October 23, 2024 • 18 mins
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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.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
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, andtoday we're taking a deep, deep
dive into a film that isdisturbing on every possible
level Incident in a Ghostland.
Now, if you haven't seen thisfilm yet, this is your spoiler
(00:28):
alert.
We'll be pulling apart everydetail, 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 realitiesbehind the scenes, and even
explore how this film comparesto other psychological horror
classics.
There's a lot to unpack here,so let's jump in First.
(00:51):
Let's start with a quickoverview of the plot.
In Incident in a Ghost Land, amother, pauline, and her two
daughters, beth and Vera,inherit an isolated house from
their aunt.
Sounds like your typical horrorsetup right Wrong.
On the first night in the house, they are attacked by a pair of
violent intruders an eventthat's jarring in both its
(01:15):
brutality and swiftness.
The film then jumps forward intime and we see that Beth has
become a successful horrorauthor, living what seems like
the dream life, but then shegets a call from her sister Vera
, who's still living in thehouse, and the nightmares come
flooding back.
Okay, this is where I was firsthooked.
(01:35):
I went into the movie expectinga standard home invasion, but I
did not expect the story totake such a sharp psychological
turn.
I did not expect the story totake such a sharp psychological
turn.
When I saw Beth living herideal life, it felt too perfect.
You could tell something wasn'tright.
And then, when the film slowlypeels back the layers of Beth's
fantasy world, it'sgut-wrenching.
(01:57):
I've heard some people say theysaw the twist coming.
What about you guys?
When did you start suspectingthat all wasn't as it seemed?
Was it Beth's success as anauthor that tipped you off, or
was it something subtler likethe interactions with her family
?
I think for me, the realtension started building when
Beth returned to the house.
(02:18):
The dynamic between the sistersis fascinating.
Vera seems mentally unhinged,screaming and self-harming, but
there's something raw and realin her desperation to make Beth
realise the truth.
Let's talk about that twist.
At a certain point we realisethat Beth has been living inside
her mind in a fantasy worldwhere she's a famous writer,
(02:41):
while in reality she's stilltrapped in the house with her
sister writer, while in realityshe's still trapped in the house
with her sister, enduring dailytorment.
The twist is so well donebecause it completely reframes
everything we thought we knewabout the story.
Suddenly we're forced to seethat Vera was right all along.
Her desperate screams to wakeup take on a horrifying new
meaning.
(03:01):
It's this twist that dividesaudiences.
Some people say it's genius,while others feel it's
manipulative.
What do you think?
Does the twist work for you, ordoes it feel like it comes out
of nowhere?
Let me know in the comments oron social media.
I have to admit, the first timeI watched it I was floored.
Pascal Logier really knows howto mess with your mind.
(03:22):
He did it with martyrs and hedoes it again here.
But the big difference withIncident in a Ghost Land is how
it explores the theme of mentalescape as a coping mechanism for
trauma.
This isn't just a cheap twist.
It's a reflection of how peoplesometimes create alternate
realities to shield themselvesfrom unbearable pain.
(03:43):
You know, this theme ofretreating into fantasy to
survive trauma has been exploredin other films as well, like
Pan's Labyrinth, where a younggirl escapes into a magical
world to deal with the horrorsof war.
But Incident in a Ghost Landtakes it a step further by
making the fantasy so deeplyembedded in the character's mind
(04:04):
that even we as the audienceare fooled.
What's so disturbing is that,while Beth gets to escape into
this perfect life, vera is stuckin reality, suffering through
the horrors.
Let's talk more about thesisters, because their
relationship is the emotionalcore of the film.
(04:25):
Beth is the dreamer, the onewho writes horror stories but
can't confront real-life horrors.
Vera, on the other hand, is thefighter.
She never gives up, even whenthings are at their worst.
I find their dynamicfascinating, because in many
ways it's a reversal of what youmight expect.
You'd think the horror writerwould be the one more attuned to
(04:46):
danger, but it's Vera whounderstands the situation from
the beginning.
She's the realist.
Beth, meanwhile, retreats intoher imagination, using it as a
shield.
I wonder how do you all feelabout Beth's character?
