When they meet in person and she goes missing, Amy desperately searches for her best friendbut she soon regrets what she's able to find. They bond immediately, and though Josh doesn't show his face, Megan decides to meet him in person behind a diner. They agree to meet at a party, but he fails to reveal himself. Ward Weaver is interesting, because he is a great example of how some predators act when they are caught that often tricks people into believing they are innocent because he was simply so adamant he wasnt involved. The film starsAmber Perkins as Amy Herman, Rachel Quinn as Megan Stewart, Dean Waite as Josh, and Jael Elizabeth Steinmeyer as Lexie. However, towards the end of the film, Josh reveals his true nature; a psychopathic and twisted stalker who tortured and murdered Megan, and is prepared to do the same to Amy, partly to prevent her from exposing him to the authorities, but mainly out of sadism. As Dateline has previously reported, Megans mother, Kathy Jo Hutchcraft, discovered her daughter missing from her room around 11:00 p.m. Kathy later found a note Megan reportedly left behind, telling her that she loved her, but she would never be happy at home. While it was still a mystery, the story was featured on an episode of Unsolved Mysteries with Robert Stack: Eight months after she disappeared, police found Ashley Ponds body in a 55-gallon barrel underneath a concrete slab in the yard of Ashley and Mirandas friend, Mallori Weaver. Josh is a disturbingly realistic portrayal of a stalker in film, as he is emotionally manipulative to Megan to fool her, and underneath the charm, he is incredibly ruthless and sadistic underneath. Marketed as an educational film, Megan Is Missing was banned in New Zealand upon its release. In partnership with Megans friend, Holden August, told NBC affiliate WFIE that her disappearance and death took a while to digest for him and his classmates. And while Megans body has been found, the questions of what happened to her are still unanswered. Then, he drives out to the woods and starts digging a massive hole in the ground. The film later began trending on Twitter. Nothing . He says his little brother broke his webcam, leaving her unable to see his face. Don't come looking for me 'cause why spend a lifetime looking for somebody that doesn't wanna be found,'" said Megan's mother Kathy Jo Hutchcraft. This was reported to the police in 2001, but they never followed up and charged Weaver with any crime. Megan is a high school honors student who is popular amongst her peers. Sign up to receive breaking True Crime Daily news, exclusive stories and behind-the-scenes info. On January 17, news reports reveal that Megan vanished and the last footage of her is from the diner's grainy security camera, showing her being grabbed by the wrist by an indistinct man. Obviously he wanted to shock to make prove something about the dangers of the internet. Josh meeting Megan online.https://villains.fandom.com/wiki/File:Hello,_hot_chick_(online-audio-converter.com).oggHello, hot chick. One of the most unforgivingly brutal and horrific movies I have ever seen is writer-director Michael Goi's controversial found footage flick Megan Is Missing. The film is focused on the danger of . Ward Weaver II is serving two life sentences without the possibility of parole. When investigated, Amy's camera is found in the garbage. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. By subscribing, you agree to the terms of our Privacy Statement. Creepy Catalog is owned by the Thought and Expression Company, a small, independent media company. The FBI, along with many law enforcement organizations, including the Vanderburgh County Sheriffs Office and the Evansville Police Department, continue to investigate Megans case. Warner Bros. Entertainment | No, Megan is Missing is not real. Weve created a community powered by horror fans like you and we need you in it. Written, directed, edited and co-produced by Michael Goi, Megan Is Missing is a "found footage" psychological horror set in North Hollywood. When you opt in, not only do you get our curated list of the best horror streaming and stories, you support our work and help us keep the lights on. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. After realizing Amy suspects him, he threatens her. Before she can escape, Josh seizes Amy, stuffs her into the barrel with the dead body of Megan, and drives away with it with her still inside. Lexie, one of Megan's party friends, gives her a social media handle to Josh, someone they think is a 17-year-old boy from a nearby school. Megan is Missing Plot Synopsis He then rapes her and gets her blood on his hands in the process of doing so. And if you see the words 'photo number one' pop up on your screen, you have about four seconds to shut off the movie if you're already kind of freaking out before you start seeing things that maybe you don't want to see". Perkins ad libbed most of her dialogue in the barrel.