Fact Check: Are the last 22 minutes of Megan Is Missing real?

The 2011 horror film Megan Is Missing follows two teenagers, Megan and Amy, who are kidnapped and murdered by a serial killer and s*xual predator. Michael Goi has directed and written the film, which follows the found footage format, using videos of Megan and Amy. While the film initially faced some backlash, it has recently resurfaced due to its disturbing content, especially the final 22 minutes.

Since the movie uses what looks like found footage, some of its scenes are incredibly realistic. There have been several debates on social media about whether the last 22 minutes of Megan Is Missing are based on true events or are fictionalized.

The last 22 minutes of Megan Is Missing are not based on real footage and are fictional. While Goi had stated that some real-life murders had inspired the story, none of the footage in the film is real. With the use of found footage, the creator has tried to show the events in as realistic a manner as possible.

Since Megan Is Missing used found footage to record scenes, its production cost was quite low and was self-financed by Goi. The synopsis of the horror film reads:

"The film revolves around the days leading up to the disappearance of Megan Stewart, a high school student in North Hollywood. Things take a bad turn when she decides to meet up with a boy she is interacting with online."

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Are the last 22 minutes of Megan Is Missing real?

The final 22 minutes of Megan Is Missing aren't real, and the scenes showing Megan in captivity are a part of the film's narrative. They are fictionalized versions of several different cases that took place before the film was released. These scenes are scripted and acted on to deliver a powerful message about the dangers of online predators and the vulnerability of teenagers.

Several elements within the film reveal its fictional nature. The editing, the staged dialogue, and the technological inconsistencies, such as the constant recording without a valid reason, all point towards a scripted production. The film's goal is to blur the lines between reality and fiction, making viewers question what they see, but ultimately, it remains a work of fiction.

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What happens at the end of Megan Is Missing?

In the final moments of Megan Is Missing, viewers witness the titular character confined and chained in a makeshift cell, depicted with harrowing realism. The brutality escalates as Amy, in her quest to find her friend Megan, is also captured. The film concludes with Amy being buried alive in a barrel next to Megan's decomposing body, a sequence crafted to leave a lasting impression on the audience.

These scenes, while shocking, are the product of careful cinematic construction. The intention is to evoke a visceral response, emphasizing the film’s message about the real and present dangers of online interactions with strangers.

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What happens in Megan Is Missing?

The movie tells the story of two high school students, Megan and Amy, who become victims of an online predator. The two friends document their daily lives with video diaries and the rest is shown in the film through news footage and chat logs.

Megan (Rachel Quinn) is a popular girl who meets a boy online and eventually develops feelings for him. However, when she goes to meet him for the first time, he kidnaps her. Her best friend Amy (Amber Perkins) sets out on a quest to find out what happened to Megan. Soon, however, the predator manages to capture Amy as well.

Michael Goi stated that the film isn't based on specific events but it does take inspiration from several cases of internet-facilitated abductions and murders. The film also loosely resembles the 2002 murders of teenagers Miranda Gaddis and Ashley Pond. However, Goi has never confirmed if he took inspiration from the events.

The mix between fiction and reality is what makes the movie even more unsettling. It serves as a warning sign about the dangers of dealing with strangers over the internet and the significance of digital safety.

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Megan Is Missing is a horror film that uses found footage to create an intense, cautionary story that seems incredibly realistic. The final 22 minutes, though horrifyingly realistic, are a crafted part of the film’s message about the dangers of the digital age.

Interested viewers can watch the movie on Amazon Prime Video, the Vudu app, and Google Play Movies.