The End Of Reason

When Reality and Fantasy Blur Incident in a Ghostland

• C.R Night • Season 1 • Episode 12

Share episode

Send us a text

Help support the podcast.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2000905/support

What compels us to confront our deepest fears through the lens of extreme horror films? Join me, CR Knight, as we unravel the psychological tapestry of "Incident in a Ghostland," a film that pushes the boundaries of terror and reality. The chilling narrative begins with an unthinkable home invasion that leaves a mother and her daughters reeling from trauma, leading them down diverging paths of psychological survival. As we dissect Beth's escape into a fantasy world where she imagines herself as a successful author and Vera's relentless grip on the brutal reality she cannot escape, we question the fine line between genius storytelling and manipulation. Are these extreme experiences a cathartic release, or do they exploit our darkest fears for shock and awe? 

Extreme horror films like "Incident in a Ghostland," "Martyrs," and "Saw" capture the imagination of audiences with their unrelenting intensity. Together, we question the allure of such narratives, exploring whether they serve as a visceral confrontation with our fears or simply push the limits of what we can handle. By comparing this film's raw depiction of trauma and survival to psychological horror classics like "Hereditary" and "The Babadook," we dive into a debate on meaningful horror versus exploitation. Share your thoughts on social media and subscribe to explore more films that challenge the norm. Let's continue this riveting conversation about the impact of horror and the emotional journeys they craft.

Support the show

Speaker 1:

Welcome back to the End of Reason podcast, where we dive deep into the unsettling, the terrifying and the stories that make your spine tingle. I'm your host, cr Knight, and today we're taking a deep, deep dive into a film that is disturbing on every possible level Incident in a Ghostland. Now, if you haven't seen this film yet, this is your spoiler alert. We'll be pulling apart every detail, so if you're brave enough to listen on, buckle up, because this one is intense. We'll talk about the plot, dissect the themes of trauma and survival, the brutal realities behind the scenes, and even explore how this film compares to other psychological horror classics. There's a lot to unpack here, so let's jump in First. Let's start with a quick overview of the plot.

Speaker 1:

In Incident in a Ghost Land, a mother, pauline, and her two daughters, beth and Vera, inherit an isolated house from their aunt. Sounds like your typical horror setup right Wrong. On the first night in the house, they are attacked by a pair of violent intruders an event that's jarring in both its brutality and swiftness. The film then jumps forward in time and we see that Beth has become a successful horror author, living what seems like the dream life, but then she gets a call from her sister Vera, who's still living in the house, and the nightmares come flooding back. Okay, this is where I was first hooked. I went into the movie expecting a standard home invasion, but I did not expect the story to take such a sharp psychological turn. I did not expect the story to take such a sharp psychological turn. When I saw Beth living her ideal life, it felt too perfect. You could tell something wasn't right. And then, when the film slowly peels back the layers of Beth's fantasy world, it's gut-wrenching. I've heard some people say they saw the twist coming. What about you guys? When did you start suspecting that all wasn't as it seemed? Was it Beth's success as an author that tipped you off, or was it something subtler like the interactions with her family? I think for me, the real tension started building when Beth returned to the house. The dynamic between the sisters is fascinating. Vera seems mentally unhinged, screaming and self-harming, but there's something raw and real in her desperation to make Beth realise the truth.

Speaker 1:

Let's talk about that twist. At a certain point we realise that Beth has been living inside her mind in a fantasy world where she's a famous writer, while in reality she's still trapped in the house with her sister writer, while in reality she's still trapped in the house with her sister, enduring daily torment. The twist is so well done because it completely reframes everything we thought we knew about the story. Suddenly we're forced to see that Vera was right all along. Her desperate screams to wake up take on a horrifying new meaning.

Speaker 1:

It's this twist that divides audiences. Some people say it's genius, while others feel it's manipulative. What do you think? Does the twist work for you, or does it feel like it comes out of nowhere? Let me know in the comments or on social media. I have to admit, the first time I watched it I was floored. Pascal Logier really knows how to mess with your mind. He did it with martyrs and he does it again here.

Speaker 1:

But the big difference with Incident in a Ghost Land is how it explores the theme of mental escape as a coping mechanism for trauma. This isn't just a cheap twist. It's a reflection of how people sometimes create alternate realities to shield themselves from unbearable pain. You know, this theme of retreating into fantasy to survive trauma has been explored in other films as well, like Pan's Labyrinth, where a young girl escapes into a magical world to deal with the horrors of war. But Incident in a Ghost Land takes it a step further by making the fantasy so deeply embedded in the character's mind that even we as the audience are fooled. What's so disturbing is that, while Beth gets to escape into this perfect life, vera is stuck in reality, suffering through the horrors.

