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Plot Summary

A Haunted House (2013) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2013 · 86 min · English
JustWatch #28,970
Directed by
Michael Tiddes
Starring
Essence Atkins, Marlon Wayans
Budget
$2.5M

This riotous spoof of found footage horror follows a young couple whose dream home quickly becomes a nightmare when Kisha is possessed by a malevolent demon. Desperate to find a solution, Malcolm seeks help from an eccentric group, including priests and paranormal investigators. He struggles to save his relationship and his sex life as he battles demonic forces threatening to tear everything apart.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like A Haunted House
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch A Haunted House (2013)

Where can you watch A Haunted House? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on fuboTV, Kanopy and Plex: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in A Haunted House: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of A Haunted House (2013) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

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.

Last updated: November 19, 2024 at 18:37

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Plot questions answered

A Haunted House Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about A Haunted House (2013): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Kisha become possessed by the demon?

Kisha confesses to making a pact with the devil in exchange for shoes during her childhood. This earlier bargain is what allows the malevolent spirit to possess her. The demon uses this spiritual connection to take control of Kisha's body throughout the film.

Foreshadowing: Kisha's childhood video from her eighth birthday reveals her interactions with an imaginary friend named Tony, hinting at early supernatural contact.

  • kisha possession
  • demon pact
  • devil
  • supernatural
  • magic shoes
Q2

What happens to Rosa the housekeeper?

Rosa dies during the chaotic exorcism attempt while collecting her last paycheck from the couple. She is present in the living room when the ritual goes wrong, and Kisha witnesses her demise. This tragic event occurs as the group desperately tries to drive out the possessing spirit.

Foreshadowing: Rosa had already decided to quit and leave the haunted house before the exorcism takes place.

  • rosa death
  • housekeeper
  • exorcism
  • payload
Q3

Why does the Ouija board say "gost" instead of "ghost"?

The Ouija board deliberately misprints "gost" instead of "ghost," which initially causes laughter among the group. However, the spirits then retaliate by hurling the board across the room in anger, turning the comedic moment into terror. This is played as both a joke and a supernatural warning.

Foreshadowing: The misspelling appears just before the spirits demonstrate their actual hostile presence.

  • ouija board
  • gost
  • ghost
  • misprint
  • spirits
Q4

Why does the exorcism fail?

Father Doug's exorcism fails because the demon possessing Kisha is too powerful. The ritual is unable to drive out the spirit, and the situation escalates into chaos. Malcolm then calls on his friends Dan, Bobby, and Chip to attempt a group intervention, which eventually succeeds in temporarily driving the ghost from Kisha.

Foreshadowing: Chip had earlier warned that Kisha was in deep trouble due to her devil pact, indicating the exorcism would face significant resistance.

  • exorcism
  • father doug
  • failed ritual
  • demon
Q5

Why does the ghost target Malcolm?

The ghost specifically targets Malcolm throughout the film, eventually seizing him from his room and attempting to harm him. While the spirit also engages Kisha intimately, it shows particular aggression toward Malcolm. This targeting creates escalating tension as Malcolm struggles to save his relationship while being attacked by the entity.

Foreshadowing: Malcolm's fear and desire to flee the house increases after the first supernatural attacks.

  • malcolm
  • ghost attack
  • targeted
  • possessed
Q6

What is the significance of Kisha's childhood video with Tony?

Kisha discovers a disturbing video from her eighth birthday party that reveals her interactions with an imaginary friend named Tony. The video shows eerie occurrences that were initially dismissed as childhood imagination but later prove to be real supernatural contact. This establishes that Kisha has had a long-standing connection to the demonic entity.

Foreshadowing: The imaginary friend Tony is revealed to be the same entity that later possesses Kisha as an adult.

  • childhood video
  • tony
  • imaginary friend
  • kisha past
Q7

Why does the door move on the security camera footage?

While reviewing the security camera footage, Malcolm and Kisha discover that a door has mysteriously moved from its original position. Malcolm comically rationalizes the occurrence, suggesting it moved because of his own desires. The event marks the first concrete evidence of paranormal activity in their home.

Foreshadowing: This mysterious door movement occurs shortly after Kisha first suspects the house might be haunted.

  • door moved
  • camera footage
  • paranormal
  • evidence
Q8

Why does Kisha run over Malcolm's dog Shiloh?

Kisha accidentally runs over Malcolm's cherished dog Shiloh with her car, creating a significant emotional rift between the couple. The tragic accident happens early in their move-in process and leaves Malcolm heartbroken. This incident establishes tension in their relationship before the supernatural events intensify.

