A Haunted House

A Haunted House 2013

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Plot Summary


As the oppressive August heat envelops their newly-acquired home, the young couple, Malcolm and Kisha, attempt to adjust to their life together. Their peace is shattered, however, when Kisha accidentally runs over Malcolm’s cherished dog, Shiloh, with her car, leaving an emotional scar that lingers. Adding to the tension, Kisha’s incessant gassiness at night disrupts Malcolm’s sleep, forcing him to retreat from their shared bed.

The following morning, Kisha finds her keys on the floor, sparking her imagination to consider that their new home might be haunted. In an effort to debunk her theory, Malcolm enlists the help of Dan the Security Man and his brother Bobby to install an array of security cameras. Despite initial apprehensions, Malcolm attempts to create a romantic atmosphere while the cameras record, but Kisha insists he turn them off. Unbeknownst to her, Malcolm secretly reactivates the camera, capturing their intimate moments. The next day, while reviewing footage, they are startled to find that a door has mysteriously moved, which Malcolm comically attributes to his own desires.

As paranormal events become more pronounced, Malcolm’s fear escalates. He wishes to flee the house but feels trapped by the real estate market’s stagnation. In a desperate bid for clarity, they bring in Chip (self-proclaimed psychic) to examine their home. Chip finds nothing amiss, but Kisha’s unexpected confession about a pact with the devil for shoes sends them into chaos. Chip warns her that she’s in deep trouble and invites Malcolm to join his amateur wrestling group.

As the night progresses, Kisha unveils a disturbing childhood video from her eighth birthday party, revealing interactions with her imaginary friend, Tony, which were marked by eerie occurrences. That very night, she starts a haunting solo dance in the kitchen, leaving Malcolm bewildered as he discovers her amidst rancid leftovers and expired milk. When he tries to restrain her, she erupts in wild abandon, waking the next day with no memory of her actions.

Driven by growing anxiety, Kisha pushes Malcolm to investigate troubling sounds within the house. They soon discover that the source is Rosa, their devoted Hispanic housekeeper, who decides to resign. To alleviate their stress, the trio attempts a herbal retreat, engaging in therapeutic marijuana smoking. The next day, Malcolm’s friend, Steve, and his girlfriend, Jenny, show up with a Ouija board, hoping to connect with whatever haunting them. However, when the board misprints “gost” instead of “ghost,” it leads to laughter, only for the spirits to retaliate by hurling the board across the room, sending Jenny and Steve fleeing in terror.

One fateful evening, the ghost takes a sinister turn, seizing Malcolm and taking him from his room, while shocking intimacy occurs between Kisha and the spirit. Realizing the ghost’s influence, a panicked Malcolm reaches out to his cousin Ray Ray, who witnesses the supernatural event and retreats in fright. Meanwhile, Kisha chooses to stay, but the entity turns its wrath upon Malcolm, leaving him feeling compromised and uneasy.

As the relationships among the trio deteriorate, they reach a boiling point of hostility. In the dead of night, Kisha is violently attacked by the malevolent spirit while Malcolm remains oblivious, engulfed in music through his headphones. Upon discovering Kisha’s condition the next morning, Malcolm calls for Father Doug to perform an exorcism. When this fails, Malcolm gathers Dan and Bobby for support while Chip reappears as well.

During the chaotic exorcism, Kisha slips into the living room, where she witnesses the unfortunate demise of Rosa, who was there to collect her last paycheck. As the group converges, Kisha’s behavior becomes unpredictable; in a desperate attempt to escape, she flees to the basement for a moment of solitude. Malcolm’s attempt to comfort her is met with unexpected ferocity, provoking a group intervention that ultimately drives the ghost from her.

As night falls, Malcolm and Kisha succumb to their passions once more, the security cameras capturing intimate moments that last three hours. However, their peaceful night is abruptly interrupted when Kisha awakens next to their bed, her presence unsettling and violent as chaos erupts. As she rages against Malcolm, the camera suffers a blow in the scuffle, its lens shattering in the tumult.

Eventually, when Kisha enters, her shirt stained with signs of a vicious struggle, she crawls toward Malcolm in a horrifying manner, her eyes radiating otherworldly fury. As she becomes fixated on him, he feels the full weight of her dark transformation as she sniffs him and then recoils in disgust over an inexplicable foul odor.

In the midst of this pandemonium, Kisha lunges at the camera, her features twisted with demonic rage, while Malcolm awakens to a suffocating silence, only to find Kisha looming above him with a terrifying intensity, prompting him to scream as he realizes something has gone irreversibly wrong.

Timeline


New Home

Malcolm and Kisha move into their newly-acquired home, eager to begin their life together. The oppressive August heat adds pressure to their transition, making the early days a challenge as they settle in and adjust to shared living.

Tragic Accident

Kisha accidentally runs over Malcolm’s beloved dog, Shiloh, which creates an emotional rift between the couple. This incident leaves Malcolm heartbroken, and a lingering sadness hangs over their relationship as they try to cope.

Disrupted Sleep

Kisha's gassiness at night disrupts Malcolm's sleep, leading him to retreat from their shared bed. This growing discomfort in their relationship foreshadows the increasing tension they will face in their new home.

