Burnt Offerings

Burnt Offerings 1976

Directed by

Dan Curtis

Dan Curtis

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Plot Summary


Writer Ben Rolf, along with his wife Marian and their 12-year-old son Davey, embarks on a summer escapade to a large, shabby, neo-classical mansion that has seen better days. Owned by the eccentric elderly siblings, Arnold and Rosalyn Allardyce, the mansion is offered to them at a seemingly unbeatable price of $900 for the entire summer. However, there is a peculiar stipulation: the Allardyces’ elderly mother will remain in her upstairs suite, and the Rolfs are required to deliver her meals throughout their stay. An odd character with an overwhelming need for privacy, she prefers to remain hidden, leaving her meals untouched in her sitting room outside her locked bedroom.

Upon their arrival, they are joined by Ben’s elderly Aunt Elizabeth. Fascinated with their new surroundings, Marian becomes increasingly absorbed in the home’s care, even donning the Victorian-era garments she discovers in Mrs. Allardyce’s suite, while creating emotional distance from her family. Of special interest to her are the many portraits adorning Mrs. Allardyce’s sitting room, which depict various former inhabitants of the mansion. Intriguingly, Marian notes that Mrs. Allardyce’s meals remain mostly untouched, a curious detail that contributes to the unsettling atmosphere they’ve encountered.

As summer unfolds, peculiar events occur—after Davey suffers an injury while playing, a once-dead plant begins to flourish again, Ben cuts his hand on a champagne bottle only to find a light bulb mysteriously restored, and Ben is haunted by the chilling vision of a malevolent hearse driver he recognized from a past funeral. Each incident seems to breathe new life into the house, suggesting that it draws energy from the family, revitalizing itself as their misfortunes unfold.

As the days pass, Marian’s demeanor shifts; she becomes increasingly possessed by the house’s peculiar energy. When Aunt Elizabeth suddenly falls ill and passes away, the dead flowers in the solarium spectacularly come back to life. Despite the tragedy, Marian’s fixation on the home remains unwavering, leading to a confrontation with Ben who is enraged by her indifference to the funeral. Determined to leave, he discovers that the house is not just a structure but appears to be a living entity as he witnesses the old shingles and siding falling away, replaced by fresh ones.

In a desperate attempt to escape with Davey, Ben finds the road blocked by a tree, only to catch sight of Marian transformed into the chauffeur. Overcome with despair, he becomes catatonic. The next day, as Davey enjoys a swim while a comatose Ben keeps watch, the serene pool tragically turns into tumultuous waves, threatening to engulf the boy. Marian jumps to save her son, which brings Ben back from his stupor. Although Marian believes it’s time to evacuate, she insists on checking on Mrs. Allardyce first. When she doesn’t return, Ben begins to search for her, only to be horrified when he realizes that the elderly woman upstairs is, in fact, his wife, who has inexplicably aged.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Ben!” she proclaims, leaving him in shock. Meanwhile, Davey, awaiting in the car, witnesses his father plummet from the attic window, landing on the windshield in a disturbing fashion. Traumatized, he rushes toward the house, only to face a tragic fate when a chimney collapses on him.

In the aftermath of these harrowing events, the Allardyces revel in the magnificence of their revitalized home while celebrating the return of their “mother.” In Mrs. Allardyce’s sitting room, the portrait collection now eerily features images of Ben, Davey, and Aunt Elizabeth, signifying the house’s insatiable connection to its inhabitants.

Timeline


Arrival at the Mansion

Writer Ben Rolf and his family arrive at a large, shabby neo-classical mansion for their summer vacation. They are joined by Ben's aunt Elizabeth and learn that they must deliver meals to the elderly Mrs. Allardyce, who remains hidden in her upstairs suite.

Allardyce Mansion

Unpacking and Discovery

As the family settles into the mansion, Marian becomes captivated by the Victorian-era garments and the many portraits in Mrs. Allardyce's sitting room. This fascination begins to create a rift between her and the rest of the family.

Allardyce Mansion

First Signs of Unrest

Strange occurrences start to unfold as Davey gets injured while playing outside. Simultaneously, a once-dead plant mysteriously comes back to life, hinting that the house may be influenced by the family's presence.

Allardyce Mansion

Restoration of the Light Bulb

Ben experiences a peculiar event after cutting his hand on a champagne bottle, as a light bulb in the mansion mysteriously restores itself. This incident further intensifies the unsettling atmosphere surrounding the house.

