Don't Be Afraid of the Dark 1973

Sally Farnham and her husband Alex receive an unexpected inheritance in the form of an old mansion from Sally’s recently departed grandmother. As they settle into their new home, Sally stumbles upon a bricked-up fireplace tucked away in the basement den. The estate’s handyman, Mr. Harris, warns her that her grandmother had it sealed after her grandfather’s death, insisting it’s best left untouched. However, fueled by curiosity, Sally attempts to pry the bricks free using some of Harris’ tools. Her efforts fall short, but she manages to open a small door meant for ash disposal, revealing not a fireplace, but rather a dark and foreboding sub-basement. As she departs the den, she hears a chilling whisper echoing, “She set us free.”

Sally’s unease in the house amplifies over time. One fateful night, she is jolted awake by whispers calling her name, and an ashtray inexplicably tumbles from her nightstand. Despite her experiences, Alex remains skeptical, attributing her distress to nerves. Things take a darker turn when Sally feels something grasping at her dress while descending the staircase, accompanied by unsettling whispers declaring, “We want you.” After barely breaking free, she witnesses a shadowy figure darting behind a curtain, which she initially believes to be a small creature. Later on, those whispers once again emanate from behind the sealed fireplace, but Alex outright dismisses her concerns, making sure the ash door is firmly locked.

The tension escalates during a dinner party Sally hosts for Alex’s law firm colleagues. While mingling, she glances down to find a grotesque goblin-like creature lurking near her leg beneath the table. Her scream goes unheard, and to her dismay, the creature vanishes before anyone else can see it. Alex grows frustrated with Sally, convinced that she’s spiraling into delusion. In a shocking twist, while Sally is in the shower, three goblin creatures extinguish the lights in a cruel plot to attack her with a razor. As she flicks the switch back on, they shriek and scurry off to safety, retreating into bathroom cupboards. Convinced that the house is cursed, she urges Alex to sell it.

The next day, while Alex is away on business, Sally plans to visit her friend Joan. However, before leaving, Sally is targeted by the creatures who cause a fatal accident for her interior decorator while trying to trip her down the stairs. Desperate for answers, Sally confronts the creatures, asking them what they desire. They chillingly reveal that they covet her spirit; whoever liberates them, like Sally did, must sacrifice their very being to join them. As a precaution, her doctor prescribes sedatives and Joan stays with her for support, gradually starting to believe Sally’s frightening tale. Meanwhile, Alex, still incredulous, seeks out Mr. Harris to delve into the mansion’s past and the mysterious fireplace.

Despite her best efforts to fend off the creatures, they sabotage her attempts, even slipping sedatives into her coffee and cutting the power. When Joan checks the circuit breaker, they ensnare her outside. Struggling to remain conscious, Sally descends the staircase, only to be tripped by the goblins in the pitch dark. In her weakened state, she is captured and dragged into the basement den, disappearing into the unsealed fireplace.

Now transformed into one of the very creatures that plagued her, Sally lies in wait, ready for the next unwitting victim to occupy the haunted house.