Foreshadowing: The dog's death adds to the growing tension and foreshadows the darker events to come.

  • shiloh
  • dog death
  • car accident
  • kisha
Q9

What happens at the end when Kisha attacks Malcolm?

At the climax, Kisha becomes fully possessed and launches a violent attack against Malcolm. She lunges at him with demonic fury, shattering the camera in the struggle. The film ends ambiguously with Kisha hovering over a screaming Malcolm, leaving viewers uncertain whether she breaks free from the possession or if the demon's hold proves irreversible. The final jump-serve functions as a comedic punchline rather than clear resolution.

Foreshadowing: Throughout the film, Kisha's possession grows increasingly violent and uncontrollable until the final confrontation.

  • final fight
  • ending
  • kisha attack
  • possessed
  • michael
Q10

Why don't Malcolm and Kisha just leave the haunted house?

Malcolm wants to flee the house as paranormal events escalate, but he feels trapped by the stagnant real estate market. The couple cannot sell the home or easily relocate, forcing them to stay and face the increasingly dangerous supernatural threats. This economic pressure adds to their desperation as they struggle to survive the haunting.

Foreshadowing: The couple's financial entrapment is established early when Malcolm explains why they cannot simply move out.

  • real estate
  • stuck
  • can't leave
  • financial
Q11

Why does Kisha do the haunting solo dance in the kitchen?

Kisha performs a disturbing solo dance in the kitchen while in a trance-like state, surrounded by rancid leftovers and expired milk. Malcolm discovers her mid-dance and tries to restrain her, but she erupts in wild abandon. She wakes the next day with no memory of the incident, indicating the demon's growing control over her actions.

Foreshadowing: This erratic behavior follows shortly after the childhood video revelation and the spirit's increasing manifestations.

  • kitchen dance
  • trance
  • possession
  • expired milk
Q12

Why does Chip invite Malcolm to join his amateur wrestling group?

After Chip the psychic warns Kisha about the trouble she's in due to her devil pact, he invites Malcolm to join his amateur wrestling group. This odd suggestion appears to be Chip's way of offering support and empowerment to Malcolm as the situation becomes more dire, though it also reflects the film's absurd comedic tone.

Foreshadowing: Chip reappears later during the chaotic exorcism attempt to help drive out the spirit.

  • chip
  • wrestling
  • amateur
  • invitation

Movie threads

More Movies Like A Haunted House, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes A Haunted House tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Raunchy horror spoofs like A Haunted House

Comedic films that mock horror tropes with slapstick and irreverent humor. If you liked the chaotic, joke-a-minute style of A Haunted House, this thread features movies that share a similar approach. Find other comedies that parody supernatural films and found footage horror with an irreverent, slapstick-heavy vibe.

  • ridiculous
  • slapstick
  • raunchy
  • irreverent
  • chaotic
  • parody
  • Tone: light, irreverent
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically follow a simple horror plot—like a haunting or possession—but use it as a skeleton to hang a rapid-fire series of gags. Character arcs are secondary to comedic set pieces, and the 'threat' exists primarily to be made fun of, leading to chaotic, often unresolved endings.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their primary goal: to spoof the horror genre. They share a light tone, fast pacing, and a high-intensity comedic style that prioritizes jokes over narrative depth, creating a consistent vibe of ridiculous fun.

High-energy supernatural comedies like A Haunted House

Fast-paced comedies where supernatural chaos disrupts everyday life. For viewers seeking more movies like A Haunted House, this thread collects fast-paced comedies where demonic possession or ghostly antics are played for laughs. Discover similar films that blend supernatural plots with lighthearted, chaotic humor.

  • anxious
  • chaotic
  • supernatural
  • farcical
  • irreverent
  • absurd
  • Tone: light, anxious
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves an ordinary person or couple whose life is thrown into disarray by a sudden, ridiculous supernatural event. The plot is a straightforward series of escalating, comedic confrontations as the protagonist seeks increasingly unorthodox help, often leading to an ambiguous or joke-based conclusion.

Why they belong together: These movies are united by a unique blend: a supernatural plot framework executed with a comedic, high-energy approach. They share a light emotional weight, straightforward complexity, and a consistent vibe of turning the otherworldly into a source of slapstick humor.

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Movies Like A Haunted House

Similar movies to A Haunted House: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

A Haunted House (2013) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about A Haunted House in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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