Haunting Suspicions

The following morning, Kisha finds her keys on the floor and begins to suspect their home might be haunted. This sparks a series of events as Malcolm decides to investigate, trying to appease Kisha's growing fears.

Installing Cameras

In an effort to debunk the haunting theory, Malcolm enlists Dan the Security Man and Bobby to install security cameras around the house. Their intentions lead to a mix of comedic and awkward situations as Kisha remains unaware of Malcolm's true motives.

Mysterious Footage

While reviewing the camera footage, Malcolm and Kisha are startled to see a door mysteriously shift locations. Malcolm comically rationalizes the occurrence, but the unnerving presence of the supernatural becomes increasingly apparent.

Pact with the Devil

Malcolm and Kisha invite Chip, a self-proclaimed psychic, to investigate their home’s strange happenings. Kisha's shocking confession about a pact made with the devil for shoes sends the group into chaos, hinting at deeper issues at play.

Eerie Dance

Kisha reveals a disturbing video from her childhood featuring her imaginary friend, Tony. That night, a haunted solo dance in the kitchen unnerves Malcolm as he struggles to understand what is happening to his partner.

Kitchen

Housekeeper Resigns

Rosa, their devoted housekeeper, decides to quit amid the escalating paranormal events. This decision adds to the growing tension in the home as Kisha urges Malcolm to confront the unsettling noises plaguing them.

Ouija Board Incident

Malcolm's friends arrive with a Ouija board, hoping to contact the spirits haunting them. What begins as a lighthearted attempt quickly turns into terror when the board sends the message 'gost,' leading to chaos and a retreat from the unknown.

Malevolent Spirit's Attack

A terrifying encounter occurs when the malevolent spirit seizes Malcolm, pulling him from his room while Kisha experiences an unexpected closeness with the entity. This moment deepens their crises, raising fears of isolation and loss.

Exorcism Fails

In a desperate effort, Malcolm invites Father Doug to perform an exorcism. As the ritual fails, the emotional strain continues to grow within the group, resulting in chaos and confrontations surrounding Kisha's safety.

Rosa's Demise

During the chaotic exorcism, Kisha witnesses the unfortunate demise of Rosa, who was collecting her last paycheck. This incident heightens Kisha's erratic behavior, as the group struggles to maintain control amid the dark developments.

Living Room

Descent into Chaos

As tensions escalate, Kisha's transformation becomes evident; she flees to the basement, leaving Malcolm to grapple with her sudden and ferocious changes. Their relationship deteriorates as the haunting influences continue to permeate their lives.

Basement

Final Confrontation

Kisha, now fully possessed, lunges at Malcolm, invoking a sense of terror as he realizes the extent of her transformation. The haunting reaches a climactic point, leaving Malcolm frightened and desperate as he confronts his partner's dark reality.

Characters


Malcolm (Marlon Wayans)

Malcolm is a young man striving to make his relationship work while grappling with his fears and concerns about their new home. His comedic nature drives the film, as he attempts to debunk the haunting while managing his emotions amidst the chaos. As the supernatural events escalate, Malcolm's anxiety reveals deeper layers of his character.

😂 Comedy 🏠 Anxiety

Kisha (Essence Atkins)

Kisha is depicted as a multi-layered character whose humorous facade hides deeper fears and insecurities, especially after the traumatic event with her dog. Her unexplained transformation throughout the film creates a stark contrast to her initial personality, leading to chaos and tension. As the haunting intensifies, Kisha becomes a vessel of horror, embodying the themes of fear and relationship turmoil.

😨 Horror 💃 Transformation

Setting


Time period

Contemporary

The events of the movie unfold in a contemporary setting, reflecting modern societal norms and relationships. The characters grapple with contemporary issues such as housing market fears, the influence of social media through surveillance cameras, and the trivialized nature of their interactions with supernatural elements.

Location

Newly-acquired home

The movie primarily takes place in a new home recently purchased by the young couple, Malcolm and Kisha. This setting becomes increasingly significant as it transforms into a source of paranormal disturbances, affecting their relationship. Known for its oppressive heat in August, the house's atmosphere shifts from inviting to foreboding, reflecting the couple's escalating fears.

🏡 Home 👻 Haunted

Themes


😱

Supernatural Fear

The film explores themes of fear stemming from the unknown, as Malcolm and Kisha confront bizarre and frightening supernatural occurrences. This fear escalates when their initial skepticism is challenged, leading to chaos in their lives. The narrative tests the boundaries of belief and the impact of fear on relationships.

💔

Relationship Strain

The stress caused by the haunting exacerbates the existing issues in Malcolm and Kisha's relationship. Emotional scars from past incidents, like the death of their dog and Kisha's disturbances, further complicate their bond. The film illustrates how external pressures can threaten personal relationships and challenge love and loyalty.

🎭

Identity and Transformation

Kisha's transformation, influenced by supernatural forces, raises questions about identity and self-perception. As her character becomes increasingly erratic and affected by the haunting, it delves into how experiences can alter our true nature and the manifestations of hidden fears.

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