The Quiet Ones 2014

As the clock strikes midnight, a young woman slumbers peacefully within the confines of her locked chamber, oblivious to the world beyond her door. However, the tranquility is short-lived as a viewing slit suddenly materializes, allowing an unseen observer to gaze upon her unsuspecting form. The air is pierced by the cacophony of loud music, jolting the woman from her slumber like a slap in the face.

Meanwhile, May 1974 finds Oxford University abuzz with intellectual fervor as Dr. Joseph Coupland takes center stage, sharing his groundbreaking theory that paranormal phenomena are merely the external manifestations of the turbulent thoughts that churn within an individual’s mind. His lecture is punctuated by footage from a previous case he had worked on, involving David Q (Aldo Maland), a seemingly normal young boy whose creative expressions took the form of eerie drawings depicting Mr. Gregor, a figure whom he believed wielded extraordinary powers.

Dr. Coupland posits that Mr. Gregor was nothing more than a product of David Q’s imagination, conjured forth as a coping mechanism to deal with his own mental illness. The doctor’s words are met with skepticism by one of the students in attendance, who questions the morality of his treatment methods towards those afflicted with mental health issues. However, Dr. Coupland’s peers swiftly shut down the dissenting voice, and the lecture hall falls silent once more.

Outside, Dr. Coupland engages in a conversation with Brian (Sam Claflin), an individual not affiliated with Oxford University, yet hired to capture the forthcoming experiment on film. The doctor’s gaze lingers on Brian’s crucifix pendant, prompting him to inquire about his beliefs regarding the divine. Brian explains that the cross holds sentimental value as a family heirloom, while his own religious inclinations remain shrouded in uncertainty.

Dr. Coupland warmly welcomes Brian to join his team, and the stage is set for an experiment that will push the boundaries of human understanding, blurring the lines between reality and the unknown.

In the sterile environment of his makeshift laboratory, Joseph has meticulously arranged for Brian to film Chrissy, an Oxford student who initially crossed paths with him when she volunteered as his test subject. However, it is Jane Harper, a young woman with a troubled psyche that resonates deeply with Joseph’s own existential concerns, who truly captures his attention. Chrissy obliges by sharing footage of Jane, the enigmatic individual confined to a locked room, where the air seems heavy with foreboding. Off-camera, Joseph probes Jane about Evie, a seemingly innocuous doll that has become a manifestation of her inner turmoil. Despite Jane’s desire for slumber, something sinister lurks in the shadows, sending shivers down the spine of the person operating the camera.

Chrissy’s amusement at Brian’s sudden alarm only serves to heighten his unease as she dispatches him upstairs to meet Jane. There, he finds Harry, another student assistant, meticulously documenting Jane’s sleep patterns. According to Harry, Jane’s history is marked by a succession of foster homes, and her memories are shrouded in mystery. Joseph’s discovery of Jane has been a turning point for both of them, as they strive to unravel the tangled threads of her psyche.

As Brian peers through the peephole of the door, he finds Jane awake and beseeching him to convey her readiness to surrender to sleep once more. Her fragile optimism is tempered by the understanding that she has promised Dr. David Q she will not attempt to take her own life again, a promise she hopes will guide her toward a cure for her affliction.

The next day, Joseph presents Jane with a doll, which she dismisses as not being Evie, a characterization echoed in her self-assessment as “dead inside.” This phrase holds a peculiar significance, as it echoes the words of her foster parents, who had previously deemed her soulless. Her desire to succumb to eternal slumber is palpable, but it remains unclear whether this is a desperate cry for escape or a genuine longing.

In a stunning revelation, Dr. David Q, once a skeptic hell-bent on disproving the existence of ghosts, has now reformed his stance following the creation of Mr. Gregor through the telekinetic chaos of his own mind. This phenomenon bears an uncanny resemblance to Jane’s conjuring of Evie, further solidifying Joseph’s theory that mental states can give rise to paranormal entities.

The archival footage of David Q, as a young boy, showcases a poignant and harrowing display of frustration and despair as he bangs his head against the wall, tears streaming down his face due to his inability to summon Mr. Gregor. His mother ultimately terminated their sessions when David’s self-harm became a disturbing reality, only for them to later discover that Mr. Gregor was a monstrous creation born from a children’s tale David had devoured. Today, David leads a seemingly normal life, serving as a testament to the efficacy of Joseph’s experimental approach.