Is she relatable?
Do we sympathise with her forwanting to escape, or do we feel
(05:07):
more for Vera, who's left todeal with reality alone?
I go back and forth on thismyself.
On one hand, beth's reaction isunderstandable who wouldn't
want to escape that nightmare?
But on the other hand, vera'ssuffering makes Beth's retreat
feel almost selfish.
What do you think?
It's interesting because inmany ways, vera represents the
(05:32):
reality of trauma, the one whohas to live through the pain
without an escape.
Beth's fantasy world is acoping mechanism, but it also
becomes her prison.
It's tragic because while shethinks she's protecting herself,
she's actually prolonging herown suffering.
That's what makes their dynamicso heartbreaking.
(05:53):
Vera keeps trying to pull herback into the real world, but
Beth is too afraid to confrontit.
Now let's shift gears and talkabout the horror elements in
Incident in a Ghost Land.
This is not a subtle film.
When it comes to violence andterror, pascal Logier really
(06:14):
leans into the brutality, bothphysical and psychological.
The intruders themselves thecandy truck woman and the large,
mentally disturbed man areterrifying in their own right,
but it's the way the cameralingers on the aftermath of
violence that makes this filmhard to watch.
There's no escape from thehorror and it's relentless.
(06:35):
The visuals in this film arestriking too.
The house itself feels like acharacter claustrophobic,
decaying, full of old dolls andstrange objects that make you
feel uneasy from the moment theystep inside.
What did you think of the setdesign?
Did it add to the creepiness?
For you?
I definitely found myselfchecking my own house after
(06:56):
watching this one.
And the sound design issomething else.
Every creak of the floorboards,every scream, every moment of
silence is perfectly crafted tobuild tension.
The moments when Beth's realitybegins to crack are especially
well done, with the soundwarping and distorting to signal
(07:16):
that something's not right.
Logier uses these techniques tokeep you on edge the entire
time.
It's a masterclass inpsychological horror.
Now I want to talk aboutsomething that takes the horror
beyond the screen.
If you've heard about theproduction of Incident in a
Ghost Land, you probably knowabout the tragic accident that
(07:37):
happened on set.
Taylor Hickson, who plays theyoung version of Vera, was
seriously injured during filming.
She was asked to bang on aglass door and the glass
shattered, causing a deep cut toher face that required 70
stitches.
It's a real-life horror storythat adds an eerie layer to the
(07:58):
film.
Imagine you're filming a horrormovie and then something
horrific happens for real.
Taylor Hickson has been veryopen about how this injury has
affected her career and her life.
Jackson has been very openabout 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 youhear about her story.
(08:19):
For a movie that's alreadyabout trauma, to know that this
kind of trauma happenedoff-screen is just heartbreaking
.
It's one of those moments whereyou can't separate the fiction
from the real-life horror.
I mean, taylor was injuredwhile filming a scene that was
supposed to terrify us andinstead she was the one left
scarred, literally.
(08:40):
It brings up this largerquestion how far should
filmmakers push actors for thesake of creating horror?
Should safety ever becompromised for the sake of
making a movie scarier?
I know this is a question thatcomes up a lot in horror,
especially with films thatinvolve extreme physical or
psychological demands on actors.
Do you think directors andproducers need to be held more
(09:02):
accountable in situations likethis, or is it just the nature
of making horror films that somethings 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 onehand, horror often requires
actors to put themselves inphysically uncomfortable or
emotionally draining situationsto achieve that raw, authentic
(09:26):
terror we crave as an audience,but at what cost?
And in this case the cost wasTaylor's face and her career.
It's hard not to think aboutthat every time her character is
on screen, especially in themore intense moments of the
movie, it just gives the wholeexperience an added weight that
should have never been there,knowing that someone was
(09:47):
permanently affected in reallife.
That's not to say the entirefilm should be condemned because
of this, but it definitelycolours how I view it now in a
negative light.
It raises ethical questionsabout the lengths we should go
to for art, especially in agenre like horror, where pushing
boundaries is often part of theappeal.
(10:10):
Let's take a step back andcompare Incident in a Ghostland
to other films in thepsychological horror genre.