[11]. Although, some critics have emphasized that Goi succeeds with the film having an impact. The camera is placed haphazardly on the ground seemingly without a focus. But at what point does it become exploitation? Megan's best friend, Amy, starts to feel left outand before deciding to meet in person behind a cafe, Megan introduces her to him. Though Amy screams, her pleas are without cause as Josh buries her alive and walks off, not to be seen again. Ross McCullum attacked Megan Newborough, 23, "with grea And if you see the words photo number one pop up on your screen, you have about four seconds to shut off the movie if youre already kind of freaking out before you start seeing things that maybe you dont want to see.. Weaver employs the DARVO tactic abusers use which stands for deny, attack, and reverse victim and offender. The two have an unusual, yet endearing friendship thats shown through video chats, cell phone videos, and footage captured on Amys new video camera. Heres an interview he gave where hes literally standing on top of Ashley Ponds body in his backyard, taunting the media, the viewers, and the mothers of the girls he murdered: As we can see from this case. After Josh sexually assaults the teenager (who in all likelihood hasnt even had her first kiss), she is seen sleeping with the bear in her hands. After she was supposed to meet in real life with a boy she was talking to online, the famous high school student goes missing and an investigation is initiated by her friend Amy (Amber Perkins). She had left her cell phone behind at the house. Josh is a seventeen (so he claims) year old boy who the fourteen-year-old Megan meets on webcam. The girls are basic, typical high school students who meet a guy online. The use of "found footage" makes the movie feel realistic. The remains were found in a rural location in Wayne County, Illinois, FBI Public Information Officer Brad Ware previously told Dateline. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Our newsletter keeps our core readers connected. This is hell.". Authorities first considered Megan a runaway, but her family didnt agree. However, he stated that he has theorized making a sequel but no progress has been made due to there being "no angle" for him to take the story.[2]. Thats why I first searched for the controversial found footage movie Megan Is Missing at the age of 18. The movie follows the story of teens Megan Stewart (Rachel Quinn)and her best friend Amy Herman (Amber Perkins). Been reported by Ashley Pond herself to have raped her. . It should serve as a wake-up call for parents everywhere. Klaaskids has also hosted fundraisers with Michael Goi where the movie is shown. But she never comes home from this interaction, leading her shy and reserved best friend Amy to launch her own version of an investigation. [7], It is one of the first computer screen films. Before he got caught for Ashley and Mirandas murders, Ward Weaver had: Physically and sexually abused a family member before he was 12-years-old. Now, the camera is no longer in the hands of a child; its in the hands of a killer who sees filming her as a fun little experiment. Therefore, the stuffed toy becomes even more pertinent in reminding us that Josh is actively carrying out the domination, sodomisation, brutalization, and objectification of mere children. [2] It did not find distribution until Anchor Bay Films gave it a limited theatrical release in 2011. Megan Is Missing, directed by Michael Goi, is a cautionary tale about the dangers of strangers on the internet. He then shows her a barrel and tells her to get into it so that when they leave, she will not know where he lives. Another witness said that Wards live-in girlfriend was mad at him because he slept in the same bed as Ashley instead of his adult girlfriend. Megan Is Missing, directed by Michael Goi, is a cautionary tale about the dangers of strangers on the internet. TRUE CRIME DAILY: Megan Nichols case coverage - TCD, The remains of Megan Nichols, a 15-year-old who went missing in 2014, were positively identified on January 26, 2018, according to the FBI. Ashley was 12 at the time. Despite her close friendship with Megan, Amy is a target of bullying. Its one of those things where you kind of always knew it was him," Hold told WFIE. Though Goi was influenced by cases of child abduction in real life, it is not entirely based on one particular event. I didnt get to give you the customary warnings that I used to give people before they watchedMegan is Missing, which are: do not watch the movie in the middle of the night, do not watch the movie alone, and if you see the words 'photo number one' pop up on your screen, you have about four seconds to shut off the movie if youre already freaking out, before you start seeing things that maybe you dont want to see. The film revolves around the disappearance of a. Police Found A Missing Womans Car Abandoned With The Door Open. [11] Goi was very particular about the makeup direction for Megan's corpse. In fact, thats all we hear for the duration of the shot, with the exception of the sound of the shovel scraping against the dirt. Megan Nichols FBI Media Representative Brad Ware. Her whereabouts remained a mystery for three years until human remains were found on December 26, 2017. