A group of friends challenge each other to explore a notorious mansion with a dark history – the site of thirteen previous murders. When a classmate documenting their exploration goes missing, the others must venture inside. They soon find themselves uncovering unsettling truths about the house's gruesome past and the dangerous connections between their group and the events that transpired there.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen Delirium yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!
Read the complete plot breakdown of Delirium (2018), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
A man grapples with the eerie legacy of his deceased father after being released from a mental institution. Upon his return, Tom Walker (Topher Grace) inherits an imposing mansion from his wealthy father, a former senator who took his own life. As Tom faces a thirty-day house arrest, he must check in daily via video phone, or risk being sent back to the institution. His parole officer, Brody (Patricia Clarkson), harbors suspicions about Tom, hinting at a violent past involving Tom and his older brother, Alex.
The mansion soon becomes a source of psychological torment for Tom, who experiences vivid hallucinations of his late father and his father’s pet dog. As unsettling noises echo through the halls and mysterious calls come from an unknown number, Tom begins to question whether the house is haunted or if he is slipping back into madness. One day, he has a vision of a girl drowning in his indoor pool, later discovering a jar containing a severed tongue—an eerie finding he initially dismisses as another hallucination.
In the midst of this turmoil, Tom finds a measure of comfort in Lynn (Teresa Navarro), a grocery delivery worker who shows a keen interest in him. However, their budding relationship takes an unexpected turn when Brody arrives for a check-up. A misunderstanding leads to a kiss that Tom does not reciprocate, resulting in Brody’s aggressive outburst, eventually leaving him even more isolated.
The situation escalates when Tom discovers that Alex has escaped from prison and is now in the mansion, driven by a desperate hunt for hidden money left by their father. Tom’s reality blurs further as he battles to discern what is real, even believing that Alex might be another figment of his imagination. School memories haunt Tom, revealing the traumatic past where a prank turned horrific led to irreversible consequences.
As the tension mounts, Brody arrives again with promised medication, while Tom and Alex watch a recorded message from their father apologizing for his neglect. A confrontation between the brothers leads to Alex leaving abruptly, but further chaos ensues when Lynn’s visit is marred by violence. After a violent clash, Tom and Lynn must fight for their lives against Alex, who has taken her hostage.
In a desperate bid to save Lynn, Tom confronts the horrors hidden within the mansion, uncovering a secret bunker that holds the remnants of his family’s dark history. When he discovers that his mother was imprisoned there by his father, he is torn between loyalty and the need to break free from the past. Tom musters the courage to rescue his mother, only to face Alex once again.
As the story reaches a climax, Tom and Lynn find themselves in a race against time to escape the watery chaos engulfing the house, while Alex’s intentions become increasingly lethal. In a harrowing conclusion, Tom confronts his family’s dark legacy, culminating in a final showdown that will forever change their lives. As they step out into the light, Tom claims ownership over the mansion, saying, > “It is now,” signaling his determination to reclaim his life.
Last Updated: October 27, 2024 at 21:42
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Stories where a haunted location reflects the protagonist's crumbling mental state.If you enjoyed the unsettling ambiguity of Delirium, you'll find similar stories here. These movies feature protagonists confronting haunted locations that directly mirror their own psychological trauma, creating a tense experience where the true threat might be supernatural or a descent into madness.
The narrative typically involves a protagonist, often with a troubled past, entering or being trapped in a location with a dark history. As eerie events escalate, the story deliberately creates uncertainty about whether the horror is external or a symptom of the character's psychosis, leading to a climactic revelation about the connection between the two.
These films are grouped together because they share a core narrative device: using a haunted setting as a metaphor for internal trauma. They create a specific kind of tension rooted in the protagonist's unreliable perception, making the audience question reality alongside the character.
High-tension stories where characters are trapped with a worsening threat.For viewers who liked the trapped, tense atmosphere of Delirium, this section collects movies with a strong claustrophobic element. These stories focus on characters confined to a single location, such as a house or institution, where a psychological or physical threat steadily intensifies.
The plot revolves around characters being restricted to a single primary location, often one they cannot easily escape. The confinement acts as a pressure cooker, methodically escalating tension as secrets are revealed, alliances shift, and the true nature of the threat—be it human, supernatural, or internal—becomes terrifyingly clear.
These films are united by their use of a limited setting to create a palpable sense of claustrophobia and relentless tension. The pacing is typically steady, building dread within the confines of the space, and the emotional weight is often heavy due to the inescapable nature of the situation.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Delirium in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Delirium is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Delirium with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Delirium. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Delirium that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Delirium: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like Delirium that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
Delirium (2018) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
Delirium (2018) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
Delirium (2018) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow
Movies Like Delirium – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
Unknown (2006) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Unhinged (1982) Film Overview & Timeline
Deranged (1987) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Delusion (1981) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Delirium: Photo of Gioia (1987) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Disquiet (2023) Detailed Story Recap
Delirium (1979) Movie Recap & Themes
Diabolique (1955) Full Movie Breakdown
House of Usher (2008) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
The Mansion of Madness (1973) Detailed Story Recap
Dementia 13 (1963) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Paranoiac (1963) Complete Plot Breakdown
Delirium (1972) Film Overview & Timeline
Delirium (2023) Film Overview & Timeline
Delirium (1000) Plot Summary & Ending Explained