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Plot summary

A Haunting at Silver Falls (2013) Plot Summary & Timeline

A Haunting at Silver Falls (2013) movie poster

A Haunting at Silver Falls is a 2013 thriller and horror film directed by Brett Donowho, running 1 hour 36 minutes. This page retells the whole story in 661 words (about 3 minutes to read) and covers 11 key events in order, 9 characters, where and when it is set and 3 themes. Looking for the cast, ratings and where to stream it? See the movie page for A Haunting at Silver Falls.

to read the plot summary
3 min
key events in the timeline
11
characters profiled
9
themes explained
3
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A Haunting at Silver Falls (2013) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 36m
Director
Brett Donowho
Genres
Thriller, Horror
Original language
English
No spoilers

What Is A Haunting at Silver Falls About?

The premise of A Haunting at Silver Falls in 261 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.

In the quiet, mist‑shrouded town of Silver Falls, a grieving teen arrives to live with her aunt and uncle after the loss of both parents. Jordan steps into a community where whispered legends linger in the woods and abandoned places, and where the line between memory and myth feels thin. The town’s atmosphere is drenched in a low‑key, almost reverent melancholy, punctuated by the occasional flicker of teen nightlife that hints at an undercurrent of restless energy.

Soon after settling in, Jordan discovers an old silver ring hidden among the trees, an object that seems to pulse with a quiet, unnerving presence. The ring becomes the gateway to a lingering specter: the twin sisters whose stories have been folded into every local ghost tale. Their ethereal influence manifests in subtle, teasing disturbances—photos shifting, doors opening of their own accord—creating a sense of playful yet unsettling companionship. The dynamic between Jordan and her protective aunt, balanced by the enigmatic calm of her uncle, adds a grounded counterpoint to the otherworldly events that swirl around her.

As the unseen twins begin to guide Jordan with cryptic gestures, the tone deepens into a blend of atmospheric suspense and quiet curiosity. The film invites viewers to feel the pull of history pressing against the present, suggesting that long‑forgotten truths may be waiting to surface. Within the mist‑laden forests and the creaking house, Jordan finds herself poised between ordinary teenage worries and the haunting call of a mystery that has lingered for decades, setting the stage for a journey where the past whispers through every shadow.

Full plot

What Happens in A Haunting at Silver Falls?

The complete story of A Haunting at Silver Falls, from the first scene to the last, in 661 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 6 cast member pages.

Spoilers ahead

The movie opens with Jordan, a teenager sprinting through a moonlit forest as a shadowy figure closes in. The tension breaks when a severed hand lies in the undergrowth, a gleaming silver ring resting on the finger of the victim—a cruel hint that something ancient and dangerous is at play.

[Jordan] is an orphan who has already endured a rough stretch of loss: her father died of leukemia, and her mother drowned when Jordan was five. She is sent to Silver Falls to live with her aunt and uncle, Anne Sanders and Kevin Sanders, in a town famed for its ghost stories. It’s within this eerie, quiet place that she begins to hear whispers about the past and the legends that haunt the local park, where a burning mannequin becomes a chilling spectacle for curious teens. After police raid the party, [Jordan] wanders into the surrounding woods where she unthinkingly slips the ring onto her forefinger, sealing her fate to a haunting that will not be dismissed.

The ring seems to awaken a vengeful presence: the ghost of a girl murdered twenty years earlier, a figure tied to two sisters whose names emerge in whispers around town—Heather Dale and Holly Dahl. The spectral visitor begins to manifest in unsettling ways, turning ordinary moments into eerie events: pictures shift on walls, doors open on their own, and small trinkets vanish from the quiet corners of the house. The atmosphere at home grows tense as the family watches these disturbances unfold, prompting them to seek help from a local psychologist.