I've already mentioned PascalLaugier's Martyrs, which is
probably his most famous work,but I think Incident in a
Ghostland shares more DNA withfilms like the Babadook or
Hereditary, movies that usesupernatural or psychological
(10:32):
elements to explore themes oftrauma, grief and mental illness
.
What do you think?
Does Incident in a Ghostlandbelong in the same conversation
as the Babadook or Hereditary,or is it in a category of its
own because of its extremeviolence?
I personally think it fitsright in with those other films,
(10:53):
but with an added layer ofbrutality that sets it apart.
One major difference, though,is the level of violence.
While films like the Babadookand Hereditary are more focused
on psychological horror.
Incident in a Ghostland is morein-your-face with its brutality
.
The home invasion scene inparticular is one of the most
(11:14):
violent and shocking sequencesin recent horror memory.
But what makes it even moredisturbing is that the violence
is rooted in very real fearshome invasion, physical assault
and the psychological aftermathof trauma.
There's no supernatural forceto blame here, just human
monsters.
(11:34):
It makes me wonder why are someof us so drawn to these extreme
forms of horror?
What is it about films likeIncident in a Ghost Land,
martyrs or even Saw that keep uscoming back, despite, or maybe
because of, their brutality?
Are we seeking catharsis, a wayto confront our own fears, or
is it simply the thrill ofsurviving the experience as an
(11:57):
audience member?
I know people who can't stomachthese kinds of films, and I get
that.
But for others there'ssomething almost therapeutic in
facing such intense, visceralhorror from the safety of a
movie theatre or our own livingrooms.
What about you?
Do you find extreme horrorappealing or do you draw the
(12:19):
line at a certain point?
Let me know where you stand.
Personally, I think films likeIncident in a Ghostland work
best when they combinepsychological depth with the
violence, which this one doespretty effectively.
The violence isn't just therefor shock value.
It's part of a largercommentary on trauma.
Let's dive deeper into thethemes of trauma and survival,
(12:45):
because I think that's whereIncident in a Ghostland really
shines.
As we've discussed, beth'scoping mechanism is to retreat
into a fantasy world where she'sa successful writer.
But this isn't just an escape.
It's also a way for her toreclaim her identity.
Just an escape?
It's also a way for her toreclaim her identity Before the
(13:06):
attack.
Beth was the dreamer, thestoryteller.
Her way of dealing with thehorror is to go back to that
version of herself, to create aworld where she's in control,
where she's powerful.
But it's a false identity, afacade that ultimately crumbles.
I think a lot of us can relateto that on some level.
We all have ways of coping withtrauma, and sometimes those
(13:27):
coping mechanisms involvecreating a version of ourselves
that's stronger or moresuccessful than we feel in real
life.
But at what point does thatbecome unhealthy?
At what point do we need toface reality instead of escaping
into fantasy?
It's also interesting how Vera'ssurvival contrasts with Beth's
(13:47):
Vera the one who stays groundedin reality is the one who
endures the most suffering.
She's physically andemotionally broken by the end,
but she's also the one who neverstops fighting.
Her strength is in her refusalto retreat into fantasy, even
though it means she has to facethe horror head-on every day.
It's a heartbreaking portrayalof survival, because while she
(14:14):
survives in the physical sense,her spirit is crushed.
This idea of survival at a costis something we see in real
life all the time, especiallywith trauma survivors.
People who endure unimaginablehorrors often come out the other
side changed, sometimesstronger, but often scarred in
(14:36):
ways that aren't visible to theoutside world.
Vera's scars are both physicaland emotional, and I think
that's one of the film'sstrongest points.
It doesn't shy away fromshowing the long-term effects of
trauma, even after theimmediate danger is over.
Now let's address the Elephantin the Room.
(14:58):
Incident in a Ghostland is anextremely disturbing film.
There's no getting around that.
It's brutal, it's unrelentingand it's definitely not for
everyone.
Some critics have argued thatit goes too far, that the
violence and trauma areexploitative rather than
meaningful.
I can see where they're comingfrom.
The line between horror andexploitation is always a fine
one, and this film walks righton that edge.
(15:18):
What do you think?