The anticipated funding for Oxford’s groundbreaking experiment, spearheaded by the indefatigable (Joseph) (actor name), is abruptly revoked by the esteemed institution. A noise complaint from a disgruntled neighbor forces them to relocate their operations to a sprawling country estate, where they set up shop amidst rolling hills and rustic charm. Despite this setback, Joseph’s enthusiasm for the project remains unwavering, buoyed by his conviction that it will ultimately yield groundbreaking results.

As they settle into their new surroundings, Harry (actor name) takes Brian on a tour of the equipment designed to track telekinetic activity within a room. A cutting-edge EF scanner is deployed to monitor energy levels and detect the arrival and departure of Evie, whose presence has become increasingly elusive. Meanwhile, Chrissy and Harry construct Jane’s cell, carefully housing her within its confines. As she gazes longingly out at the yard, Brian brings a bouquet to brighten her room, eliciting a fleeting smile from the troubled subject.

However, Joseph’s optimism is short-lived, as he injects Jane with a powerful drug that induces a dreamlike state, rendering her impressionable and receptive to his suggestions. Hooked up to an additional EF scanner, Joseph pushes Jane to tap into her telekinetic abilities, urging her to locate Evie. Her murmurs of disorientation and despair only serve to frustrate the doctor, who threatens to restore her to a state of dormancy.

Just as Joseph’s patience is about to wear thin, a sudden and inexplicable force knocks the camera from Brian’s hand, interrupting the tense standoff. The EF scanner then reveals Evie’s manifestation within the room, prompting a triumphant celebration with champagne among the team.

That night, Harry pores over the heightened EF scan data collected earlier outside Jane’s room, eventually succumbing to Chrissy’s entreaties to retire for the evening. As he drifts off to sleep, he instructs Brian to keep Jane awake, and the latter obliges by blasting music to drown out the sounds of the amorous couple’s nocturnal activities. However, their revelry is abruptly interrupted by a loud crash, followed by panicked screams.

Brian rushes to investigate, only to discover that the bed has given way beneath the weighty lovers. Returning to his post outside Jane’s room, Brian decides to check on her and finds her standing at the viewing slot, seemingly lost in thought. As she begins to undress, Brian beats a hasty retreat, only to find Joseph watching him with an air of quiet authority. The doctor takes over, peering into Jane’s room as Brian backs away, his curiosity piqued by the unfolding drama.

The day unfolds with an eerie sense of foreboding as Brian (insert actor name) discreetly captures Jane through the narrow slits in her door, revealing a haunting tableau: she’s huddled over her doll, her limbs twitching in a jerky, involuntary motion. The sudden burst of light from Harry’s intervention exposes the disturbing truth - Jane is brutally mutilating her own doll, her hands smeared with blood. Chrissy rushes into the room, her expression a mix of horror and concern, and wrenches a bobby pin from Jane’s grasp, only to discover a grotesque symbol carved into her wrist. The tension simmers as Chrissy confronts Jane about her destructive behavior, but the latter lashes out, attacking her with a frenzied intensity that requires Brian’s intervention.

As the door swings open, Jane’s gaze fixes on Brian, and she launches herself at him, attempting to undo his pants in a disturbing display of primal desire. The doctor bursts into the room, banishing Brian from the scene, only for Joseph to emerge, his expression somber. “Jane is aware of your attraction to her,” he states matter-of-factly, as if that’s all the explanation required.

The next day brings another iteration of the experiment, with Jane injected once more and prodded by the doctor to locate Evie. Her responses are laced with cryptic references to a fire, its intense heat, and everyone around her consumed by flames. Joseph reassures her she’s safe, but Brian remains skeptical, sensing the darkness lurking beneath the surface.

As the session progresses, Joseph’s probing becomes increasingly invasive, sliding a candle under Jane’s arm as he coaxes her for answers about Evie. But when the flame begins to sear her skin, Brian’s instincts scream warning, and he intervenes, shattering the illusion of control. Jane’s trance-like state is shattered, and Evie vanishes, leaving the doctor fuming at Brian’s interference.

