Directed by
Dario Argento
Made by
Taurus Entertainment Company
As 40-year-old Jessica Valdemar (Adrienne Barbeau) arrives at lawyer Steven Pike’s office, an unsettling feeling envelops her. With important paperwork in hand, she seeks Mr. Pike’s blessing regarding her husband Ernest’s estate planning. However, Pike’s astute observations reveal a troubling scenario: Ernest, aged 65 and terminally ill, is hastily liquidating his assets, sparking doubts about Jessica’s potential influence over the frail patriarch. A phone call with Ernest deepens Pike’s concern, prompting him to reluctantly allow Jessica access to the funds, but with a stern caution that if anything were to happen to Ernest in the forthcoming three weeks before the estate transfer is finalized, an investigation into her actions will ensue.
Returning to Valdemar Manor, Jessica confides in Dr. Robert Hoffman (Harvey Keitel), both of them embroiled in a covert scheme to manipulate Ernest’s dying wishes through hypnotic techniques for their own benefit. Their ambition? To seize Ernest’s $3 million estate and escape with their ill-gotten gains. As they commence their sinister plot, Ernest falls victim to hypnosis, leaving behind an enigmatic message. Opting to keep his death a secret for now, Robert and Jessica stuff his lifeless body into the basement freezer.
However, as darkness descends, Jessica is awakened by eerie groans echoing from the cellar. She attempts to rouse Robert, but he remains ensnared in his hypnotic stupor. The following morning, the unsettling sounds return, compelling them to explore the source – Ernest’s frozen corpse, now possessing an unearthly voice. Valdemar claims he is trapped between existence and oblivion, tormented by malevolent spirits seeking retribution.
As Robert begins to awaken from his trance, Jessica’s frustration mounts, leading her to withdraw $300,000 and secure it in a safe. Ernest’s corpse continues to mock her, warning that the “others” will not cease until they claim his soul. In a panic-fueled rage, she confronts Ernest, discharging a fatal bullet into his already lifeless body.
While Robert steps outside to prepare a makeshift grave for Ernest, Jessica descends into the cellar, only to encounter Valdemar’s reanimated corpse, its eyes ablaze with unnatural desire. Desperately seeking escape, Robert finds Jessica and Ernest locked in a grotesque dance on the balcony as the undead figure shifts focus to her. In a tragic turn of events, she plummets from the edge, her lifeless body crashing to the ground below.
As Valdemar succumbs during Robert’s frantic attempts to awaken him from his stupor, the haunting exclamation, > “They’re with you now!” reverberates ominously. In the chaos, Robert seizes the opportunity to steal the hidden stash of cash belonging to Jessica and flees, leaving behind a scene of devastation. In an act of masochistic indulgence, he plunges into his own hypnotic slumber, unwittingly inviting the vengeful “others” to unleash their fury. The malevolent spirits execute a brutal revenge, mercilessly plunging a digital hypnotic counter deep into Robert’s chest, extinguishing his life force and claiming his physical form.
Meanwhile, Detective Grogan leads a team of law enforcement to Robert’s abode, responding to numerous complaints regarding a foul stench and haunting moans. Upon their arrival, Grogan discovers the disarray of the flat, revealing evidence of a violent struggle. The grim sight of Robert’s decaying body, now under the dominion of the “others,” signals an impending onslaught of terror as it confronts Grogan with eyes burning with supernatural fury.
In a seemingly separate story, crime scene photographer Rod Usher enters a nightmarish dimension where the fabric of existence appears torn. Amidst grotesque scenes of dismembered bodies, a mutilated female figure lies helpless under a pendulum-like blade. Rod’s morbid curiosity captivates him as he documents the horror for the local authorities, led by Detective LeGrand.
After Rod returns to his darkroom to process the photographs, his peace is shattered by the sudden arrival of a black cat that has claimed his home alongside his talented violinist girlfriend, Annabel. Despite her affection for the feline, a growing tension brews between Rod and the cat, further exacerbated by Annabel’s fierce protectiveness. As frustration mounts, Rod becomes convinced the cat harbors animosity towards him, culminating in an act of violence where he ends the creature’s life during a photo shoot, a heinous act he immortalizes in his photography book, Metropolitan Horrors.
