A Townfull of Ghosts (2022)

Mark is documenting his plan to purchase the ghost town of Blackwood Falls with his wife Jenna and make it into a tourist attraction. It will be a family destination with rides and restaurants.  There are three original buildings and the others were built later. So not a real ghost town then.  

Along for the trip is Mark’s cousin Justin, who brings his girlfriend Lisa.  Justin has a drone and video equipment and Mark believes his footage can increase their production value and get them more subscribers.  Mark claims he’s got an online presence and each video gets more views so soon he’ll be able to monetize.

The town is three hours from anything.  There is no electricity, running water, or cell service.  Mark is counting on an investor to help him finance his dream for the town.  He and Jenna are going to sign the papers today, and with only $300 left in the bank, they need the money. 

When the investor arrives and sees the town, he is not happy. He predicts it would take two million to fix the buildings, add plumbing and electricity, and most importantly, it’s not a real ghost town due to only three original buildings.  And why would anyone drive three hours to see it?  He also asks if Mark is aware two teens were murdered here three weeks ago. Mark says that’s not true.

While looking through the buildings, he finds an old projector and some film, and watches one about Blackwood. In 1893 it had 200 residents, but there were rumors of witchcraft at the brothel.  When a child disappeared, the town burned down the brothel, killing everyone except the owner, who then killed everyone in town with an ax.

Jenna is mad because Mark spent all their money and she never wanted to live here. Justin is mad because the check Mark gave him bounced, his girlfriend is missing, and Mark cares about neither. Mark only cares about the town, and he’s started acting really weird.  It’s found footage. Someone’s possessed. We know how that goes.

Questions abound:

1. If there is no electricity, then why is there a light-switch and Christmas lights in a building?
2. How did Mark get the projector to work without electricity?
3. Why would Mark sink all his money into a town three hours from nowhere? 
4. Why isn’t Jenna being honest that she absolutely hates this idea?
5. Why didn’t Mark get the investor to sign off on the money before agreeing to purchase the town?
6. How did no one notice the trail of blood going to the car?
7. Why do we have so many shots up Marks nose?
8. If Mark doesn’t have enough viewers to monetize yet, how much money can he really make?
9. What was he planning to live on until the town was up and running? He only has $300.
10. How was he going to do a digital signature when there is no cell service or electricity?
11. How did Justin get an overhead drone shot of the maze at night? There are no lights. It would be pitch black.

Ridiculous dialogue

I heard some noises and I want this to be totally transparent.

Time’s standing still. A day feels like a month and the longer I’m out here I feel like I don’t even exist any longer. [Jenna after one day]

You know what your problem is, Mark? You’re too much of a salesman. You over promise things, lie and then give shit for results.

Investor - Did you know that two teens got murdered her three weeks ago?

Mark - What? No. That’s fake news.

The ghost town of unoriginal buildings

The amazing drone night shot of the maze

This is a woman who doesn’t want you to purchase a ghost town.

There is a missing woman but no one noticed the trail of blood

Still looking happy one hour into arriving

Gotta perform for the views

Why is there a light switch and Christmas lights
in a town without electricity?

Continuity - reddish brown hair and….

 ….dark brown hair