The movie 'The Gallows' was marketed as being based on a true story, but it's a bit of a stretch. It's a horror film that used the idea of a high school play gone wrong and a haunted gallows on the school's property. In reality, it was more of a fictional horror concept inspired by common horror tropes rather than a strict recounting of an actual event.
The real story of the gallows is that it was a means of capital punishment. It was designed to carry out hangings in a somewhat organized way. The gallows could vary in design from a simple wooden structure to more elaborate ones. In some cultures, the gallows were placed at prominent locations in towns. People would gather around when an execution was about to take place. It was not just about punishing the criminal but also had a social and cultural aspect, like a public spectacle that was meant to reinforce the laws of the land.
Well, 'The Gallows' is purely fictional. The filmmakers came up with the idea and plot themselves to give viewers a thrilling and suspenseful experience that doesn't have roots in reality.