As Annabel uncovers the dark reality surrounding her pet’s demise, their relationship spirals into chaos and conflict. Amid this turmoil, Rod is haunted by a recurring nightmare where he faces execution by medieval authorities for his heinous act. Destiny cruelly intertwines their fates as Annabel’s attention is drawn to the cover of Rod’s book, featuring a strangled cat, igniting her determination to sever their ties.
Coincidentally, while Rod succumbs to a drunken stupor at a local bar, he receives a mysterious black cat from Eleonora, the barmaid. The uncanny resemblance of this new feline to Annabel’s pet incites his wrath, leading to another shocking act of violence that claims Annabel’s life with a meat cleaver. Rod constructs a web of lies to mask her disappearance, assuring his curious landlord, Mr. Pym, that everything is fine.
Days later, when Annabel’s music students arrive for lessons, Rod’s evasiveness raises suspicions. Christian, one of the students, confides in Mr. and Mrs. Pym, expressing his fear that Rod may hold responsibility for Annabel’s vanishing. Desperate to maintain his facade, Rod disconnects the phone when a friend attempts to call inquiring about Annabel.
In a bizarre twist, the black cat mysteriously returns, only to meet another cruel fate at Rod’s hands. However, this is not the end of its involvement. When Detective LeGrand arrives with a colleague to question Rod regarding Annabel’s disappearance, they leave only to be summoned back by a haunting sound echoing from within Rod’s home.
Upon their return, the detectives are horrified to discover that the cat had birthed kittens in Annabel’s tomb, feasting upon her remains. In a fit of rage, Rod brutally murders both detectives using a pickaxe wielded by LeGrand’s partner. In a final desperate gasp for freedom, he attempts to escape through a second-story window using a rope tied to a tree in the backyard. However, his demise is sealed as he becomes entangled in the rope, leading to a gruesome ending where he hangs lifeless, serving as a twisted testament to his horrific actions and the vengeance of the spirits he could not escape.
Jessica Visits Steven Pike
40-year-old Jessica Valdemar arrives at Steven Pike's law office with important paperwork concerning her husband Ernest's estate planning. A sense of unease washes over her as Pike begins to question the hastiness behind Ernest's decision to liquidate his assets, hinting at deeper troubles ahead.
Jessica's Troubling Call
During her meeting, Pike makes a phone call to Ernest, unveiling a concerning situation regarding his terminal illness. Despite Pike's reservations, he reluctantly allows Jessica access to the funds needed for the estate transfer, warning her about the scrutiny that will follow if anything happens to Ernest in the next three weeks.
Conspiring with Dr. Hoffman
Back at Valdemar Manor, Jessica confides in Dr. Robert Hoffman about their plan to manipulate Ernest's will through hypnosis. Together, they plot to exploit Ernest's condition to acquire his considerable estate, ultimately putting their selfish ambitions into action.
Hypnosis and Tragedy
As their sinister scheme unfolds, Robert hypnotizes Ernest, who subsequently leaves behind a cryptic message before dying. To conceal their crime, Jessica and Robert stuff Ernest's body into the basement freezer, contemplating their next move as they navigate the consequences of their actions.
Eerie Noises at Night
Jessica is awakened by chilling groans emanating from the cellar, where Ernest's body lies hidden. As she tries to rouse Robert, she becomes increasingly terrified by the supernatural occurrences surrounding them, spurred by their involvement in his demise.
Confronting the Unquiet Corpse
The following morning, the unsettling sounds persist, pushing Jessica and Robert to investigate their source. They discover Ernest's corpse now seems animated, claiming to be trapped between life and the afterlife, haunted by vengeful spirits demanding justice.
Jessica's Frantic Withdrawal
In a fit of panic and frustration as the supernatural occurrences escalate, Jessica withdraws $300,000 in cash, securing it in a safe. She grapples with the implications of their actions as Ernest's corpse continues to mock her, proclaiming they will not rest until his soul is reclaimed.
A Fatal Confrontation
Driven by desperation, Jessica confronts Ernest's lifeless body and shoots it, believing this act might alleviate the haunting presence she feels. Unbeknownst to her, this violent act further awakens the wrath of the spirits entwined with Ernest.
