The Resort Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Four friends go ghost hunting at a Hawaiian abandoned resort, ignore basic safety, and get picked off by a grumpy ghost who apparently also hates plot consistency.

🍿 The Resort: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Hawaiian Getaway Turned Ghost Hunt

Four friends – Lex, Chris, Sam, and Bree – travel to Hawaii for Lex’s birthday. Lex is fascinated by the supernatural and is particularly interested in the urban legend of the Half-Faced Girl, a ghost said to haunt an abandoned resort on the island. The group decides to visit the notorious site to investigate the reported hauntings.

Exploring the Abandoned Makena Resort

Ignoring warnings, the friends venture onto the grounds of the deserted Makena Beach & Golf Resort, a real location in Maui that closed and was later demolished. Initially, their exploration feels like an urban adventure, documenting the decaying hotel and its eerie atmosphere. They hope to find evidence of the Half-Faced Girl, driven by curiosity and Lex’s interest in the paranormal.

Encounters with the Supernatural

As they delve deeper into the abandoned complex, the atmosphere shifts. The friends begin to experience unsettling phenomena, suggesting the legends about the resort are true. Their lighthearted ghost hunt quickly turns into a terrifying fight for survival as they encounter malevolent forces tied to the resort’s dark history.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Lex (Bianca Haase): The protagonist among the four friends who initiates the investigation into the infamous Half-Faced Girl at the abandoned resort.
• Chris (Brock O’Hurn): One of Lex’s friends who joins the group trip to the haunted resort.
• Sam (Michael Vlamis): A friend who travels with Lex and the others to explore the abandoned resort.
• Bree (Michelle Randolph): A friend who accompanies Lex and the group on their ill-advised birthday trip to the haunted location.
• The Half-Faced Girl (Rodney Gemberling): The vengeful and terrifying ghost who haunts the abandoned resort and serves as the primary antagonist.
• Detective (Dave Sheridan): A character involved in the investigation related to the events at the resort, appearing in the latter part of the film.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Chris, Sam: “This Is The Part Of The Scary Movie That Really Pisses Me Off” – Said by the characters, acknowledging a common frustrating trope found in horror films.
• Lex: “Are you okay, Bree?” – Lex says this in confusion to Bree during the ambiguous and disorienting final moments of the film.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $1,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $191,996
• Worldwide Gross: $208,639

💥 The Resort Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into ‘The Resort’ hoping for some fun, creepy abandoned hotel vibes in a cool location. The Hawaiian setting definitely delivered on the visuals early on; it actually looked like a neat place to explore, haunted or not. But man, the first hour is a real drag. It’s mostly just the friends walking around, talking about stuff that doesn’t really matter, and making incredibly questionable decisions. I kept waiting for the scares to kick in, thinking ‘this is it, right?’, but they just… didn’t. When the ghost finally shows up, it’s in a quick burst, and then it’s over. The ending tries for a twist, which I honestly saw coming from a mile away because, well, I’ve seen a few horror movies before. It didn’t really add anything for me, just felt like a cliché tacked on at the end. It’s a shame because the core idea and setting had potential, but the execution just fell flat.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of low-budget or B-list horror movies”
  • “Viewers interested in urban exploration themes”
  • “Those looking for a relatively short horror film (approx. 75 minutes)”
  • “Viewers interested in movies filmed in unique, decaying locations”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Supernatural horror and ghost encounters”
  • “Sequences of gore and violent deaths”
  • “Disturbing images (e.g., Half-Faced Girl)”
  • “Implied character deaths”

Professional Reviews

• Horror Now: “The Resort promises a spooky getaway but delivers mostly empty hallways and dull dialogue. While the abandoned Hawaiian location offers some visual appeal, the scares are few and far between, largely confined to the rushed final act. Acting is stiff, and the plot feels like a paint-by-numbers exercise culminating in a predictable, eye-rolling twist. Not worth the trip.
• Indie Scream Monthly: “Taylor Chien’s ‘The Resort’ takes a solid premise – explore a haunted, abandoned hotel in paradise – and unfortunately does little with it for the first hour. Character choices are baffling, and the attempts at horror are minimal until things finally, suddenly, pick up pace. The production feels low-budget, which is forgivable, but the script and editing inconsistencies are harder to overlook. A swing and a miss.

Audience Reactions

The abandoned resort location itself was eerie and visually interesting.: Some viewers appreciated the Hawaiian scenery and the concept of exploring a haunted, abandoned hotel.

The last 15-20 minutes finally deliver some horror action.: A few people felt the brief bursts of supernatural activity and gore near the end provided some needed scares, despite the slow build-up.

Overall Consensus: Widely considered a disappointing horror film with a slow pace, weak script, poor acting, and a cliché ending, salvaged only slightly by its interesting location and a brief period of horror in the final act.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The abandoned resort featured in the film was once the real Makena Beach & Golf Resort located in Maui, Hawaii, which closed in 2016 and was demolished in 2018.”
• “The movie has a short runtime of 1 hour and 16 minutes, making it a swift horror story.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Resort?

As of its release, “The Resort” may be available for rent or purchase on various digital platforms. Check popular VOD services like Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, and others for availability. It might also be included with subscriptions on certain streaming services, so search within your preferred platform.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Resort, you might like these similar films:

• Grave Encounters (2011): Features a group investigating paranormal activity in an abandoned, isolated location with similar thematic elements of urban exploration gone wrong.
• Urban Legend (1998): Centers around the premise of urban legends coming to life and causing real-world horror, mirroring the hunt for the ‘Half-Faced Girl’ legend.
• Wrong Turn (2021): A group of friends venturing into an isolated, dangerous location where they face unforeseen threats, released in the same general era.
• Fantasy Island (2020): Features a supernatural premise in a tropical resort setting where guests must confront the consequences of their desires, often receiving mixed to negative reviews like ‘The Resort’.
• Cabin in the Woods (2012): Deconstructs horror tropes with a group of friends in an isolated location facing supernatural entities, appealing to fans who appreciate meta-commentary on the genre.

🛒 The Resort Related Products

• Hawaiian Ghost Stories and Legends Book: Explore the rich folklore and spooky tales from the Hawaiian Islands, featuring historical accounts and chilling urban legends.
• Phasmophobia – Steam PC Download: A 4-player online co-op psychological horror game where you and your team of paranormal investigators explore haunted locations filled with supernatural activity.
• Abandoned Buildings Photography Book: Stunning photographic collection showcasing the beauty and decay of forgotten structures from around the world.
• Generic Horror Movie Fan T-Shirt: ‘I Survived Watching It’: A humorous t-shirt acknowledging the experience of watching less-than-stellar horror films.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Resort features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Eerie Approach” – performed by Various Artists
• “Half-Faced Theme” – performed by Various Artists
• “Resort Decay” – performed by Various Artists
• “Spirits Unveiled” – performed by Various Artists

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Haunted Resort Horror Story GRS

Ever wondered what kind of quick, creepy story can rack up millions of views? This ‘Haunted Resort’ horror clip is super popular – gotta see why everyone’s watching this quick scare!

Short Film “The Cursed Resort”

If you’re into horror, you HAVE to see this popular short film about a cursed resort. It’s got a great creepy vibe and explores how a place can go terribly wrong!

Private Resort (1985) – Hiding a Drunk Woman

Looking for a popular movie moment? This clip from ‘Private Resort (1985)’ has racked up millions of views. It’s a scene everyone’s talking about, even years later – check it out!

✨ Rate