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Yet in the barrel scene, Amy is on a leash, stripped down to her underwear. A search warrant was issued and both girls bodies were found on the property. They also stated that it sexualized the lives of young teenage girls to a "highly exploitative degree".[20]. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. [11] Goi recollects Waite becoming frustrated and cursing upon being told they had to refilm it. Datelines digital series Missing in America. Before she can cry, Amy quickly hugs and comforts her. A few years after its release, a production company in Mexico approached Goi to make a Spanish language remake of the film with a Mexican cast. TikTok users are . 4 talking about this. Goi declined the offer as he did not want to revisit the grim subject matter. An autopsy is planned for Tuesday that could identify a body in a barrel police believe to be that of a missing 16-year-old Arkansas girl who they allege had. The film was controversial upon its limited release due to its graphic and exploitative depiction of violence and rape and the overt sexualization of the fourteen-year-old titular protagonist. Amy walks in on Megan performing oral sex on the party's host in exchange for drugs, leaving her shocked. Investigators find her video camera in a garbage can. But when Megan meets a new guy online named Josh, their lives quickly take a violent turn. He added that theres a bit of relief now that an arrest has been made. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. This sudden and drastic fetishization of the most mundane character in the film is a poignant message in itself. [19] Beyond the violent conclusion, Jones emphasizes the film's early scenes succeed in pushing for conversations regarding online safety, healthy communication between parents or trusted adult figures and children, and reaching out for help. Let's first discuss the premise and details behind this movie. This was further evidenced upon telling Amy that his name was never revealed to be actually Josh after all. [2] Quinn spent several hours having the special effects for Megan's corpse reveal applied to her and had to wear oversized white contact lenses that essentially blinded her when shooting in the barrel. He loads the barrel into the car and then drives to a forest where, as Amy screams and begs for her life, he digs a huge pit. "[14], In a negative review for the Oklahoma Gazette, Rod Lott criticized Goi's characterization and handling of Megan and the acting from the rest of the cast. In her room, Megan's mother and grandmother found a note from Megan. Shortly after these images linger on the screen, Amy is kidnapped on camera and the real sadism begins. Also read |'Rebecca' Ending Explained: Find Out What Happens To Mrs Danvers In The Ben Wheatley Film, Also read |The Mist Ending Explained: Here's What Happened In The Heartbreaking Last Scene, 'He represents Nagaland': Know what PM Modi said about Temjen Imna Along in his rally, AAP, BJP councillors FIGHT IT OUT at Delhi Civic Centre after standing committee polls, Megan is Missing ending explained: Here's all you need to know about the film, It Follows Ending Explained: Here's What Happened In The Terrifying Last Scene, 'I May Destroy You' Ending Explained: 'Ego Death' Episode Explores Three Different Avenues, 'Rebecca' Ending Explained: Find Out What Happens To Mrs Danvers In The Ben Wheatley Film, The Mist Ending Explained: Here's What Happened In The Heartbreaking Last Scene. Eventually, the FBI discovers a disturbing image that apparently shows Megan being tortured. Goi later issued public warnings to prospective viewers after many users began calling the film "traumatizing. He says his little brother broke his webcam, leaving her unable to see his face. We only haunt the willing. Post this, Josh retrieves Amys precious Billy Bear and forces her to eat food from a dog bowl while taunting her with the toy. She becomes furious at him when Josh fails to reveal himself at a party he claimed to be attending. Fortunately, the characters are played by actors, and the film doesn't follow Megan's abduction in real-time. The most gruesome aspects of Megan is Missing were, Im extremely sorry to tell you this, based on a real story: On January 9, 2002, a 12-year-old girl named Ashley Pond disappeared on the way to her school bus stop in Oregon City, OR. Ward Weaver wasnt even caught because police finally realized maybe they should investigate the man the missing girl said raped her right before she went missing. But it is also a horror flick that seeks to educate its audience about the risk and