Speaker 1:

Let's talk more about the sisters, because their relationship is the emotional core of the film. Beth is the dreamer, the one who writes horror stories but can't confront real-life horrors. Vera, on the other hand, is the fighter. She never gives up, even when things are at their worst. I find their dynamic fascinating, because in many ways it's a reversal of what you might expect. You'd think the horror writer would be the one more attuned to danger, but it's Vera who understands the situation from the beginning. She's the realist. Beth, meanwhile, retreats into her imagination, using it as a shield.

Speaker 1:

I wonder how do you all feel about Beth's character? Is she relatable? Do we sympathise with her for wanting to escape, or do we feel more for Vera, who's left to deal with reality alone? I go back and forth on this myself. On one hand, beth's reaction is understandable who wouldn't want to escape that nightmare? But on the other hand, vera's suffering makes Beth's retreat feel almost selfish. What do you think? It's interesting because in many ways, vera represents the reality of trauma, the one who has to live through the pain without an escape. Beth's fantasy world is a coping mechanism, but it also becomes her prison. It's tragic because while she thinks she's protecting herself, she's actually prolonging her own suffering. That's what makes their dynamic so heartbreaking. Vera keeps trying to pull her back into the real world, but Beth is too afraid to confront it. Now let's shift gears and talk about the horror elements in Incident in a Ghost Land.

Speaker 1:

This is not a subtle film. When it comes to violence and terror, pascal Logier really leans into the brutality, both physical and psychological. The intruders themselves the candy truck woman and the large, mentally disturbed man are terrifying in their own right, but it's the way the camera lingers on the aftermath of violence that makes this film hard to watch. There's no escape from the horror and it's relentless. The visuals in this film are striking too. The house itself feels like a character claustrophobic, decaying, full of old dolls and strange objects that make you feel uneasy from the moment they step inside.

Speaker 1:

What did you think of the set design? Did it add to the creepiness? For you? I definitely found myself checking my own house after watching this one. And the sound design is something else. Every creak of the floorboards, every scream, every moment of silence is perfectly crafted to build tension. The moments when Beth's reality begins to crack are especially well done, with the sound warping and distorting to signal that something's not right. Logier uses these techniques to keep you on edge the entire time. It's a masterclass in psychological horror.

Speaker 1:

Now I want to talk about something that takes the horror beyond the screen. If you've heard about the production of Incident in a Ghost Land, you probably know about the tragic accident that happened on set. Taylor Hickson, who plays the young version of Vera, was seriously injured during filming. She was asked to bang on a glass door and the glass shattered, causing a deep cut to her face that required 70 stitches. It's a real-life horror story that adds an eerie layer to the film. Imagine you're filming a horror movie and then something horrific happens for real. Taylor Hickson has been very open about how this injury has affected her career and her life. Jackson has been very open about how this injury has affected her career and her life. She sued the production company, and it's hard not to feel a deep sense of sadness when you hear about her story. For a movie that's already about trauma, to know that this kind of trauma happened off-screen is just heartbreaking. It's one of those moments where you can't separate the fiction from the real-life horror. I mean, taylor was injured while filming a scene that was supposed to terrify us and instead she was the one left scarred, literally.

Speaker 1:

It brings up this larger question how far should filmmakers push actors for the sake of creating horror? Should safety ever be compromised for the sake of making a movie scarier? I know this is a question that comes up a lot in horror, especially with films that involve extreme physical or psychological demands on actors. Do you think directors and producers need to be held more accountable in situations like this, or is it just the nature of making horror films that some things go wrong? I'd love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to drop a comment or reach out on social media. It's tough because, on the one hand, horror often requires actors to put themselves in physically uncomfortable or emotionally draining situations to achieve that raw, authentic terror we crave as an audience, but at what cost? And in this case the cost was Taylor's face and her career. It's hard not to think about that every time her character is on screen, especially in the more intense moments of the movie, it just gives the whole experience an added weight that should have never been there, knowing that someone was permanently affected in real life. That's not to say the entire film should be condemned because of this, but it definitely colours how I view it now in a negative light. It raises ethical questions about the lengths we should go to for art, especially in a genre like horror, where pushing boundaries is often part of the appeal.

Speaker 1:

Let's take a step back and compare Incident in a Ghostland to other films in the psychological horror genre. I've already mentioned Pascal Laugier's Martyrs, which is probably his most famous work, but I think Incident in a Ghostland shares more DNA with films like the Babadook or Hereditary, movies that use supernatural or psychological elements to explore themes of trauma, grief and mental illness. What do you think? Does Incident in a Ghostland belong in the same conversation as the Babadook or Hereditary, or is it in a category of its own because of its extreme violence? I personally think it fits right in with those other films, but with an added layer of brutality that sets it apart. One major difference, though, is the level of violence. While films like the Babadook and Hereditary are more focused on psychological horror. Incident in a Ghostland is more in-your-face with its brutality. The home invasion scene in particular is one of the most violent and shocking sequences in recent horror memory. But what makes it even more disturbing is that the violence is rooted in very real fears home invasion, physical assault and the psychological aftermath of trauma. There's no supernatural force to blame here, just human monsters.

