The Haunting of Molly Hartley 2008

A young woman, Laurel Hartley, finds herself navigating through the woods, following a trail marked by string. With every step, nervousness starts to creep in as she hears unsettling noises around her. This journey leads her to an old house, where her boyfriend surprises her with a heart-shaped necklace as an early birthday gift for her 18th. However, things take a dark turn when her father arrives to take her home, resulting in a tense argument over Laurel’s desire to marry her boyfriend. In a shocking twist, her father apologizes but soon becomes erratic, driving recklessly while clutching a Bible. Laurel fights to regain control of the car, but a tragic accident occurs when they are struck by a semi-truck. In their injured state, her father repeatedly insists he cannot allow her to turn 18.

Fast forward to the present, where a young girl named Molly is drawn into a harrowing nightmare involving her mother. When Molly discovers her mother on the bathroom floor praying, she is initially reluctant but ultimately joins her. Just as it seems the scissors her mother holds might meet Molly’s body, she awakens from this terrifying dream.

At breakfast, the atmosphere is somber as Molly confides in her father about her new prep school and her mother’s ongoing absence. Upon her arrival at school, she meets the principal and learns about an upcoming counselor appointment, but her records are notably sealed. Throughout the day, she befriends Alexis, a religious girl on scholarship, and encounters new classmates. During lunch, panic sets in as Molly experiences distressing auditory hallucinations, racing to the bathroom where she confronts a nosebleed. A girl emerges from a stall, eerily reminding her that she can’t hide forever.

Ignoring her scheduled counseling session, Molly wanders outside until Joseph Young, another student she met, offers her a ride, which she declines. Later at home, the dinner conversation with her father remains heavy with concerns about her mother’s instability in the psychiatric hospital. That night, another nightmare—a vivid portrayal of her mother attempting to harm her—leaves Molly shaken.

While attending class where students receive Bibles to study “Paradise Lost,” Molly’s nosebleed returns, prompting her expulsion from class. After another panic attack in the bathroom, Alexis appears with a shirt for Molly. Following a disappointing counseling session, where they touch on her mother’s violent past, Molly leaves without much comfort, but not before noticing the same girl from the bathroom waiting for her own session.

In the library, Joseph again approaches Molly, offering her a ride just as she grapples with thoughts on her mother’s mental state. Later that night, amid unsettling occurrences at home, Molly finds herself trapped in a bathroom with the door locking behind her. The overwhelming fear leads her to faint.

When Molly wakes up in the hospital, doctors inform her they discovered a tumor near her brain, potentially causing her symptoms. Throughout her stay, Alexis pays her a visit, pressing Molly about her faith and gifting her a teen devotional Bible, which Molly immediately dismisses.

Back at school, Joseph requests her presence at a party, while another girl, Susie, harasses Molly, who is defended by Leah. Though wary, Molly goes to the party with Leah after telling her father she’s attending a study group. Once separated, Molly finds herself dancing with Joseph, only to confront Susie’s rage, which leads to an unfortunate incident where Susie ends up injured. Leah hesitates to leave the party, forcing Molly to hop a gate to get home alone.

As her cell phone malfunctions, Molly reaches out to her father from a payphone, but her visions begin to intensify. Soon she sees her mother, who ominously declares that she knows what Molly truly is, instilling further fear. The chase leads to a confrontation at home, where Molly tries to apologize to Susie, but her feelings of dread deepen as Joseph arrives amid her spiraling anxiety.

Ultimately, Molly confronts her mother, who declares that she died the day Molly was born. In a struggle for her life, Molly pushes her mother, leading to a fatal accident. Yet, this only escalates the chaos, with her father trying to convince her of her mother’s falsehoods. Feeling lost, Molly runs to a Christian center where Alexis offers assistance. Desperate for a solution, Molly is baptized, but the ceremony turns deadly as Alexis attempts to drown her.

Molly’s escape sends her to Joseph’s house, where she discovers a birthday cake waiting for her—but also the truth about the manipulative counselor. As midnight strikes, Molly is presented with a fateful choice involving her father, but she chooses to stab herself instead, narrowly escaping her tragic fate.

In the aftermath, Molly grapples with her father’s condition in a mental hospital but remains determined to sever ties. At her graduation, she delivers a valedictorian speech before leaving with Joseph, a moment marked by the ever-watchful eyes of her counselor who wishes her luck as they drive away into an uncertain future.