Does the film go too far or doyou think it's justified in its
portrayal of trauma?
For me, it's a difficultquestion to answer.
On the one hand, I think theviolence serves a purpose it's
meant to make us uncomfortable,to force us to confront the
reality of trauma.
But on the other hand, thereare moments where it feels like
(15:41):
the film is lingering on theviolence for shock value, and
that can be off-putting.
Let me know your thoughts.
I think it ultimately comesdown to what you're looking for
in a horror film.
If you're someone who enjoysextreme horror that pushes
boundaries, then Incident in aGhost Land is probably right up
your alley.
But if you're someone whoprefers more psychological
(16:04):
horror without the graphicviolence, this one might be too
much.
It's definitely not a film I'drecommend to everyone, but for
those who can handle it, I thinkit offers a lot to unpack.
So, after all that, where do Istand on Incident in a Ghostland
?
So, after all that, where do Istand on Incident in a Ghost
Land?
Personally, I think it's apowerful, disturbing film that
(16:26):
uses its brutality to exploredeep psychological themes.
It's not perfect and I canunderstand why some viewers
might find it too much, but Ialso think it's a film that
stays with you long after thecredits roll.
The performances are strong,the direction is tight and the
(16:49):
twist is one of the mostmemorable in recent horror, but
it's definitely not for thefaint of heart.
I would give this movie a 4 outof 5.
I'd love to hear your finalthoughts.
Did this movie stick with you orwas it too much to handle?
Do you think it belongs in thesame category as films like
Hereditary and the Babadook, oris it too extreme to be
considered alongside those?
Let's keep the conversationgoing.
(17:11):
Reach out on social media ordrop a comment and let me know
where you stand.
Thank you for tuning in to thisepisode of the End of Reason
podcast.
I hope you enjoyed this deepdive into incident in a ghost
land, as always.
If you liked what you heard,make sure to subscribe and leave
(17:32):
us a review.
Your feedback helps us bringmore in-depth analyses of your
favourite films.
Until then, I'm CR Knight.
Stay curious, stay fearless andkeep questioning everything.
Thank you for watching.
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, andtoday we're taking a deep, deep
dive into a film that isdisturbing on every possible
level Incident in a Ghostland.
Now, if you haven't seen thisfilm yet, this is your spoiler
(00:28):
alert.
We'll be pulling apart everydetail, 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 realitiesbehind the scenes, and even
explore how this film comparesto other psychological horror
classics.
There's a lot to unpack here,so let's jump in First.
(00:51):
Let's start with a quickoverview of the plot.
In Incident in a Ghost Land, amother, pauline, and her two
daughters, beth and Vera,inherit an isolated house from
their aunt.
Sounds like your typical horrorsetup right Wrong.
On the first night in the house, they are attacked by a pair of
violent intruders an eventthat's jarring in both its
(01:15):
brutality and swiftness.
The film then jumps forward intime and we see that Beth has
become a successful horrorauthor, living what seems like
the dream life, but then shegets a call from her sister Vera
, who's still living in thehouse, and the nightmares come
flooding back.
Okay, this is where I was firsthooked.
(01:35):
I went into the movie expectinga standard home invasion, but I
did not expect the story totake such a sharp psychological
turn.
I did not expect the story totake such a sharp psychological
turn.
When I saw Beth living herideal life, it felt too perfect.
You could tell something wasn'tright.
And then, when the film slowlypeels back the layers of Beth's
fantasy world, it'sgut-wrenching.
(01:57):
I've heard some people say theysaw the twist coming.
What about you guys?
When did you start suspectingthat all wasn't as it seemed?
Was it Beth's success as anauthor that tipped you off, or
was it something subtler likethe interactions with her family
?
I think for me, the realtension started building when
Beth returned to the house.
(02:18):
The dynamic between the sistersis fascinating.
Vera seems mentally unhinged,screaming and self-harming, but
there's something raw and realin her desperation to make Beth
realise the truth.
Let's talk about that twist.
At a certain point we realisethat Beth has been living inside
her mind in a fantasy worldwhere she's a famous writer,
(02:41):
while in reality she's stilltrapped in the house with her
sister writer, while in realityshe's still trapped in the house
with her sister, enduring dailytorment.