That night, a knock at Brian’s door pierces the darkness, but as he opens it, there’s no one in the hallway to answer his query. His exploration of the house leads him to Jane’s room, where he finds her pressed against the wall by the door, her flesh bearing fresh scars from another episode of self-mutilation. The viewing slot reveals only emptiness, a stark reminder that some wounds run too deep to be easily healed.

As dawn breaks, Brian’s gaze falls upon Chrissy and Joseph strolling through the backyard. Chrissy’s concerns about taking Jane to a doctor are swiftly dismissed by Joseph, who believes they’re mere moments away from isolating Evie from Jane and unlocking the secrets of her mental affliction. The prospect of curing Jane is too tantalizing to abandon the experiment now. To divert Chrissy’s attention, Joseph unleashes a flirtatious assault, pressing his lips against hers in a passionate display that leaves Brian gazing up at Jane’s bedroom window, where she watches with an air of quiet fascination. Meanwhile, Brian continues to chronicle Jane’s daily routine, capturing intimate moments such as her morning bath. As he films, Jane reflects on the peculiar connection she shares with Evie, remarking that they seem to share a timeless quality. She also confides in Brian about her childhood memories of being often naked, before asking if he finds her nudity attractive – a query that leaves him uncomfortably shifting his attention.

Later, Chrissy receives instructions from the doctor to double Jane’s dosage of the medication, setting the stage for a pivotal experiment. As they gather around the table, hands clasped in a circle, Joseph probes Jane about the fire that has been burning within her. Her response is a heart-wrenching cry, as she clutches her doll and screams that it’s burning – her flesh sizzling with an otherworldly intensity. The air is thick with smoke, and Brian’s camera captures every agonizing moment as Harry and Joseph struggle to calm the increasingly unhinged Jane.

As the scene shifts, Brian shares his findings with the doctor, revealing the shocking transformation he captured on film. Joseph, convinced that Jane has manifested Evie in the room, becomes obsessed with pushing forward, but the students and Brian are resolute in their decision to grant Jane a reprieve. The group spends a warm afternoon basking in the sunshine, indulging in carefree play. When they return to the experiment, however, Jane’s dreamlike state renders her unable to locate Evie. The doctor’s insistence that they coax Evie into the doll sparks Jane’s distrust – she knows they’re hiding the truth behind their words.

As the experiment careens further out of control, the inhabitants of the house are gradually severed from the outside world. One fateful evening, Chrissy confides in Harry about her decision to abandon attending classes. But before they can ponder the consequences, the lights flicker and die, plunging them into darkness. In the chaos that ensues, it’s discovered that Jane has vanished from her room, only to reappear in a desperate bid to reconnect with her telekinetic manifestation, Evie. As the group converges on the attic, they’re met with an unsettling sight: Jane, crouched beside a small child’s bed, tenderly exposing the scorched outline of a young body. With an air of reverence, she whispers promises to the ghostly apparition, vowing to protect and rescue her.

The discovery sends shockwaves through the group, and Joseph’s keen eye recognizes the symbol etched into the fabric as a sigil – a mark oft associated with dark cults. His theory is that someone has sullied the experiment by sharing tales of Satanic rituals with Jane, now convinced she’s possessed by an evil force rather than the benevolent Evie. Chrissy, meanwhile, remains steadfast in her conviction that Evie represents something more profound, a manifestation born from the collective psyche of the house.

As tensions escalate, Harry and Chrissy decide to abandon the experiment, their faith in Joseph irreparably shattered. In the aftermath, Jane, now possessed by an otherworldly presence, issues a haunting declaration: she intends to continue the experiment, no matter the cost. Brian, sensing the gravity of the situation, asks Jane if she’s ever encountered the sigil before. Her response is chilling – she’d always felt like she didn’t truly belong until her arrival at the house. When others called out her name, it was as though it wasn’t hers to claim.

With a mix of desperation and longing, Jane implores Brian not to lose faith in Joseph, Evie, or herself. As their words hang heavy in the air, she presses her lips to his, craving connection and understanding. For the first time in her life, she dares to hope that happiness might be within reach – but only if Brian remains by her side. Alas, he’s torn between his duty as a researcher at Oxford and his growing affection for Jane. Ultimately, he decides to leave, promising to return once he’s gathered more equipment, though Jane senses the truth: he’s abandoning their quest together.

