Back from the Dead

Back from the Dead

Year: 1957

Runtime: 79 mins

Language: English

Director: Charles Marquis Warren

Horror

When the spirit of a husband's dead first wife possesses his second wife, she becomes a cold, scheming seductress willing to do anything for power. The husband's sister, her husband, and the sister's new boyfriend grapple with the supernatural intrusion, confronting a coven of devil‑worshippers as they seek a way to reverse the possession.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Back from the Dead (1957)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Back from the Dead (1957). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

California coast, Bradleys' vacation house

Set along the rugged California coast, the vacation house sits atop cliffs overlooking the sea, isolating the characters from help. The seaside locale intensifies the eerie mood as secrets resurface and the boundary between life and death blurs. The setting effectively becomes a character itself, amplifying danger whenever Felicia's presence surfaces.

🏖️ California coast 🧭 Mystery 🕯️ Supernatural

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:04

Main Characters – Back from the Dead (1957)

Meet the key characters of Back from the Dead (1957), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Mandy Hazelton Anthony (Peggie Castle)

Pregnant Mandy is vacationing with her husband and sister when she suffers a seizure, miscarrys, and then awakens claiming to be Felicia. Her body becomes the site of a supernatural struggle as Felicia's presence battles for control. Mandy’s ordeal exposes vulnerability, resilience, and the peril of hidden histories leaking into the present.

👶 Pregnancy 🔮 Supernatural

Dick Anthony (Arthur Franz)

Mandy’s husband who has kept his first marriage and Felicia’s death secret. His concealed past fuels tension and mistrust as the group confronts Felicia’s return. He wrestles with love, guilt, and the urge to protect those around him, even as the truth threatens to ruin them all.

💑 Marriage 🔒 Secrets

Kate Hazelton (Marsha Hunt)

Mandy’s sister, initially skeptical of the supernatural events. She becomes entangled in Renault’s cultish plans and bears the brunt of Felicia’s influence, including an assault and a fall into a dangerous web of deception.

🕊️ Family 😨 Fear

Maitre Renault (Otto Reichow)

Devil cult leader who resents being upstaged by Mandy’s ‘return’ and tries to keep Felicia alive by manipulating Mandy’s body. He orchestrates rituals and coercive schemes, showing a calculating and dangerous hunger for power.

🧭 Cult 🔮 Occult

Ada Bradley (Helen Wallace)

Felicia’s mother and a tertiary antagonist who initially welcomes Felicia back and participates in the occult dynamics. Her involvement and curses contribute to the escalating danger until Renault’s spell turns the tide against her.

👪 Family 🪄 Magic

Mr. Bradley (James Bell)

Ada’s husband, horrified by the turn of events and the occult influence. He challenges the cult’s power and urges caution, ultimately meeting a tragic end as the truth and magic clash violently.

👪 Family 🕯️ Supernatural

Nancy Cordell (Marianne Stewart)

A neighbor who reveals insider knowledge about the cult and facilitates Renault’s involvement with the group. She becomes a crucial ally in the effort to stop Renault and ultimately shoots him to end the threat.

🗝️ Secrets 🔫 Violence

John Mitchell (Don Haggerty)

Dick’s friend who bears a heavy secret about Felicia’s death. He plays a pivotal role in resisting Renault’s schemes and helps pull the group toward a final confrontation.

💔 Guilt 🛡️ Protector

Molly Prentiss (Evelyn Scott)

A guest who becomes a sacrificial pawn in Renault’s plan to sustain Felicia’s life. Her danger underscores the ruthlessness of Renault’s ambitions and the real cost of the supernatural scheme.

🪄 Sacrifice 😨 Fear

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:04

Major Themes – Back from the Dead (1957)

Explore the central themes of Back from the Dead (1957), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔮 Rebirth

The film centers on the apparent return of Felicia, inhabiting Mandy’s body and unsettling everyone who thought the past was laid to rest. This arc questions what it means to come back from death and who controls a body under the pressure of a lingering past. The supernatural revival drives fear, mistrust, and moral ambiguity among the key players alike.

🗝️ Secrets

Hidden marriages, past deaths, and occult ties create a web of secrets that fuels the action. Characters guard truths while others pry, and the revelation of these secrets destabilizes relationships. The devil cult and Renault’s manipulation reveal how private histories can provoke public disaster. Truth becomes a weapon as lies begin to unravel.

🕯️ Power

Renault and the others vie for control over Felicia’s revival and Mandy’s body, turning personal desire into a dangerous pursuit of life and influence. Rituals, curses, and threats illustrate how power can corrupt and distort family ties. The struggle culminates in decisive acts that blur lines between salvation and damnation.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:04

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Back from the Dead Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Back from the Dead, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Back from the Dead Summary

Back from the Dead Timeline

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Back from the Dead Timeline

More About Back from the Dead

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