Is Megan is Missing a true story? It draws inspiration from real life events

Megan is Missing premiered in 2011 but is somehow still relevant in 2021. The psychological horror film by Michael Goi resurfaces every few years after a new set of horror fans discovers the terrifying flick. TikTokers attest that you’ll get through a significant chunk of the film without much stress. 

However, the final scenes are perhaps the most gruesome you’ll ever see in a horror film. Goi said that he procured forensic investigators to add as much realism to the horror as possible, and it worked. This film is not for the faint of heart. You’ll be glad to know that Megan is Missing is not based on a true story. 

Megan is Missing follows the investigation into the disappearance of Megan Stewart. Megan disappears after agreeing to meet up with a boy she met online. Her best friend, Amy Herman, leads the search for Megan, only for her to disappear as well. 

Michael Goi affirms that the film isn’t based on a true story, but it draws from real-life events. The eerily similar disappearances of Ashley Pond and her best friend Miranda Diane Gaddis come to mind. 

Police found Ashley and Miranda’s bodies in their best friend’s home compound, murdered by her father, Ward Weaver II. 

Ashley and Miranda might have lived had police officers acted on intel provided by Ashley. Ward had shown a streak of violent behavior before Ashley reported him for rape. He responded by sending the following message to Ashley’s family:

“I’m calling to let you know that Ashley has just now accused me of molesting her and raping her. I want you to know that she is never allowed back at my house again. I’ve completely washed my hands of her. She just ruined the relationship.”

It took police eight months after Ashley disappeared for them to look at Ward. They took a closer look at him after Ward’s son, Francis Weaver, reported that his father had tried to rape his girlfriend. Francis told police that he suspected Ward was behind Ashley and Miranda’s abductions and deaths.

Francis even told the police where he thought Ward buried the girls. The information from Francis proved true: Police found both girls buried in Ward’s compound. 

The most frustrating thing about this case is that authorities had cause to arrest and charge Ward way before Ashley and Miranda disappeared. 

Goi’s purpose when creating Megan is Missing was to deter kids from meeting online strangers. It’s safe to say that he succeeded. 

Michael posted a message on TikTok if you can’t stomach the horror. He gave the following instructions to anyone considering watching the film:

“Do not watch the movie in the middle of the night, do not watch the movie alone, and if you see the words ‘Photo No. 1’ 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.”

Goi also apologized to those who watched the film, not knowing what they were getting themselves into. “Apologies to those who are already posting about how the movie already freaked them out,” he said.

“Fair warning to those of you who are still contemplating watching the film.”