The plan is to help Jordan through her troubling experiences, but the sessions carry their own friction, as the doctor struggles with how seriously to take Jordan’s claims and how his own son fits into the equation. After one appointment, Jordan confesses to the doctor that she is haunted by the presence of one of the dead twins, a revelation that deepens the fear but also the resolve to understand what’s happening. The mystery intensifies when the twins’ father, Wyatt Dahl, who sits in prison, reveals that he and his daughters wore matching rings—rings that mirror the one Jordan wears—and he warns her to pay attention to what his daughters are trying to tell her. The moment is tense and loaded with questions about innocence, guilt, and the lines between the living and the dead.

That same night, after leaving the psychologist’s house, Jordan returns to the sanctuary of her aunt and uncle’s home, only to be followed by a warning from the living shadow of the twins. A heavy sleep comes, and she experiences a vivid dream in which the twins appear together, their presence commanding: go downstairs, board a school bus, and ride into the dark woods. The dream ends with a chilling directive—she is warned that she is next—and when she wakes, the walls of the house feel thinner, the atmosphere thicker than before.

The next day brings a creeping unease as an unsettling encounter with one of the twins occurs near the aunt’s bedroom. In a moment that feels like a ominous invitation, the twin signals Jordan to follow, and what unfolds is a disturbing discovery that shakes Jordan to her core. While rifling through her aunt’s belongings, she uncovers photographs of the twins and, most importantly, the last remaining matching ring—proof that the past is not just a story told around town, but a present danger that demands attention.

As the circle of fear tightens, Jordan must navigate the murky intersection of memory, murder, and the rings that bind the living to the dead. The town’s secrets begin to unravel in quiet moments and through the persistent, eerie influence of the two sisters—the apparitions who refuse to be silenced. In the end, the mystery of the ring, the victims, and the town’s ghost stories converge in a careful, unsettling tapestry that asks: who is truly haunting whom, and what is needed to lay a troubled past to rest?

Timeline

A Haunting at Silver Falls Timeline: Every Key Event in Order

11 key events in the order they happen, from “Opening murder in the woods” to “The ring ties the past to the present”. 10 events name a place, across 8 locations.

  1. 1

    Opening murder in the woods

    A young girl is chased through a dark wood by a shadowy figure. Her body is later dragged away with a severed hand nearby, and a silver ring rests on the hand. This brutal opening sets a lingering mystery about the girl and the ring.

    Where:Dark wood

  2. 2

    Jordan arrives in Silver Falls

    Jordan becomes an orphan after her father dies of leukemia and her mother drowns. She goes to live with her aunt and uncle in Silver Falls, who are her mother's identical twins. She starts hearing ghost stories after spotting a burning mannequin at a park where teens party, and later wanders the forest and finds the ring, which she slips onto her forefinger.

    Where:Silver Falls (aunt and uncle's home)

  3. 3

    The ring claims the ghost

    Back at home, the ring refuses to come off Jordan's finger. The ring attracts the ghost of a murdered girl from twenty years earlier, though the community is unaware of the killing.

    Where:Jordan's home

  4. 4

    Ghostly mischief erupts at home

    The ghostly presence starts moving pictures, opening doors, and stealing small items from Jordan's aunt and uncle. The disturbances worry the family and they schedule a session with a local psychologist to understand what Jordan is experiencing.

    Where:Aunt and uncle's home

  5. 5

    Dr. Parish meeting

    Jordan meets with Dr. Parish, a local psychologist who does not trust her and worries she affects his son. The session underscores the skeptical adult perspective toward Jordan's visions.

    Where:Dr. Parish's office

  6. 6

    Jordan reveals the twins to Larry

    After the session, Jordan confesses to Larry that she sees one of the dead twins. Her admission marks a deeper connection to the haunting and sets up the twins as real presences rather than mere memories.

    Where:Dr. Parish's office

  7. 7

    One twin shadows Jordan

    Only one of the evil twins begins following Jordan everywhere, signaling her when to stay quiet around certain people. The presence hints that the twins are influencing her life beyond memory.

    Where:Various locations around Silver Falls

  8. 8

    Meeting the twins' father

    That night, after leaving Dr. Parish's house, Jordan visits the twins' father in prison. He wears a ring similar to hers and reveals that matching rings were worn by him and his daughters. He senses the twins' influence on Jordan and urges her to listen to what his daughters are trying to tell her; when asked if he is innocent, he stares silently and hands her his ring before returning to his cell.

