Is The Uninvited Based On A True Story? Does It Combine Fiction And Facts?

As its title suggests, The Uninvited is a psychological horror thriller that deals with the consequences of having an estranged, uninvited person barge into your life. Directed by Charles and Thomas Guard aka the Guard Brothers, the film explores the gravity of familial issues and mental trauma that renders a person helpless. Only, in this case, the said helplessness takes a turn for the worse and ends up transforming into a bitter rage. The film has been hailed as a pioneer in the psychological horror genre and has received a respectable amount of fans.

Though the film originally premiered in 2009, it is yet to see a dull day. Fans are eager to unearth the complex twists that make for the storyline of this thriller. And while the plot is armed with several gripping hooks, one question remains as intriguing as ever. Is The Uninvited based on a true story? Let us find out!

Is The Uninvited Based On A True Story?

The movie is set in an estranged town in Maine where the titular character, Anna Ivers (Emily Browning) is recently back in town after receiving treatment for her unstable psyche. Nothing is the same upon her return, especially her family. With the highly realistic element, the Guard Brothers incorporate into the film, The Uninvited seems to be centred around a true story, doesn’t it?

However, the reality is quite contrasting. The Uninvited isn’t based on a true story. It is a creative manifestation of a trio of talented writers, Craig Rosenberg, Doug Miro and Carlo Bernard. While the three of them serve as screenplay writers and contribute to the intrigue of the film, The Uninvited isn’t their original work. Rather, it is adapted from a popular South Korean film.

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The Uninvited Is Adapted From A South Korean Film

The Uninvited is inspired by the 2003 film, A Tale of Two Sisters helmed by Dr. Brain’s creator, Kim Jee-Won. Originally entitled Janghwa Hongryeon in Korean, the film revolves around two sisters, Su-Mi and Su-Yeon who are left to deal with an unwelcome addition to their family. After their mother’s death, both sisters incessantly start spiralling down into an abyss of agony. Su-Mi is admitted to a mental institution while Su-Yeon is left alone with her father. After Su-Mi is released from the facility, her father’s remarriage becomes a trigger for her.

Jee-Won drew inspiration from a centuries-old popular Korean folk tale and tailored it to custom-fit the present-day storytelling style. Not only did Jee-Won alter the premise and instil elements of psychological horror, but he also modernized the folk tale to narrate a relatable story.

The Uninvited Plot 

The American counterpart of The Tale of Two Sisters, The Uninvited doesn’t hold back from revolutionizing the story. Si-Mi is now Anna Ivers and instead of Su-Mi’s stepmother, it is her father’s new girlfriend, Rachel Summers (Elizabeth Banks). When Ivers steps into her home after completing her residency in the medical facility, her world is distorted. Anna suffers from mental health issues despite her treatment. Those issues intensify with Summers’ presence. It isn’t long before Anna’s sister is caught in the web of hatred towards Rachel.

As if their messed-up family wasn’t standing at a vulnerable point, the grim events unfolding before them threaten their relationship even more. Not only does Anna’s psyche is on the verge of snapping, the Ivers aren’t in a better position either. The Uninvited explores themes of mental disruption caused due to a broken family where secrets lurk beneath smiles and no one is what they seem. While it resembles uncanny similarities with true events, The Uninvited itself and its inspiration remain fictional to the core.

Is The Uninvited Based On A True Story?–FAQs

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