — River Crane
• Johnny Walter — Tyler Forman