    When:Night Where:Prison

  9. 9

    Nightmare and the pursuit

    Back home, a cop watches from outside as Jordan's aunt gives her a sleeping pill. She dreams of both twins signaling her to follow them on a school bus into the woods, and they warn that she is next. She wakes up frightened, realizing the danger is escalating.

    When:Night Where:Jordan's home

  10. 10

    Morning discovery

    The next morning, Jordan declines her aunt's offer to go to the store, but one twin signals her to follow inside the house. They end up in the aunt's bedroom, where Jordan rummages through belongings and finds pictures of the twins along with a final matching ring.

    When:Morning Where:Aunt's house, aunt's bedroom

  11. 11

    The ring ties the past to the present

    The threads between the ring, the murdered girl, and the twins' father begin to converge. Jordan pieces together how the rings connect the decades-old murder to the haunting plaguing her life, while the ghost's presence grows more immediate and dangerous.

Characters

Who Are the Main Characters in A Haunting at Silver Falls?

9 characters, among them Jordan (Alix Elizabeth Gitter), Heather Dale (Jade Ramsey) and Holly Dahl (Nikita Ramsey): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.

  • J(

    Jordan (Alix Elizabeth Gitter)

    Played by Alix Elizabeth Gitter

    A teenage orphan living with her aunt and uncle in Silver Falls, Jordan discovers a silver ring in the woods that binds her to the restless ghost of a murdered girl. Her curiosity drives her to explore the town’s secrets, even as supernatural events disrupt her home life. She must navigate family dynamics while pursuing the truth about the past.

    • 🧑‍🎓 Teen
    • 🔎 Investigator
    • 🧠 Curious
  • HD

    Heather Dale (Jade Ramsey)

    Played by Jade Ramsey

    One of the murdered twin sisters who haunts Jordan. As a ghost, she moves unseen around the house and appears in dreams, sometimes signaling when to keep quiet. Her presence deepens the mystery surrounding the twins and the ring.

    • 🪬 Spirit
    • 🗝️ Signal
  • HD

    Holly Dahl (Nikita Ramsey)

    Played by Nikita Ramsey

    The other dead twin whose spirit is tied to the case. Described as part of the duo of ‘evil twins,’ she follows Jordan and appears in dreams, contributing to the sense of danger and urgency. Her involvement helps reveal the sisters’ backstory and the ring connection.

    • 🌀 Mystery
    • 🔮 Vision
  • WD

    Wyatt Dahl

    Played by James C. Burns

    Father of the twin sisters, he is incarcerated for murdering his daughters. He notes that he and his children wore matching rings, hinting at a family link to the ring and the haunting. His ring becomes a key clue in understanding the ghosts’ motives.

    • 🔐 Secret
    • 🗡️ Crime
  • KS

    Kevin Sanders

    Played by Steve Bacic

    Jordan's uncle by marriage, living with his sister (the aunt) in Silver Falls. He is protective and practical, trying to keep peace in a home troubled by strange events and a looming past. He helps anchor Jordan amid the supernatural disturbances.

    • 🏡 Guardian
    • ⚖️ Protector
    • 👪 Family
  • AS

    Anne Sanders

    Played by Tara Westwood

    Jordan's aunt and guardian in Silver Falls. She shares concern over Jordan’s behavior and participates in the family’s efforts to understand the ring and the ghosts. Her presence helps ground the supernatural events in familiar family life.

    • 🏡 Guardian
    • 👪 Family
    • 🤝 Support
  • L

    Larry

    Played by James Cavlo

    Jordan's uncle, to whom she confesses seeing one of the dead twins. He is a supportive figure within the family and references the twin-related history that haunts the town, acting as a bridge to the adults who hold the town’s secrets.

    • 👨‍🦳 Confidant
    • 🗺️ Guidance
  • DP

    Dr. Parrish

    Played by Erick Avari

    Local psychologist consulted for Jordan, who is skeptical of her experiences and not fond of Jordan, especially her influence on his son. He embodies the tension between rational explanations and supernatural events in the town, challenging Jordan to justify her experiences.

