Castle Freak

John Reilly inherits a 12th-century castle in Italy that once belonged to a famed Duchess. He, his wife Susan, and their blind teenage daughter Rebecca travel to Italy to visit the estate and assess its value. The family plans to stay briefly to liquidate the assets and move on.

On the estate administrator's advice, they decide to remain at the castle until the estate can be liquidated. The quiet medieval residence feels tense, haunted by its history. They prepare to settle in, hoping to leave soon.

Unknown to them, Giorgio Orsino—the Duchess's son—was imprisoned and tortured in the castle's dungeons. He survives in the shadows, disfigured and dangerous. The family remains unaware of his presence at this point.

Giorgio kills and eats a cat, then escapes by breaking off his own thumb to free the manacles. He begins roaming the castle's corridors, stalking the halls with a predatory persistence. His escape marks the start of a silent terror for the inhabitants.

Rebecca reports that there is someone else in the house, claiming to see movement near her bedroom. John believes her, but Susan is skeptical and fears an illusion or a danger from within. The family dynamics shift as fear takes root in the castle at night.

Haunted by the death of his young son, John turns to alcohol and seeks solace with a prostitute from the nearby town. Susan's anger deepens as she discovers his infidelity and the growing distance between them. Tensions rise as the family climate becomes increasingly unstable.

As Susan leaves the castle, Giorgio ambushes the prostitute and mutilates her in a brutal attack that shocks the household. The maid discovers the still-living prostitute later, only to be murdered by Giorgio shortly thereafter. The castle's corridors echo with violence and dread.

Suspecting foul play, the authorities order the family to stay inside the castle while they investigate the missing prostitute. The decision traps them inside the fortress as fear and suspicion mount. The enigmatic intruder remains at large within the walls.

John learns that Giorgio is his half-brother and that the Duchess was his father's first wife. The Duchess tortured Giorgio throughout his life, driven by jealousy and a broken marriage. The revelation reframes the castle's haunted history and John’s own guilt.

Giorgio kills two policemen during the ensuing chaos and abducts Rebecca, chaining her up in his cell. He stalks her again within the dungeon, revealing his intent to keep her close. Susan and John realize the danger is personal and immediate.

Susan finds Rebecca and allows Giorgio to seduce her to distract him long enough for Susan to stab Giorgio. The stab enrages Giorgio, who pursues them up to the castle roof. The plan backfires as danger escalates toward a final confrontation.

John escapes from the police station after a fight and races back to the castle for a final showdown. He sacrifices himself by manacling himself to Giorgio and pulling him off the roof as he leaps from the parapet. Susan and Rebecca survive, and John’s sacrifice allows them to begin healing. His selfless act saves Rebecca at the cost of his own life.

At John's funeral, the prostitute's son is seen with the policeman, his father, acknowledging the tragedy and consequences of the night. The film closes on the aftermath and the price paid for the family’s survival.