The twist is so well donebecause it completely reframes
everything we thought we knewabout the story.
Suddenly we're forced to seethat Vera was right all along.
Her desperate screams to wakeup take on a horrifying new
meaning.
(03:01):
It's this twist that dividesaudiences.
Some people say it's genius,while others feel it's
manipulative.
What do you think?
Does the twist work for you, ordoes it feel like it comes out
of nowhere?
Let me know in the comments oron social media.
I have to admit, the first timeI watched it I was floored.
Pascal Logier really knows howto mess with your mind.
(03:22):
He did it with martyrs and hedoes it again here.
But the big difference withIncident in a Ghost Land is how
it explores the theme of mentalescape as a coping mechanism for
trauma.
This isn't just a cheap twist.
It's a reflection of how peoplesometimes create alternate
realities to shield themselvesfrom unbearable pain.
(03:43):
You know, this theme ofretreating into fantasy to
survive trauma has been exploredin other films as well, like
Pan's Labyrinth, where a younggirl escapes into a magical
world to deal with the horrorsof war.
But Incident in a Ghost Landtakes it a step further by
making the fantasy so deeplyembedded in the character's mind
(04:04):
that even we as the audienceare fooled.
What's so disturbing is that,while Beth gets to escape into
this perfect life, vera is stuckin reality, suffering through
the horrors.
Let's talk more about thesisters, because their
relationship is the emotionalcore of the film.
(04:25):
Beth is the dreamer, the onewho writes horror stories but
can't confront real-life horrors.
Vera, on the other hand, is thefighter.
She never gives up, even whenthings are at their worst.
I find their dynamicfascinating, because in many
ways it's a reversal of what youmight expect.
You'd think the horror writerwould be the one more attuned to
(04:46):
danger, but it's Vera whounderstands the situation from
the beginning.
She's the realist.
Beth, meanwhile, retreats intoher imagination, using it as a
shield.
I wonder how do you all feelabout Beth's character?
Is she relatable?
Do we sympathise with her forwanting to escape, or do we feel
(05:07):
more for Vera, who's left todeal with reality alone?
I go back and forth on thismyself.
On one hand, beth's reaction isunderstandable who wouldn't
want to escape that nightmare?
But on the other hand, vera'ssuffering makes Beth's retreat
feel almost selfish.
What do you think?
It's interesting because inmany ways, vera represents the
(05:32):
reality of trauma, the one whohas to live through the pain
without an escape.
Beth's fantasy world is acoping mechanism, but it also
becomes her prison.
It's tragic because while shethinks she's protecting herself,
she's actually prolonging herown suffering.
That's what makes their dynamicso heartbreaking.
(05:53):
Vera keeps trying to pull herback into the real world, but
Beth is too afraid to confrontit.
Now let's shift gears and talkabout the horror elements in
Incident in a Ghost Land.
This is not a subtle film.
When it comes to violence andterror, pascal Logier really
(06:14):
leans into the brutality, bothphysical and psychological.
The intruders themselves thecandy truck woman and the large,
mentally disturbed man areterrifying in their own right,
but it's the way the cameralingers on the aftermath of
violence that makes this filmhard to watch.
There's no escape from thehorror and it's relentless.
(06:35):
The visuals in this film arestriking too.
The house itself feels like acharacter claustrophobic,
decaying, full of old dolls andstrange objects that make you
feel uneasy from the moment theystep inside.
What did you think of the setdesign?
Did it add to the creepiness?
For you?
I definitely found myselfchecking my own house after
(06:56):
watching this one.
And the sound design issomething else.
Every creak of the floorboards,every scream, every moment of
silence is perfectly crafted tobuild tension.
The moments when Beth's realitybegins to crack are especially
well done, with the soundwarping and distorting to signal
(07:16):
that something's not right.
Logier uses these techniques tokeep you on edge the entire
time.
It's a masterclass inpsychological horror.
Now I want to talk aboutsomething that takes the horror
beyond the screen.
If you've heard about theproduction of Incident in a
Ghost Land, you probably knowabout the tragic accident that
(07:37):
happened on set.