As Brian navigates the hallowed halls of Oxford’s library, he inadvertently crosses paths with a student who had previously vanished into thin air, leaving behind the eerie echoes of an unfinished experiment. His attempts to dismiss the encounter are met with a knowing glint in the other man’s eye, as he labels Brian a quiet, enigmatic disciple of the esteemed doctor. The words hang in the air like a challenge: “Killing a girl is a wondrous way to conjure a ghost.” Meanwhile, at another location, Chrissy indulges in a relaxing bath, only to be jolted by an unsettling development - the water begins to froth and boil with an otherworldly intensity. As she stumbles from the tub, the surrounding walls radiate a scorching heat that leaves her screaming in alarm. The door bursts open, and Harry rushes in to rescue Chrissy from the inferno.

As chaos erupts and panic spreads, the group converges back at their shared residence, where tensions simmer beneath the surface. Chrissy’s trauma has reached a boiling point, and she becomes convinced that Evie is plotting against her once again. Her pleas for intervention fall on deaf ears as Harry and Chrissy advocate for Jane’s admission to an asylum, fearing that Evie will strike again. Brian decides to confide in the doctor and his students about the Lilitu, a mysterious cult whose dark history stretches back centuries before the dawn of Christianity. According to Brian, the 1960s reincarnation of this cult was led by David Dwyer, who became obsessed with his daughter Evie’s birthmark - a sigil that he believed marked her as a reincarnation of their revered idol.

As the group delves deeper into the cult’s sinister past, they uncover a chilling truth: in June 1960, David and his followers were trapped inside the very house where they now reside, resulting in a horrific tragedy that claimed countless lives. The doctor, however, remains convinced that Jane has tapped into this dark energy through her telekinetic abilities, which she has named Evie in tribute to the cursed cult’s reincarnation. His decision to banish Brian from the experiment only adds fuel to the fire, as the group teeters on the brink of a catastrophic showdown with the malevolent forces they have unwittingly unleashed.

Here’s a rephrased version of the section:

As Brian pilfers Chrissy’s vehicle to whisk Jane away from Joseph, he discovers her mesmerized by footage of David Q., unaware that this enigmatic figure was actually Joseph’s son. The truth hits Jane like a ton of bricks: Joseph had withheld the devastating reality - David took his own life as a teenager, never succumbing to his mother’s supposed cure. Her outburst is silenced by an unseen force that sears sigils into their skin, claiming Chrissy and Harry as its first victims. Abandoning all hope, Jane flees, only to be found by Brian, now wracked with the weight of her file’s secrets. As she pieces together her forgotten past, Evie Dwyer emerges, her psyche tormented by the fire that ravaged her memories. Her self-loathing is palpable as she believes herself capable of nothing but murder, having slaughtered the Lilitu. Brian’s pleas to save her fall on deaf ears as something inside her awakens, and with a ferocity born from her past traumas, she attacks him. Joseph intervenes, injecting Evie with a tranquilizer before rendering Brian unconscious.

As Brian regains consciousness, he finds himself bound and helpless while Joseph prepares to revive Jane/Evie by injecting her with Chrissy’s potent serum. The plan is to kill her, then revive her as Evie Dwyer. The injection proves fatal for Jane, but Joseph refuses to bring her back immediately, choosing instead to toy with her fate. Brian manages to break free from his restraints and exacts a brutal revenge on the doctor before injecting Jane/Evie with adrenaline, reviving her in the process. As she awakens, she gazes at Brian with an expression devoid of recognition or remorse. With a cold calculation, she ejects him from the room, sealing it behind her. Brian’s pleas for mercy are met with indifference as Evie unleashes a fiery wrath upon him and the chamber. As she succumbs to her own demise, something escapes her lips at Brian, and the screen fades to black.

Present Day, 2014:

Brian, now an older man with a weathered visage, is strapped to a chair, his hands bound by unyielding restraints. A doctor quizzes him relentlessly about the events that transpired, but Brian remains insistent: Evie Dwyer was responsible for the carnage that ravaged her loved ones - Chrissy, Harry, Joseph, and Jane. The doctor dismisses these claims as delusions born from a disturbed mind, reminding Brian of the film’s incineration in the blaze he himself set. As the doctor’s words sink in, smoke begins to seep from Brian’s hands like wisps of misty malevolence. It is clear that Evie has claimed him as her host, forever entwining their fates in a macabre dance of terror and despair.