Haunts

Haunts

Year: 1976

Runtime: 97 mins

Language: English

Director: Herb Freed

HorrorHorror

Past traumas begin to manifest as present terror when a woman is plagued by psychosexual nightmares and a deranged killer stalks the town with brutal scissor murders. A small‑town sheriff races to uncover the link between her haunting visions and the murders before the nightmare claims more victims.

Haunts (1976) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Haunts (1976) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a quiet farming community tucked into the rolling hills of Northern California, the rhythm of daily life is marked by creaking barn doors and the gentle murmur of a nearby creek. Beneath the serene surface, however, an uneasy current begins to flow as the town’s ordinary routine is shaken by a string of brutal scissor murders that stir a collective sense of dread. The atmosphere is dense with the chill of unspoken fear, where every rustle of grass and echo in the woods feels like a warning.

At the heart of the unease is Ingrid Swenson, a young Swedish woman who lives with her American uncle on the family farm. Ingrid carries the weight of a painful past that resurfaces in vivid, psychosexual nightmares, blurring the lines between memory and present terror. Her struggle to reconcile these haunting visions with the reality of the town’s growing menace creates a fragile tension that drives her every step, while her relationship with her uncle offers both shelter and an additional layer of complexity.

The town’s small‑scale law enforcement is embodied by Sheriff Peterson, a diligent officer who feels the pressure of protecting a close‑knit community while racing against time to understand the connection between Ingrid’s haunting dreams and the escalating violence. Around them, familiar faces—Bill Spry, a newcomer to the choir whose interest in Ingrid feels both unsettling and intriguing, and the stoic Vicar who offers a spiritual refuge—populate a world where trust is hard-won and every interaction may conceal deeper motives.

Haunts unfolds with a slow‑burning dread, blending atmospheric horror with psychological tension. The film balances the stark beauty of its rural setting against the shadowy corridors of memory, guilt, and fear, inviting viewers to wonder how far the past can reach into the present and what unseen forces bind a community together when nightmares become reality.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 18:09

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

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.

Dark Psychological Mysteries with Unreliable Narrators like Haunts

A troubled protagonist's fragile mind blurs the line between past trauma and a present murder investigation.If you liked the tense, ambiguous investigation in Haunts, you'll find similar movies here. This thread gathers thrillers and noirs where a protagonist's psychological trauma fuels a murder mystery, creating a deeply unsettling and claustrophobic experience where the truth is as fragile as the main character's mind.

unreliable narratorpsychological thrillersmall town secretsinvestigationmental unravelingoppressiveanxiousgrim

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a character, often haunted by a dark past, who becomes involved in or conducts an investigation. Their personal demons and unstable mental state interweave with the central mystery, creating a story where the external threat is mirrored and amplified by internal psychological horror, leading to an ambiguous or bleak resolution.

Why These Movies?

They are grouped by their shared focus on a psychologically fragile protagonist navigating a dangerous situation. The mood is consistently anxious and oppressive, the tone is dark, and the pacing is steady, building a sense of dread rooted in both external danger and internal collapse.

Bleak Horror Movies About Trauma and Violence like Haunts

Stories where past abuse manifests as inescapable present terror, leading to a tragic end.For viewers who appreciated the heavy emotional weight and bleak ending of Haunts. These similar movies explore dark themes of childhood trauma, abuse, and grief through a lens of intense horror and violence, offering a harrowing and cathartic viewing experience for those seeking stories with high emotional impact.

bleakgrimtraumaticviolentpsychological horrormelancholicnightmarishdisturbing

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a character being relentlessly pursued by horrors that are a direct manifestation of their own traumatic history. The line between psychological torment and real-world threat is deliberately blurred, leading to a climax where the character is ultimately consumed by their pain, resulting in a tragic and hopeless ending.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their uncompromisingly dark tone, high intensity, and heavy emotional weight centered on themes of abuse and loss. They share a bleak outlook and a steady, oppressive pacing that creates a sense of inescapable doom, making the viewing experience consistently grim and emotionally draining.

Unlock the Full Story of Haunts

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

Haunts Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Haunts, 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.

Haunts Summary

Haunts Timeline

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

Haunts Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Haunts

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Haunts. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Haunts

More About Haunts

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Haunts: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Haunts

Similar Movies to Haunts

Discover movies like Haunts 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.