Taylor Hickson, who plays theyoung version of Vera, was
seriously injured during filming.
She was asked to bang on aglass door and the glass
shattered, causing a deep cut toher face that required 70
stitches.
It's a real-life horror storythat adds an eerie layer to the
(07:58):
film.
Imagine you're filming a horrormovie and then something
horrific happens for real.
Taylor Hickson has been veryopen about how this injury has
affected her career and her life.
Jackson has been very openabout 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 youhear about her story.
(08:19):
For a movie that's alreadyabout trauma, to know that this
kind of trauma happenedoff-screen is just heartbreaking
.
It's one of those moments whereyou can't separate the fiction
from the real-life horror.
I mean, taylor was injuredwhile filming a scene that was
supposed to terrify us andinstead she was the one left
scarred, literally.
(08:40):
It brings up this largerquestion how far should
filmmakers push actors for thesake of creating horror?
Should safety ever becompromised for the sake of
making a movie scarier?
I know this is a question thatcomes up a lot in horror,
especially with films thatinvolve extreme physical or
psychological demands on actors.
Do you think directors andproducers need to be held more
(09:02):
accountable in situations likethis, or is it just the nature
of making horror films that somethings 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 onehand, horror often requires
actors to put themselves inphysically uncomfortable or
emotionally draining situationsto achieve that raw, authentic
(09:26):
terror we crave as an audience,but at what cost?
And in this case the cost wasTaylor's face and her career.
It's hard not to think aboutthat every time her character is
on screen, especially in themore intense moments of the
movie, it just gives the wholeexperience an added weight that
should have never been there,knowing that someone was
(09:47):
permanently affected in reallife.
That's not to say the entirefilm should be condemned because
of this, but it definitelycolours how I view it now in a
negative light.
It raises ethical questionsabout the lengths we should go
to for art, especially in agenre like horror, where pushing
boundaries is often part of theappeal.
(10:10):
Let's take a step back andcompare Incident in a Ghostland
to other films in thepsychological horror genre.
I've already mentioned PascalLaugier's Martyrs, which is
probably his most famous work,but I think Incident in a
Ghostland shares more DNA withfilms like the Babadook or
Hereditary, movies that usesupernatural or psychological
(10:32):
elements to explore themes oftrauma, grief and mental illness
.
What do you think?
Does Incident in a Ghostlandbelong in the same conversation
as the Babadook or Hereditary,or is it in a category of its
own because of its extremeviolence?
I personally think it fitsright in with those other films,
(10:53):
but with an added layer ofbrutality that sets it apart.
One major difference, though,is the level of violence.
While films like the Babadookand Hereditary are more focused
on psychological horror.
Incident in a Ghostland is morein-your-face with its brutality
.
The home invasion scene inparticular is one of the most
(11:14):
violent and shocking sequencesin recent horror memory.
But what makes it even moredisturbing is that the violence
is rooted in very real fearshome invasion, physical assault
and the psychological aftermathof trauma.
There's no supernatural forceto blame here, just human
monsters.
(11:34):
It makes me wonder why are someof us so drawn to these extreme
forms of horror?
What is it about films likeIncident in a Ghost Land,
martyrs or even Saw that keep uscoming back, despite, or maybe
because of, their brutality?
Are we seeking catharsis, a wayto confront our own fears, or
is it simply the thrill ofsurviving the experience as an
(11:57):
audience member?
I know people who can't stomachthese kinds of films, and I get
that.
But for others there'ssomething almost therapeutic in
facing such intense, visceralhorror from the safety of a
movie theatre or our own livingrooms.
What about you?
Do you find extreme horrorappealing or do you draw the
(12:19):
line at a certain point?
Let me know where you stand.
Personally, I think films likeIncident in a Ghostland work
best when they combinepsychological depth with the
violence, which this one doespretty effectively.
The violence isn't just therefor shock value.
It's part of a largercommentary on trauma.
Let's dive deeper into thethemes of trauma and survival,
(12:45):
because I think that's whereIncident in a Ghostland really
shines.
As we've discussed, beth'scoping mechanism is to retreat
into a fantasy world where she'sa successful writer.
