Horror House on Highway 5

Horror House on Highway 5

Year: 1985

Runtime: 87 mins

Language: English

Director: Richard Casey

HorrorIntense violence and sexual transgressionGory gruesome and slasher horrorShow All…

See It Or Die! A van full of college students traveling down a highway is terrorized by a psycho killer in a Richard Nixon mask.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Horror House on Highway 5 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 – Horror House on Highway 5 (1985)

Trace every key event in Horror House on Highway 5 (1985) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Murder and the stolen Nixon mask

A killer wearing a Richard Nixon mask murders a man who was trying to frighten his girlfriend, then steals the mask and kills the girlfriend. The killer's identity is linked to Frederick Bartholomew as the story unfolds. This brutal act establishes a looming threat over Littletown that will haunt the characters.

Night
2

Students assigned to Bartholomew project

Three Los Angeles City College students—Louise Kingsley, Michael Simpson, and Sally Smith—are assigned to research Frederick Bartholomew, a supposedly-deceased German rocket scientist. He is rumored to have Nazi ties and a murderous rampage in Littletown. Their academic project pulls them into a dangerous mystery.

Los Angeles / Littletown area
3

Sally interviews Marbuse and Gary

Sally meets Dr. Marbuse and his brother Gary to discuss Bartholomew. Marbuse is depicted as a mentally ill, unlicensed physician, while Gary is a shy, tarot-obsessed man. The interview hints at the danger surrounding Bartholomew and the case they are investigating.

Marbuse's home
4

Bartholomew stalks the highways at night

Frederick Bartholomew—revealed as the killer—prowls lonely highways at night, stalking motorists. His nocturnal presence foreshadows the danger that will intrude upon the students' investigation. The threat of Bartholomew looms over Littletown.

Night Highways near Littletown
5

Sally is kidnapped by Marbuse and Gary

Marbuse and Gary drug and kidnap Sally, holding her hostage in their home while subjecting her to occult rituals. The abduction escalates the peril facing the investigators and tightens the web of horror around Bartholomew. Sally's fate becomes increasingly precarious.

Night Marbuse/Gary house
6

Bartholomew attacks a couple in a car

That night, Bartholomew, in the Nixon mask, attacks a young couple parked in a car. The male driver is killed on impact, and the girlfriend is murdered afterward. The roadside assault cements Bartholomew's rampage as a town-wide nightmare.

Night Remote roadside near Littletown
7

Michael and Louise start a rocket project; van won't start

Michael and Louise park their van in a remote area to work on a model V-2 rocket, but the van fails to start. Michael goes to the nearest house seeking a phone and inadvertently finds himself at the residence where Sally is being held. The contrast between scientific ambition and creeping danger deepens the tension.

Night Remote area near Littletown
8

Michael is trapped in the house and attacked

Inside the labyrinthine, red-lit hallways, Michael becomes disoriented and is struck by a supernatural force. He grows delirious and falls onto the ground, where a rake lacerates his head. Bartholomew watches him from behind a window as danger closes in.

Night Marbuse/Gary house
9

Louise confronts Gary while Sally is killed

Louise, waiting by the van, enters the house to locate Sally. Gary blocks her attempt to unchain Sally, who is bludgeoned to death in the ensuing struggle. The investigation collapses into a new wave of tragedy as Sally loses her life.

Night Marbuse/Gary house
10

Louise finds Michael and the aftermath

Louise wanders through the house and encounters an invisible supernatural force, plus the dead body of one of Bartholomew's victims. She then discovers Michael dead with the rake still lodged in his head, collapsing in fear. The house becomes a chamber of horror for the two remaining survivors.

Night House interior
11

Gary's disturbing tableau and Bartholomew revealed

Gary continues his eerie behavior by dancing somberly with Susan's corpse. Louise confronts Bartholomew and detonates the model V-2 rocket, stunning him. Removing Bartholomew's Nixon mask reveals worms crawling from his eye sockets, suggesting he is undead.

Night Marbuse/Gary house
12

Dawn: Louise is found and helped by a driver

At dawn, Louise awakens in the underbrush and is found by a passing van driver who stops to help. He offers to call the police from a nearby call box and take her to safety, signaling a possible escape from the nightmare behind them.

Dawn Hillside / roadside
13

Final abduction attempt thwarted; Louise resists

The driver agrees to help, but Bartholomew attacks as Louise opens the rear of the van. She bites him and frees herself, and the van speeds away onto the highway. Louise lies on the roadside, watching the distance as the danger recedes for now.

Dawn Highway / roadside

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:47

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Horror House on Highway 5 Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Horror House on Highway 5, 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.

Horror House on Highway 5 Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Horror House on Highway 5

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Horror House on Highway 5

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