prevalence of predators who use the internet to prey on children. [11], The basement scenes were challenging for Perkins. So, you've probably seen that controversialhorror movie Megan is Missingis going viral onTikTok right now. The documents show hes accused of strangling and suffocating Megan and burying her in a shallow grave. Psychological horror filmMegan is Missing directed by Michael Goiis shot in a found-footage style and chronicles the days leading up to Megan Stewart's disappearance. For viewers who failed to understand how the movie concluded, here is alook at Megan is Missing's ending. And that was only because his son told them that he did it. In our opinion, it is only when you let that fact sink into the very depths of your soul that the movie really horrifies you. Ward even claimed he was the victim of anti-male bias because he was suspected of harming his daughters friends. Subsequently, graphic images of a tortured Megan's mouth, nostrils, and eyes forced open while immobilized in a contraption begin surfacing on fetish forums. During a subsequent conversation with police, Francis told them he thought his father kidnapped and killed Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis and buried Ashleys body underneath the concrete slab in his yard. Once, her biggest worry in the world was to hide it and protect it. While video chatting, Megan apologizes for the bad experience. This occurred in September 2001, four months before Ashley disappeared. Megan Stewart and Amy Herman are 14-year-old best friends who vanished in January 2007. Its an ongoing investigation, [and] details will not be released at this time.. An FBI spokesman told NBC that Megan's body was found in a rural location in Wayne County on December 26, 2017.. Sure, there are jump scares and other conventional tropes in the film. Its truly one of the most upsetting moments in horror movie history. But these words dont have any effect on Josh, who proceeds to shove the barrel in the cavity and cover the scene up with dirt. Later, the man comes back and tells Amy to get into the barrel in front of her so that she will remain in the dark about the location. "[9] The film placed sixth in the DEG Watched at Home Top 20 Chart for Week Ending November 21, 2020.[10]. Megan Is Missing is a 2011 American found footage psychological horror film[4] written, directed, edited, and co-produced by Michael Goi. She confronts him online but forgives him when he accurately describes what she was wearing and insists he is shy. Wards response to this was pretty bizarre. An FBI spokesman told NBC that Megan's body "was found in a rural location in Wayne County on December 26, 2017." becker's bakery butter cookies recipe; tiktok trends to do on your boyfriend over text; buds gun shop death; inside oscar the grouch can; galayou security camera manual Although filmed in 2006, the film did not find distribution until Anchor Bay Films gave it a limited cinema release in 2011. You may unsubscribe at any time. Because of the graphic content, he requested that the parents of the young cast be on set during filming so that they were fully aware of their children's involvement in the project, Strictly star bags life-changing EastEnders role as part of new family, Baby's body found after huge search as cops quiz Constance Marten & lover, I took pic of son, 18, before his first night out then the worst thing happened, Meg & Harry 'stunned' by King's 'cruel' Frogmore eviction 'punishment', News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. [11] Upon seeing the real-life photographs she was reenacting, she began crying on the set. "Josh" also known as the "Skaterdude", is the main antagonist of the 2011 found footage-horror film Megan Is Missing. For other inquiries, Contact Us. 14-year-old Megan meets a boy online and disappears when she goes to meet him. Murbarger was held at the Vanderburgh County Jail pending extradition to Illinois. Megan was last seen on July 3, 2014 at the home in Fairfield, Illinois, where she lived with her mother and stepfather. In this article, we discuss the ending and the significance of the barrel scene. Amy starts a concentrated search to locate her friend and talks online with Josh to see if he knows anything about her whereabouts. The Vanderburgh County Sheriffs Office, the Evansville Police Department and the FBI are investigating. Megan is Missing is a 2011 found footage horror movie centering on best friends Megan and Amy. Brodey Ian Murbarger, 24, of Evansville, Indiana, was taken into custody outside his place of employment and transported to the Vanderburgh County Jail, according to a press release issued by the Vanderburgh County Sheriffs Office this week. Also, in 1984 Wards father, Ward Weaver I, was convicted of murdering a couple in California whose car had broken down. A year after her daughter disappeared, Megans mom Kathy spoke to NBC affiliate 14 News. 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