But this isn't just an escape.
It's also a way for her toreclaim her identity.
Just an escape?
It's also a way for her toreclaim her identity Before the
(13:06):
attack.
Beth was the dreamer, thestoryteller.
Her way of dealing with thehorror is to go back to that
version of herself, to create aworld where she's in control,
where she's powerful.
But it's a false identity, afacade that ultimately crumbles.
I think a lot of us can relateto that on some level.
We all have ways of coping withtrauma, and sometimes those
(13:27):
coping mechanisms involvecreating a version of ourselves
that's stronger or moresuccessful than we feel in real
life.
But at what point does thatbecome unhealthy?
At what point do we need toface reality instead of escaping
into fantasy?
It's also interesting how Vera'ssurvival contrasts with Beth's
(13:47):
Vera the one who stays groundedin reality is the one who
endures the most suffering.
She's physically andemotionally broken by the end,
but she's also the one who neverstops fighting.
Her strength is in her refusalto retreat into fantasy, even
though it means she has to facethe horror head-on every day.
It's a heartbreaking portrayalof survival, because while she
(14:14):
survives in the physical sense,her spirit is crushed.
This idea of survival at a costis something we see in real
life all the time, especiallywith trauma survivors.
People who endure unimaginablehorrors often come out the other
side changed, sometimesstronger, but often scarred in
(14:36):
ways that aren't visible to theoutside world.
Vera's scars are both physicaland emotional, and I think
that's one of the film'sstrongest points.
It doesn't shy away fromshowing the long-term effects of
trauma, even after theimmediate danger is over.
Now let's address the Elephantin the Room.
(14:58):
Incident in a Ghostland is anextremely disturbing film.
There's no getting around that.
It's brutal, it's unrelentingand it's definitely not for
everyone.
Some critics have argued thatit goes too far, that the
violence and trauma areexploitative rather than
meaningful.
I can see where they're comingfrom.
The line between horror andexploitation is always a fine
one, and this film walks righton that edge.
(15:18):
What do you think?
Does the film go too far or doyou think it's justified in its
portrayal of trauma?
For me, it's a difficultquestion to answer.
On the one hand, I think theviolence serves a purpose it's
meant to make us uncomfortable,to force us to confront the
reality of trauma.
But on the other hand, thereare moments where it feels like
(15:41):
the film is lingering on theviolence for shock value, and
that can be off-putting.
Let me know your thoughts.
I think it ultimately comesdown to what you're looking for
in a horror film.
If you're someone who enjoysextreme horror that pushes
boundaries, then Incident in aGhost Land is probably right up
your alley.
But if you're someone whoprefers more psychological
(16:04):
horror without the graphicviolence, this one might be too
much.
It's definitely not a film I'drecommend to everyone, but for
those who can handle it, I thinkit offers a lot to unpack.
So, after all that, where do Istand on Incident in a Ghostland
?
So, after all that, where do Istand on Incident in a Ghost
Land?
Personally, I think it's apowerful, disturbing film that
(16:26):
uses its brutality to exploredeep psychological themes.
It's not perfect and I canunderstand why some viewers
might find it too much, but Ialso think it's a film that
stays with you long after thecredits roll.
The performances are strong,the direction is tight and the
(16:49):
twist is one of the mostmemorable in recent horror, but
it's definitely not for thefaint of heart.
I would give this movie a 4 outof 5.
I'd love to hear your finalthoughts.
Did this movie stick with you orwas it too much to handle?
Do you think it belongs in thesame category as films like
Hereditary and the Babadook, oris it too extreme to be
considered alongside those?
Let's keep the conversationgoing.
(17:11):
Reach out on social media ordrop a comment and let me know
where you stand.
Thank you for tuning in to thisepisode of the End of Reason
podcast.
I hope you enjoyed this deepdive into incident in a ghost
land, as always.
If you liked what you heard,make sure to subscribe and leave
(17:32):
us a review.
Your feedback helps us bringmore in-depth analyses of your
favourite films.
Until then, I'm CR Knight.
Stay curious, stay fearless andkeep questioning everything.
Thank you for watching.
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