The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia
A young family moves into a historic home in Georgia, only to learn they are not the house's only inhabitants. Soon they find themselves in the presence of a secret rising from underground and threatening to bring down anyone in its path.
The film disappointed at the box office against its small-scale budget of $8.0M, earning $5.1M globally (-36% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its unique voice within the horror genre.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia (2013) demonstrates strategically placed story structure, characteristic of Tom Elkins's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 13-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 41 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Lisa Wyrick as a young girl experiences visions of a mysterious man on a chain, establishing her psychic abilities and the family's history of "the visions" that have haunted them for generations.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Heidi begins seeing the ghost of a man named Mr. Gordy in the woods behind their house, revealing she has inherited the same psychic abilities as her mother. Lisa realizes her daughter has "the visions" too.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Lisa decides to stop taking her medication and open herself to the visions in order to protect Heidi and understand what's happening in their home. She chooses to enter the supernatural world rather than deny it., moving from reaction to action.
At 51 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat The family discovers the full horror: the underground station contains dozens of preserved bodies of murdered slaves. The Reverend's malevolent spirit fully manifests and begins violently attacking them. The stakes are raised from mysterious visions to mortal danger., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 75 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Joyce is killed by the Reverend's spirit after attempting to protect the family. Her death devastates Lisa and represents the loss of the one person who encouraged her to embrace her gifts. The whiff of death is literal and crushing., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 80 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Lisa and Heidi work together using their combined psychic abilities to trap and banish the Reverend's spirit. With Mr. Gordy's help, they expose the Reverend's crimes to light, allowing his victims' spirits to find peace. The family performs a ritual that destroys the evil entity and frees the tormented souls., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 13 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia against these established plot points, we can identify how Tom Elkins utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia within the horror genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional horror films include Lake Placid, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Cat's Eye.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Lisa Wyrick as a young girl experiences visions of a mysterious man on a chain, establishing her psychic abilities and the family's history of "the visions" that have haunted them for generations.
Theme
Lisa's mother warns her that "the visions run in the family" and urges her to suppress them, establishing the central theme: confronting truth versus hiding from it, and whether inherited gifts are curses or blessings.
Worldbuilding
Adult Lisa moves with her husband Andy and daughter Heidi to a rural Georgia home to escape the city and start fresh. We learn Lisa still experiences visions, takes medication to suppress them, and her sister Joyce arrives to help them settle. The family dynamics are established: Andy is supportive, Heidi is curious, and Joyce is free-spirited.
Disruption
Heidi begins seeing the ghost of a man named Mr. Gordy in the woods behind their house, revealing she has inherited the same psychic abilities as her mother. Lisa realizes her daughter has "the visions" too.
Resistance
Lisa debates whether to acknowledge Heidi's visions or suppress them as she was taught. Joyce encourages embracing the gift. Strange occurrences escalate: Heidi communicates with Mr. Gordy, discovers a secret underground network beneath the property, and finds taxidermied bodies. Lisa researches the property's dark history involving the Underground Railroad and a mysterious stationmaster.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Lisa decides to stop taking her medication and open herself to the visions in order to protect Heidi and understand what's happening in their home. She chooses to enter the supernatural world rather than deny it.
Mirror World
Joyce serves as the thematic mirror character, fully embracing spiritual openness and encouraging Lisa to see her visions as a gift rather than a curse. Their relationship represents the choice between fear and acceptance.
Premise
The family explores the supernatural mystery: Mr. Gordy reveals he was a stationmaster who helped slaves escape, but was murdered by the Reverend Jonah, who posed as a helper but actually trapped and killed escaped slaves, preserving their bodies. The horror escalates as the malevolent spirit of the Reverend attacks the family, and they discover the extent of his crimes.
Midpoint
The family discovers the full horror: the underground station contains dozens of preserved bodies of murdered slaves. The Reverend's malevolent spirit fully manifests and begins violently attacking them. The stakes are raised from mysterious visions to mortal danger.
Opposition
The Reverend's attacks intensify. He possesses Lisa, causing violent behavior. The family attempts to fight back but struggles against the powerful entity. Lisa's seizures worsen. They discover the Reverend is trying to add them to his collection, particularly targeting Heidi for her psychic abilities.
Collapse
Joyce is killed by the Reverend's spirit after attempting to protect the family. Her death devastates Lisa and represents the loss of the one person who encouraged her to embrace her gifts. The whiff of death is literal and crushing.
Crisis
Lisa grieves Joyce's death and faces her darkest moment. The family is shattered. Lisa must decide whether to flee or confront the evil that killed her sister. She processes the trauma and realizes running won't save them.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Lisa and Heidi work together using their combined psychic abilities to trap and banish the Reverend's spirit. With Mr. Gordy's help, they expose the Reverend's crimes to light, allowing his victims' spirits to find peace. The family performs a ritual that destroys the evil entity and frees the tormented souls.