Boardinghouse

Boardinghouse

Year: 1982

Runtime: 99 mins

Language: English

HorrorHorror the undead and monster classicsGory gruesome and slasher horrorGothic and eerie haunting horrorTerrifying haunted and supernatural horror

When a once‑infamous boarding house reopens after years of standing empty following a series of gruesome murders, the new tenants assume they’ve left the horror behind. Yet the rent isn’t the only threat, as a fresh wave of bloodshed erupts, forcing everyone to confront the house’s deadly legacy.

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Timeline & Setting – Boardinghouse (1982)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Boardinghouse (1982). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1982

The present-day action unfolds in 1982 as Jim Royce reopens the house as a boarding house in the Los Angeles area. The film weaves in a backstory from 1972 when Dr. Hoffman and his wife died under mysterious circumstances. The early 1980s setting contributes to a glossy yet sinister atmosphere around occult interests and supernatural events.

Location

Mulholland Drive ranch house, the Beach

The story centers on a secluded mansion perched on Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles, a place steeped in tragedy and mystery. In 1982 it is reopened as a boarding house that attracts a wave of young actresses and models. The house’s dark past—marked by the Hoffman deaths and eerie occurrences—casts a long shadow over every room, including the nearby beach where a body is recovered.

🏚️ Haunted residence 🔮 Occult mystery 🌇 Los Angeles setting

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:42

Main Characters – Boardinghouse (1982)

Meet the key characters of Boardinghouse (1982), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Terri (Elizabeth Hall)

Terri is a young aspiring actress who moves into the boarding house after responding to Jim's ad. She navigates the tense dynamics among the tenants and becomes entwined in the escalating supernatural danger. Terri embodies the hopeful talent drawn to the glamour of the house, yet she remains wary of its eerie forces.

🌟 Aspiring actress 🏠 Boarding house resident 🌀 Entangled in supernatural events

Jim Royce (John Wintergate)

Jim is the nephew who has inherited the house and uses it as a playground for occult experiments. A playboy with a dangerous fascination for telekinesis, he wields his powers to manipulate events and people around him. His alliance with the supernatural creates a volatile dynamic that drives the house’s terror.

🧿 Occult enthusiast 💼 Playful yet dangerous 🔥 Telekinetic powers

Debbie Hoffman (Alexandra Day)

Debbie is Dr. Hoffman's daughter who returns to claim the home. She harbors a disturbing past, including an incestuous relationship with her father, and uses supernatural means to eliminate those she deems trespassers. Debbie serves as the central antagonist whose powers unleash the house’s deadliest events.

🧬 Supernatural antagonist 🎭 Calculating manipulator 👁️ Incestuous past

Victoria (Kalassu)

Victoria is an aspiring singer who is drawn to Jim's talent and the house's mystique. She soon discovers her own telekinetic abilities and becomes a key ally against Debbie. Victoria experiences visions and fears the looming, monstrous force that haunts the home.

🎤 Aspiring singer 🔮 Telekinetic learner 👁️ Visionary ally

Cindy (Mary McKinley)

Cindy is Jim’s ex-girlfriend who moves into the boarding house. Her stay is marked by secrecy and romantic tension, and she eventually disappears after a beach rendezvous with Richard. Her fate ties into the network of betrayal and supernatural danger in the house.

💃 Former partner 🏖️ Beach memory 🗝️ Mysterious disappearance

Richard Grant (Brian Bruderlin)

Richard is a detective who pursues reasons behind the house’s strange happenings and has a complicated past with Cindy. He periodically confronts the escalating occult activity, and his interactions anchor the human threat within the supernatural events. His presence adds a grounded, investigative perspective to the terror.

🕵️ Detective 💔 Ex-lover 🧭 Investigative presence

Sandy (Selma Kora)

Sandy is one of the tenants who answers the boarding house ad. She joins the circle of aspiring actresses and models drawn to the house’s opportunities and danger. Sandy becomes part of the shared experience of fear and intrigue that defines the occupancy.

🎬 Model 🎭 Aspiring actress 🧭 New to the boarding house

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:42

Major Themes – Boardinghouse (1982)

Explore the central themes of Boardinghouse (1982), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔮 Occult power

Telekinesis and occult practices drive the plot, with Jim and Debbie exploring and expanding their supernatural abilities. The house seems to amplify psychic forces, drawing in those who seek to harness them. The tension between power and control fuels both fascination and danger.

👁️ Haunted home

The boarding house acts as a living, malevolent presence where visions, premonitions, and sudden violence erupt. Rooms and hallways become stages for psychic manifestations and mysterious disappearances. The setting itself is a character that feeds fear and paranoia among the tenants.

💀 Obsession and danger

Desire to possess the house and its secrets drives characters toward violence and betrayal. Hidden family pasts emerge, revealing disturbing dynamics and temptations. The pursuit of power and security leads to deadly consequences for those who trespass.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:42

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Boardinghouse Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Boardinghouse, 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.

Boardinghouse Summary

Boardinghouse Timeline

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Boardinghouse Timeline

More About Boardinghouse

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Boardinghouse (1982) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Boardinghouse (1982) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Boardinghouse (1982) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow