Ghosthouse

Ghosthouse

Year: 1988

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: English

Director: Umberto Lenzi

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

We dare you to go inside… A group of unlikely companions receive a radio call leading to a deserted house with a grisly past.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Ghosthouse 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!

Timeline & Setting – Ghosthouse (1988)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Ghosthouse (1988). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1967 and late 1980s

1967 marks the start of Sam Baker's tragedy and Henrietta's confinement. Twenty years later, in the late 1980s, Paul Rogers and Martha return to the house after picking up a distressing radio signal, reigniting the house's dark history.

Location

Baker Family House, Old House

An old, isolated house that serves as the central haunt of the story. It contains the basement where Henrietta was kept and where the clown doll sits, surrounded by a malevolent aura that intensifies as the plot unfolds. The house draws in unwary visitors and a hostile caretaker, until the past erupts in violence and supernatural events.

🏚️ Haunted 👪 Family Secrets 👻 Supernatural 🗝️ Cursed Object

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:31

Main Characters – Ghosthouse (1988)

Meet the key characters of Ghosthouse (1988), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Paul Rogers (Greg Rhodes)

An amateur radio operator who traces a distress signal to the haunted house. He is resourceful and determined, using his technical skills to connect voices from the past to the present. His pursuit of the truth puts him directly in the path of the house's malevolent power, and he ultimately becomes a casualty of the curse.

🔎 Investigator 🧭 Resourceful

Martha (Lara Wendel)

Paul's girlfriend who feels the house's ominous aura and wants to leave, but ultimately joins Paul in uncovering the house's history. She is perceptive and decisive, providing a pragmatic counterbalance to the unfolding supernatural events. She survives the initial onslaught of the haunting.

🧭 Determined 💬 Perceptive

Susan (Mary Sellers)

Mark's girlfriend and one of the intruders who becomes entangled in the night's horrors. She navigates the increasing danger alongside the others and survives the deadly events, contributing to the final escape from the house.

🧭 Curious 🎯 Survivor

Jim (Martin Jay)

One of the intruders who encounters Henrietta's spirit in the basement. He is drawn into the house's deadly trap when the spirit smiles at him with the clown doll in tow, leading to a fatal end. His death underscores the danger of trespassing in the haunted space.

⚠️ Risk-taker 🕯️ Tragic

Mark (Ron Houck)

Jim's sibling and Tina's partner in the group of intruders. He participates in the risky break-in but does not escape the house's lethal consequences. His fate emphasizes the peril that befalls those who seek answers in the haunted dwelling.

🧭 Curious ⚔️ Risk-taker

Tina (Kate Silver)

Mark's sister, part of the intruding group. She faces the house's menace alongside Susan and Mark, trying to survive the night. Her presence helps reveal the dynamics of the visitors drawn into the haunting.

👭 Sibling ⚠️ Cautious

Valkos (Donald O'Brien)

The hostile caretaker of the house who aggressively tries to scare off intruders and guards the place's secrets. He becomes a focal point for suspicion after Jim's death, with the police hinting at his involvement due to his fixation on the property.

🧭 Caretaker 🗡️ Suspicious

Henrietta (Henrietta Baker) (Kristen Fougerousse)

The spirit of the Baker girl, whose ghost haunts the house and appears with the clown doll. Her presence embodies innocence corrupted by her father's actions and fuels the horror that unfolds for the visitors.

👻 Ghost 🎀 Innocence

Mortician (Robert Champagne)

A minor character linked to the aftermath of the house's crimes, representing the macabre connection between the dead and the living within the story. His role underscores the theme of death and the desecration of the dead's belongings that haunts the house.

💀 Deathly 🕯️ Macabre

Pepe (Willy M. Moon)

A minor character among the intruders whose presence adds to the tension in the house. He is part of the group that confronts the haunting and the dangers within.

👥 Minor 🌀 Tense

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:31

Major Themes – Ghosthouse (1988)

Explore the central themes of Ghosthouse (1988), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👻 Haunting

The narrative centers on a haunted house and a vengeful spirit inhabiting Henrietta. Trauma from the past manifests as malevolent presence that targets anyone who enters the home. The eerie lullaby and the clown doll symbolize innocence corrupted by violent events. The haunting acts as a catalyst that draws characters into the house's deadly history.

🗝️ Cursed Object

Henrietta's clown doll acts as the conduit for the house's curse, accumulating traumatic energy from the family’s crimes. The doll's origin—stolen from a dead child by Sam Baker—ties the object to the family’s dark past. Its presence triggers supernatural occurrences and brutal deaths. The doll's visibility in the store window at the end reinforces the curse's persistence.

🔎 Investigation

Paul and Martha's pursuit of the truth drives the plot, as they uncover links between the screams on the radio, the previous owners, and the doll. Their investigation gradually exposes how past crimes linger in the present. The danger escalates as they piece together the house's history and the orphaned spirit’s motive.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:31

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Unlock the Full Story of Ghosthouse

Don't stop at just watching — explore Ghosthouse 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 Ghosthouse is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Ghosthouse Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Ghosthouse, 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.

Ghosthouse Summary

Ghosthouse Timeline

Track the full timeline of Ghosthouse with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Ghosthouse Timeline

More About Ghosthouse

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