Speaker 1:

It makes me wonder why are some of us so drawn to these extreme forms of horror? What is it about films like Incident in a Ghost Land, martyrs or even Saw that keep us coming back, despite, or maybe because of, their brutality? Are we seeking catharsis, a way to confront our own fears, or is it simply the thrill of surviving the experience as an audience member? I know people who can't stomach these kinds of films, and I get that. But for others there's something almost therapeutic in facing such intense, visceral horror from the safety of a movie theatre or our own living rooms. What about you? Do you find extreme horror appealing or do you draw the line at a certain point? Let me know where you stand. Personally, I think films like Incident in a Ghostland work best when they combine psychological depth with the violence, which this one does pretty effectively. The violence isn't just there for shock value. It's part of a larger commentary on trauma. Let's dive deeper into the themes of trauma and survival, because I think that's where Incident in a Ghostland really shines.

Speaker 1:

As we've discussed, beth's coping mechanism is to retreat into a fantasy world where she's a successful writer. But this isn't just an escape. It's also a way for her to reclaim her identity. Just an escape? It's also a way for her to reclaim her identity Before the attack. Beth was the dreamer, the storyteller. Her way of dealing with the horror is to go back to that version of herself, to create a world where she's in control, where she's powerful. But it's a false identity, a facade that ultimately crumbles. I think a lot of us can relate to that on some level. We all have ways of coping with trauma, and sometimes those coping mechanisms involve creating a version of ourselves that's stronger or more successful than we feel in real life. But at what point does that become unhealthy? At what point do we need to face reality instead of escaping into fantasy?

Speaker 1:

It's also interesting how Vera's survival contrasts with Beth's Vera the one who stays grounded in reality is the one who endures the most suffering. She's physically and emotionally broken by the end, but she's also the one who never stops fighting. Her strength is in her refusal to retreat into fantasy, even though it means she has to face the horror head-on every day. It's a heartbreaking portrayal of survival, because while she survives in the physical sense, her spirit is crushed. This idea of survival at a cost is something we see in real life all the time, especially with trauma survivors. People who endure unimaginable horrors often come out the other side changed, sometimes stronger, but often scarred in ways that aren't visible to the outside world. Vera's scars are both physical and emotional, and I think that's one of the film's strongest points. It doesn't shy away from showing the long-term effects of trauma, even after the immediate danger is over. Now let's address the Elephant in the Room.

Speaker 1:

Incident in a Ghostland is an extremely disturbing film. There's no getting around that. It's brutal, it's unrelenting and it's definitely not for everyone. Some critics have argued that it goes too far, that the violence and trauma are exploitative rather than meaningful. I can see where they're coming from. The line between horror and exploitation is always a fine one, and this film walks right on that edge. What do you think? Does the film go too far or do you think it's justified in its portrayal of trauma? For me, it's a difficult question to answer. On the one hand, I think the violence serves a purpose it's meant to make us uncomfortable, to force us to confront the reality of trauma. But on the other hand, there are moments where it feels like the film is lingering on the violence for shock value, and that can be off-putting.

Speaker 1:

Let me know your thoughts. I think it ultimately comes down to what you're looking for in a horror film. If you're someone who enjoys extreme horror that pushes boundaries, then Incident in a Ghost Land is probably right up your alley. But if you're someone who prefers more psychological horror without the graphic violence, this one might be too much. It's definitely not a film I'd recommend to everyone, but for those who can handle it, I think it offers a lot to unpack. So, after all that, where do I stand on Incident in a Ghostland? So, after all that, where do I stand on Incident in a Ghost Land?

Speaker 1:

Personally, I think it's a powerful, disturbing film that uses its brutality to explore deep psychological themes. It's not perfect and I can understand why some viewers might find it too much, but I also think it's a film that stays with you long after the credits roll. The performances are strong, the direction is tight and the twist is one of the most memorable in recent horror, but it's definitely not for the faint of heart. I would give this movie a 4 out of 5. I'd love to hear your final thoughts.

Speaker 1:

Did this movie stick with you or was it too much to handle? Do you think it belongs in the same category as films like Hereditary and the Babadook, or is it too extreme to be considered alongside those? Let's keep the conversation going. Reach out on social media or drop a comment and let me know where you stand. Thank you for tuning in to this episode of the End of Reason podcast. I hope you enjoyed this deep dive into incident in a ghost land, as always. If you liked what you heard, make sure to subscribe and leave us a review. Your feedback helps us bring more in-depth analyses of your favourite films. Until then, I'm CR Knight. Stay curious, stay fearless and keep questioning everything. Thank you for watching.