Robert's Attempt to Bury the Past
While Robert prepares a grave outside for Ernest, Jessica faces her own terror descended from the cellar. In a grotesque twist of fate, the undead figure of Ernest begins to close in on her, leading to a macabre struggle for survival.
The Tragic Fall
In a frantic attempt to escape from the clutches of the reanimated corpse, Jessica loses her footing and plummets from the balcony. Her lifeless body hits the ground, marking a tragic end to her ambition and the cycle of horror that unfolds.
Robert's Downward Spiral
As Robert struggles to awaken from his trance, he succumbs to the chaos surrounding him. In the midst of his desperation, he seizes the opportunity to steal Jessica's hidden cash stash, further reinforcing the greed that led them all into darkness.
Detective Grogan's Investigation
Detective Grogan arrives at the scene, responding to reports of a foul odor and strange sounds from Robert's abode. The sight of Robert's decayed body signals the disturbance caused by the vengeful spirits, while Grogan and his team brace for the unfolding terror.
Rod Usher's Nightmarish Dimension
Meanwhile, crime scene photographer Rod Usher finds himself ensnared in a gruesome world filled with dismembered bodies. His obsession with capturing death and decay leads him deeper into a sinister realm where reality blurs with horror.
Rod's Violent Outburst
Frustrated by the growing tension between him and his girlfriend Annabel over a cat, Rod commits a gruesome act by killing the creature. This brutal moment instigates a series of horrific events, resulting in the unraveling of his relationship and sanity.
Rod's Final Act of Desperation
After brutally murdering Annabel and constructing a web of lies to cover it up, Rod finds himself haunted by his past actions. In his final desperate attempt to escape justice, he becomes entangled in a rope, sealing his own fate, hanging lifeless as a testament to the cycle of retribution.
Jessica Valdemar (Adrienne Barbeau)
Jessica is a cunning and ambitious woman who is willing to go to extreme lengths to secure her husband's wealth. Her manipulative nature reveals a desperate desire for power that ultimately leads to her downfall. As the story progresses, she becomes increasingly paranoid and embroiled in her own deceit.
Dr. Robert Hoffman (Harvey Keitel)
Robert is a conflicted character, initially serving as an accomplice to Jessica's sinister plans. His hypnotic stupor symbolizes his moral ambiguity and internal struggles. As chaos ensues, he becomes a victim of the darker forces at play, culminating in his tragic end.
Ernest
Ernest is the frail, terminally ill patriarch at the center of the plot. His vulnerability makes him a target for manipulation by Jessica and Robert. Despite his initial passivity, he embodies the consequences of their greed with his haunting presence after death.
Detective Grogan
Detective Grogan is the law enforcement figure tasked with investigating the dark occurrences surrounding the characters. His role represents the relentless pursuit of justice in the face of supernatural horror, ultimately discovering the chaos created by greed and betrayal.
Rod Usher
Rod is a crime scene photographer whose obsession with documenting horror spirals him into madness. His violent tendencies and loss of control lead him down a dark path, entangling him in supernatural retribution. His actions underscore the film's exploration of guilt and despair.
Time period
The movie's events seem to transpire in a contemporary setting, reflecting themes of greed, betrayal, and supernatural elements. The atmosphere is tense and filled with dread, showcasing a society influenced by personal vices and dark intentions.
Location
Valdemar Manor
Valdemar Manor is a decaying estate known for its dark past and eerie ambiance. It serves as the central location where the malevolent events unfold, with its basement hiding a chilling secret. The manor amplifies the horror as it becomes a stage for betrayal and supernatural occurrences.
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Betrayal
Betrayal is a central theme, evident in the secretive plot to manipulate Ernest for his fortune. The characters' unethical decisions lead to tragic consequences, showcasing how greed can destroy relationships and lives.
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Supernatural
The supernatural plays a significant role, with the reanimation of Ernest's corpse and the haunting presence of vengeful spirits. This theme underscores the consequences of evil deeds and the inability to escape one's past.
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Greed
Greed drives the characters' actions, particularly Jessica and Robert, as they plot to inherit Ernest's wealth. Their desire for wealth leads to moral degradation and ultimately, deadly repercussions.
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