Allardyce Mansion

Aunt Elizabeth's Illness

Aunt Elizabeth suddenly falls ill, bringing tension to the Rolf family's summer experience. Following her unexpected death, the dead flowers in the solarium bloom spectacularly, marking a disturbing change in the house's dynamics.

Allardyce Mansion

Marian's Transformation

Marian's demeanor shifts as her obsession with the house deepens. A confrontation with Ben reveals her emotional distance, as he struggles with the death of his aunt while she remains fixated on their surroundings.

Allardyce Mansion

Ben's Desperate Attempt to Leave

Determined to escape with Davey, Ben discovers that the road out is blocked by a fallen tree. This moment underscores the house's malevolent hold over the family as they attempt to flee.

Outside Allardyce Mansion

Ben's Catatonia

After witnessing Marian transformed into the chauffeur, Ben succumbs to despair and becomes catatonic. This emotional breakdown highlights the psychological toll the house has taken on him.

Allardyce Mansion

Tragic Pool Incident

While Ben remains comatose, Davey swims in the mansion's pool, which suddenly turns into tumultuous waves. Marian jumps in to save her son, unexpectedly reviving Ben from his stupor.

Pool at Allardyce Mansion

Marian's Disturbing Transformation

After the pool incident, Marian insists on checking on Mrs. Allardyce but fails to return. Ben's search for her leads to a horrifying realization that the woman upstairs is actually his wife, aged drastically.

Allardyce Mansion

Confrontation and Discovery

Ben is confronted by a shocking revelation when Mrs. Allardyce, appearing as Marian, claims, 'I've been waiting for you, Ben!' This twisted moment signifies the complete takeover of identity and reality in the house.

Allardyce Mansion

Davey's Tragic Fate

While waiting in the car, Davey witnesses his father fall from the attic window, which traumatizes him. As he rushes back toward the house, he faces an even more tragic fate when a chimney collapses on him.

Allardyce Mansion

The Allardyces' Celebration

In the aftermath of the family's tragedy, the Allardyce siblings celebrate the revitalization of their home with the return of their 'mother.' The house's sinister influence is revealed in the portraits that now eerily depict the Rolfs.

Allardyce Mansion

Characters


Ben Rolf

Ben is the father who initially seeks a summer retreat but becomes increasingly distressed by the strange occurrences in the mansion. His protective nature surfaces as he witnesses his family's transformation, leading him to confront the living entity of the house. Ultimately, his desperation showcases the lengths a parent will go to for their child.

👨‍👩‍👦 Family 😠 Anger

Marian Rolf

Marian is the mother whose fascination with the mansion’s history causes her to lose touch with her family. She becomes enamored by the home, wearing Victorian-era garments and showing indifference to her family’s plight. Her transformation into a likeness of Mrs. Allardyce illustrates her complete absorption into the house's dark influence.

😮 Obsession 👗 Transformation

Davey Rolf

Davey is the young son whose innocence and curiosity lead him to tragic encounters within the mansion. He becomes a victim of the house's ominous presence, illustrating the threat that lurks beneath the surface. His experiences reflect the loss of childhood innocence in the face of horror.

👶 Childhood 💔 Tragedy

Mrs. Allardyce

Mrs. Allardyce is the elderly woman whose presence in the mansion remains largely a mystery. Her silent, reclusive nature creates a chilling atmosphere as her life and well-being seem intimately linked to the house. The reveal of her identity as Marian highlights the twisted connection between the living and the dead.

👵 Mystery 🔒 Secrecy

Setting


Location

neo-classical mansion

The movie is set in a large, shabby neo-classical mansion that has seen better days. Owned by eccentric elderly siblings, this house is filled with mystery and a strange allure, attracting visitors with its low rental price. Its deteriorating condition contrasts with the dark energies present inside, creating an unsettling atmosphere.

🏰 Mansion 🌳 Landscape

Themes


🔮

Possession

The theme of possession is prevalent throughout the film, as characters become increasingly absorbed by the house’s eerie energy. Marian's obsession with the mansion leads her to emotional distance from her family, reflecting how places can consume individuals. The transformation of the characters highlights the seductive power of such living entities.

⚰️

Death and Loss

Death and loss are central to the story as several characters are impacted by tragedy, leading to themes of grief and despair. The untimely death of Aunt Elizabeth and the eventual fates of Ben and Davey illustrate the dark consequences of their stay. The mansion's ability to draw energy from its former inhabitants reinforces the cyclical nature of life and death.

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