The Gates of Hylan Run

When novelist Michelle brings her family to her childhood home for a summer getaway, she hopes to balance writing time with reconnecting with her parents and nature. Her husband David and their two daughters, Savannah, 10, and Alexis, 15, arrive at her parents' newly renovated house, greeted by Grandpa Archie and Grandma Mimi. The house, adorned with Grandpa Archie’s taxidermy collection, unsettles Alexis but captivates Savannah, who eagerly dives into the adventure of rural life. The following morning, while Michelle stays back to write, David, Archie, Savannah, and Alexis embark on a camping trip. While live-streaming their experience for her followers, Savannah’s audience begins to spot eerie shapes in the forest behind them. Curious and adventurous, Savannah wanders from camp and finds a series of mysterious gates scattered along the trail. She discovers a peculiar seventh gate, crowned with seven small stones, and steps through it—only to be confronted by dark spirits seeking to steal her soul. Savannah barely escapes and flees back to camp, visibly shaken. Back at the house, Michelle’s writing is interrupted by visions of her deceased sister, who drowned when they were children. As Michelle wrestles with repressed memories, Savannah persuades Alexis to return with her to the strange gate, hoping to confirm what she saw. The terrifying encounter deepens their fear, and they hurry back to the house as dawn approaches. The family decides to hike a different path, but the haunting gates reappear. This time, David and Michelle enter one of the gates without incident, further confusing the family about its true nature. Along the way, they encounter Naomi, a mysterious local witch who warns them about the gates and their connection to dark forces in the area. The girls’ research reveals that the gates were constructed on a cursed burial ground by Hubert Hylan, an unscrupulous early settler. They seek out Naomi, who begins teaching them about ancient artifacts they can use for protection—artifacts their grandmother quickly takes away. While traversing the forest, Naomi herself is attacked by the spirits and barely survives, giving the girls a firsthand glimpse into the power they’re up against. Haunted by visions, Michelle finally recalls the details of her sister’s drowning, realizing that it was tied to the supernatural forces in the area. With Naomi’s help, Michelle and the girls confront the spirits, bolstered by the appearance of Jimmy, Naomi’s long-lost boyfriend who was killed by the spirits years ago. In a climactic battle, Michelle and Naomi manage to push the spirits back, sealing them within the gates and restoring peace to the forest. But the quiet is short-lived. Later, a group of hikers stumbles upon the cursed area. One hiker casually mentions his girlfriend, a writer who uses a pseudonym but whose real name is Naomi. The hikers come across the seventh gate—and moments later, the sound of the gate creaking open echoes ominously through the trees.