Burnt Offerings

Writer Ben Rolf and his family arrive at a large, shabby neo-classical mansion for their summer vacation. They are joined by Ben's aunt Elizabeth and learn that they must deliver meals to the elderly Mrs. Allardyce, who remains hidden in her upstairs suite.

As the family settles into the mansion, Marian becomes captivated by the Victorian-era garments and the many portraits in Mrs. Allardyce's sitting room. This fascination begins to create a rift between her and the rest of the family.

Strange occurrences start to unfold as Davey gets injured while playing outside. Simultaneously, a once-dead plant mysteriously comes back to life, hinting that the house may be influenced by the family's presence.

Ben experiences a peculiar event after cutting his hand on a champagne bottle, as a light bulb in the mansion mysteriously restores itself. This incident further intensifies the unsettling atmosphere surrounding the house.

Aunt Elizabeth suddenly falls ill, bringing tension to the Rolf family's summer experience. Following her unexpected death, the dead flowers in the solarium bloom spectacularly, marking a disturbing change in the house's dynamics.

Marian's demeanor shifts as her obsession with the house deepens. A confrontation with Ben reveals her emotional distance, as he struggles with the death of his aunt while she remains fixated on their surroundings.

Determined to escape with Davey, Ben discovers that the road out is blocked by a fallen tree. This moment underscores the house's malevolent hold over the family as they attempt to flee.

After witnessing Marian transformed into the chauffeur, Ben succumbs to despair and becomes catatonic. This emotional breakdown highlights the psychological toll the house has taken on him.

While Ben remains comatose, Davey swims in the mansion's pool, which suddenly turns into tumultuous waves. Marian jumps in to save her son, unexpectedly reviving Ben from his stupor.

After the pool incident, Marian insists on checking on Mrs. Allardyce but fails to return. Ben's search for her leads to a horrifying realization that the woman upstairs is actually his wife, aged drastically.

Ben is confronted by a shocking revelation when Mrs. Allardyce, appearing as Marian, claims, 'I've been waiting for you, Ben!' This twisted moment signifies the complete takeover of identity and reality in the house.

While waiting in the car, Davey witnesses his father fall from the attic window, which traumatizes him. As he rushes back toward the house, he faces an even more tragic fate when a chimney collapses on him.

In the aftermath of the family's tragedy, the Allardyce siblings celebrate the revitalization of their home with the return of their 'mother.' The house's sinister influence is revealed in the portraits that now eerily depict the Rolfs.