Hospital Massacre

Hospital Massacre

Year: 1981

Runtime: 89 mins

Language: English

Director: Boaz Davidson

HorrorThrillerHorror the undead and monster classicsGory gruesome and slasher horrorGothic and eerie haunting horror

After a routine check‑up at a hospital, Susan discovers the building has become a nightmarish trap. The culprit is the classmate whose Valentine’s Day gift she spurned as a child; now, hidden among the staff, he embarks on a murderous spree, killing everyone to prove his twisted, undying romantic obsession.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Hospital Massacre 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!

Hospital Massacre (1981) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Hospital Massacre (1981), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

In 1961, an unpopular boy named Harold Rusk leaves a Valentine’s Day card at the home of the beauty Susan Jeremy, [Barbi Benton]. Susan and her friend David mock and crumple the card, prompting an enraged Harold to break into the house and kill David by hanging him from a hatstand.

Nineteen years pass, and Susan is divorced with a daughter and a new boyfriend named Jack, [Jon Van Ness]. On Valentine’s Day, Susan has Jack take her to a hospital to pick up the results of a standard physical exam requested by her new health insurance. On the way inside, a man in surgical garb watches from a window and strokes a photograph of a young Susan, then sabotages the elevator she boards to delay her while he murders Dr. Jacobs, the doctor who holds her paperwork, which the killer also tampers with. A janitor later discovers Dr. Jacobs’ body and is gruesomely dispatched when the killer dunks his face in a sink of acid after trying to pursue him into a nearby storeroom.

While searching for her doctor, Susan convinces a kindly intern named Harry, [Charles Lucia], to fetch her results. Harry notices the paperwork looks abnormal and brings them to Doctor Saxon, [John Warner Williams]. The irregularities—made worse by the saboteur’s tampering after the deaths of two lab workers—lead Doctors Saxon and Beam to order that Susan be detained for observation. Harry uncovers evidence that someone is running a con game on Susan, but he disappears after vowing to set things straight. Jack, who had fallen asleep in his car while waiting for Susan, comes into the hospital to find her during her first escape and then waits nearby as the doctors reprimand her. The killer lures him to an empty hospital room by phone and, behind a curtain, Jack discovers the body of a nurse before the killer decapitates him with an electric orthopedic saw.

A large box is placed beside Susan’s bed and she opens it to find Jack’s severed head. Susan flees to seek help, and Saxon and a nurse locate her and return her to her room. When she tries to show them the box, it contains only a cake. After Susan recounts Harry’s findings, Saxon goes to inspect the archives and pull copies of her paperwork. She follows him, only to spot the killer heading toward the archives as well, armed with a surgical hatchet. In the archives, the killer waits in the dark and drives the hatchet into Saxon’s skull as he attempts to escape, then vanishes. Susan witnesses the scene from hiding, and her insistence that there’s a killer on the loose is dismissed as delirium, leaving her strapped to a gurney as doctors prepare for emergency surgery.

Nurse Dora, [Gloria Jean Morrison], is ambushed in an empty corridor, chased, and poisoned. Dr. Beam, [Den Surles], is stabbed through the neck from behind a medical screen while monitoring Susan’s X-rays. The killer abducts Susan and takes her to a vacant operating room. Susan removes the killer’s mask to reveal he is Harry, the intern, who is really Harold Rusk. When Susan asks what he wants, Harold replies, “What I’ve always wanted. Your heart.”

What I’ve always wanted. Your heart

Before Harold can cut her open, Susan stabs him as he’s distracted by other patients and escapes. She races to the roof, where the wounded Harold sets after her, but Susan douses him with flammable liquid and sets him alight, sending him tumbling off to the street below. The next day, Susan is released and reunites with her daughter and ex-husband outside the hospital.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:57

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.

Unlock the Full Story of Hospital Massacre

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

Hospital Massacre Timeline

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

Hospital Massacre Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Hospital Massacre

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

Characters, Settings & Themes in Hospital Massacre

More About Hospital Massacre

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Hospital Massacre: 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 Hospital Massacre