Brief Summary
The movie, set in the 80s, follows George, Catherine, and their daughter Franny as they move to a large farmhouse upstate. Strange occurrences plague the family, including Catherine's encounters with spirits and George's infidelity and professional deceit. As the couple drifts apart, dark secrets about the house's history and George's past are revealed, leading to a tragic climax where George, influenced by a malevolent spirit, murders Catherine. Ultimately, justice prevails as the truth is exposed, and George meets a grim end, mirroring the imagery from Emanuel Swedenborg's "Heaven and Hell."
- The family moves into a haunted farmhouse with a dark history.
- George's infidelity and professional lies are exposed.
- Catherine is haunted by spirits and seeks to understand them.
- A malevolent spirit influences George, leading to tragedy.
- Justice is served as the truth comes to light and George is punished.
The Family Moves to a Haunted Farmhouse
The film begins with George discovering blood and his daughter staring at something unsettling. The story then rewinds to a few months earlier, introducing George, his wife Catherine, and their daughter Franny living in Manhattan. George announces he has completed his PhD and secured a teaching job at an upstate college. Catherine, a successful art restorer, decides to sacrifice her career to support George's new opportunity. The family moves into a large, vintage farmhouse, where strange occurrences begin on their first night, including Catherine smelling exhaust fumes and Franny seeing a moving chair.
New Beginnings and Strange Encounters
George is welcomed to the college by Floyd DeBeers, who gifts him Emanuel Swedenborg's "Heaven and Hell." Catherine hires Eddie and Cole, two local brothers, for handyman and babysitting work. Catherine discovers an old bible with a family tree of the previous owners, the Smits, with some names marked "Damned." She experiences strange lights and a spiritual presence after finding an antique ring. Catherine visits the local Historical Society and learns about Jacob and Ella Smit, who built the house. Meanwhile, George becomes attracted to a college girl named Willis.
Infidelity and Growing Unease
George gains popularity at college and befriends Justine Sokolov. Catherine continues to experience strange occurrences, including smelling exhaust fumes and Franny seeing a mysterious woman. Catherine reads Floyd's book and senses a supernatural presence. George begins an affair with Willis. Catherine finds Ella's ring and is seemingly influenced by it. George learns from Eddie that he and his brother used to live in the farmhouse. Catherine spends time with Eddie, who plays the piano, annoying George.
Dark Energy and Marital Discord
Catherine and Franny continue to see the strange spirit, and vultures appear outside, indicating a dark energy. George ends his affair with Willis. George and Catherine have dinner at Justine's home, where George bonds with Bram over weed. Catherine joins a women's art group at Justine's invitation. On the way home, George drives erratically, leading to an argument where Catherine expresses her frustration over sacrificing her career. George pushes her down, bruising her face, and she becomes indifferent to his apologies.
Secrets and Spiritual Investigations
Catherine spends more time with Justine, while George becomes busy at work. George reveals to Floyd that his cousin Henry, a talented artist, drowned at 19. Floyd senses a female soul in the house and suggests it means no harm. Catherine wishes to learn more about the spirit, believing it is Ella Smith, and Floyd offers to hold a seance. At a party, Catherine learns about the violent history of the house, including Calvin Smit sedating his family and committing suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning with his wife Ella.
Confrontations and a Séance
Catherine confronts George about the house's history. George makes Justine uncomfortable at the party. Catherine invites Floyd to conduct a séance. During the séance, the group summons Ella's spirit, but a male spirit interrupts and intimidates her. Floyd concludes that there is another spirit in the house and warns Catherine to be careful.
Betrayals Unveiled
Catherine discovers George's affair with Willis. George runs into his PhD advisor, Dr. Warren, who reveals that he never wrote a recommendation letter for George. Justine overhears the conversation and realizes something is amiss. Floyd confronts George about the forgery and informs him that he will be fired.
Thanksgiving and Dark Revelations
During Thanksgiving dinner, Catherine learns that George took credit for his deceased cousin Henry's paintings. She leaves the dinner in disgust. A male spirit encourages George to free himself. Eddie comforts Catherine, and they begin to make out. George tells Floyd that he was ostracized after reporting a sexual misconduct incident, but Floyd remains firm on reporting the forgery.
Tragedy Strikes
Justine realizes George is having an affair with Willis. George insults Justine, who then confronts him about his conversation with Dr. Warren. Justine is run off the road, and Catherine discovers she is in a coma. Floyd is found dead in the Hudson River. George is offered the position of interim head of the art department.
Descent into Madness
George finds the cover art of "Heaven and Hell" projected in his classroom and becomes agitated. Catherine packs her suitcases, planning to leave. George spikes her protein shake. Catherine searches for Franny and asks Ella's spirit for help. A male spirit appears and yanks Ella away. George, possessed, murders Catherine.
Aftermath and Justice
Cole finds a note from George instructing him not to disturb Catherine. The police suspect George but release him due to lack of evidence. Justine awakens from her coma and remembers everything, leaving a message for George. Calvin's spirit urges George to run away. George escapes on his cousin's boat but is caught in a storm. Ella and Catherine's spirits appear, and George disappears into flames, with an upside-down cross appearing in the sky, symbolizing his damnation.