    • 🧠 Psychologist
    • 🧩 Skeptic
  • SO

    Sheriff O'Leary

    Played by James Ralph

    Local law enforcement figure representing the community's authority as the town confronts its dark history. He adds a sense of order and oversight amid the unfolding mystery and past crimes.

    • 🛡️ Sheriff
    • 🏛️ Authority
Setting

Where and When Is A Haunting at Silver Falls Set?

A Haunting at Silver Falls is set in Silver Falls. Here is why the place matters to the story.

Where

Silver Falls

Silver Falls is a quiet town surrounded by dense forests, with a park where teens gather for parties. Its calm streets hide a shadow of a murder from twenty years ago, and a mysterious ring that links the living to a restless ghost. Everyday life becomes uneasy as spectral activity surfaces and locals confront hidden histories.

  • 🏞️ Small Town
  • 👻 Ghost Lore
  • 🌲 Forest Setting
Themes

What Are the Themes of A Haunting at Silver Falls?

3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Past Haunting, Twin Secrets and The Ring.

  1. 01

    Past Haunting

    The story uses the ghost of a murdered girl to show how past violence continues to shape the present. A ring and decades-old crime pull the protagonist into a history that refuses to stay buried. The haunting ups the stakes and forces characters to confront long-held secrets.

  2. 02

    Twin Secrets

    Identical twins anchor the family's history and the central mystery. Their murder and the father's imprisonment reveal how lineage and secrets ripple through generations. The twins' presence guides the protagonist toward truth and tests family loyalties.

  3. 03

    The Ring

    The silver ring acts as a tangible link between the living and the dead, drawing a ghostly history into the present. It triggers disturbances and signals from the spirits, pushing the protagonist to uncover the town's buried past. The ring serves as a catalyst for revelations and danger.

Tone & mood

What Kind of Film Is A Haunting at Silver Falls?

Tense in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.

Tone
Tense
Pacing
Steady
Story
Straightforward
Intensity
Medium
Ending
Ambiguous

A steadily tense supernatural thriller that builds an eerie and unsettling atmosphere as a grieving teenager uncovers small-town secrets while being haunted by vengeful spirits.

  • eerie
  • suspenseful
  • unsettling
  • ominous
  • melancholic
  • paranoid
  • supernatural investigation
  • grief and loss
  • wrongful conviction
  • family secrets

Content notes: death of parents, supernatural haunting.

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FAQ

A Haunting at Silver Falls Plot Questions

5 quick answers about A Haunting at Silver Falls, taken from the plot summary, character guide and setting on this page and the film’s credits.

What is A Haunting at Silver Falls about?

In the quiet, mist‑shrouded town of Silver Falls, a grieving teen arrives to live with her aunt and uncle after the loss of both parents. Jordan steps into a community where whispered legends linger in the woods and abandoned places, and where the line between memory and myth feels thin.

Read the full plot summary

When and where does A Haunting at Silver Falls take place?

A Haunting at Silver Falls is set in Silver Falls. Silver Falls is a quiet town surrounded by dense forests, with a park where teens gather for parties. Its calm streets hide a shadow of a murder from twenty years ago, and a mysterious ring that links the living to a…

The setting explained

Who are the main characters in A Haunting at Silver Falls?

The story follows Jordan (Alix Elizabeth Gitter) (played by Alix Elizabeth Gitter), Heather Dale (Jade Ramsey) (played by Jade Ramsey), Holly Dahl (Nikita Ramsey) (played by Nikita Ramsey) and Wyatt Dahl (played by James C. Burns); the character guide covers 9 characters in all.

All the characters

What are the main themes of A Haunting at Silver Falls?

The summary picks out 3 themes: Past Haunting, Twin Secrets and The Ring.

The themes explained

Who directed A Haunting at Silver Falls?

A Haunting at Silver Falls (2013) was directed by Brett Donowho and runs 1 hour 36 minutes.

Brett Donowho’s films

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