Necromancy

Necromancy

Year: 1972

Runtime: 82 mins

Language: English

Director: Bert I. Gordon

HorrorHorror the undead and monster classicsGothic and eerie haunting horrorTerrifying haunted and supernatural horrorCreepy chilling and terrifying horror

After a devastating stillbirth, Lori and her husband Frank move to northern California when Frank lands a job at a toy company. His enigmatic boss, Mr. Cato, reveals that the position involves magic. Cato, wielding considerable sway over the town, seeks necromantic power and believes Lori is the key to resurrecting his dead son, pitting the couple against dark forces.

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Timeline & Setting – Necromancy (1972)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Necromancy (1972). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The events unfold in a contemporary suburban setting, focusing on a housewife and a toy company’s advertising division. The town’s social structure and rituals hint at a modern era where hidden forces invade everyday life. The tone suggests a present-day world of appearances, control, and impending doom rather than a distant historical period.

Location

Lilith, Northern California

Lilith is a northern California town dominated by a charismatic figure who owns most local businesses and exerts influence over its residents. The community is tightly controlled, with a disturbing undercurrent of occult activity that involves its exclusively young inhabitants. The setting emphasizes a claustrophobic atmosphere where appearances mask danger and power is exercised through secrecy.

🏘️ Lilith 🕯️ Occult influence 🏦 Corporate control

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:46

Main Characters – Necromancy (1972)

Meet the key characters of Necromancy (1972), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Lori Brandon (Pamela Franklin)

A grieving housewife whose fear and intuition pull her through the town’s occult undercurrents. Her resolve to protect herself and her husband drives the central tension, making her both a target and the possible key to breaking the necromantic cycle.

🎭 Protagonist 🧠 Intuitive 🌀 Vulnerable

Frank Brandon (Michael Ontkean)

Lori’s husband who relocates to Lilith for a new job in advertising. His involvement with another woman reveals fragility in their marriage, complicating Lori’s grip on reality as the town’s secrets close in.

💼 Husband 💔 Infidelity 🌀 Misdirection

Mr. Cato (Orson Welles)

A charismatic yet ominous figure who controls Lilith and leads its occult faction. He pursues necromancy to resurrect his son, exercising a chilling mix of charm and menace to bend others to his will.

👁️ Leader 🕯️ Cultic figure

Priscilla (Lee Purcell)

Cato’s associate within the coven who embodies the town’s occult faction. Loyal to the group, she hints at leaving Lilith but ultimately becomes entwined in the town’s dark rites, meeting a tragic fate.

🧪 Cult member 🗡️ Loyalist

Dr. Jay (Harvey Jason)

A fellow cult leader who participates in the necromancy rites and helps shape the town’s rituals. He represents the clinical, controlling side of the coven’s influence.

🧭 Cultist 🧬 Planner

Nancy (Sue Bernard)

A member of Cato’s circle who bullies Lori’s trust, including an affair with Frank. Her deception illustrates how the coven’s network corrodes ordinary relationships.

💋 Seduction 🕵️ Deception

Timothy

The dead son whom Cato seeks to revive, a focal point for the coven’s obsession with necromancy. Timothy’s presence drives the ritual promises and casts a shadow over the town’s actions.

🧿 Ghost 🕊️ Loss

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:46

Major Themes – Necromancy (1972)

Explore the central themes of Necromancy (1972), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗝️ Power

Mr. Cato’s sway over Lilith drives the narrative, as he buys influence, controls local commerce, and manipulates the town’s rituals. Lori becomes entangled in a web where authority is exercised through fear, secrecy, and seductive promises. The story probes how power warps morality and isolates individuals who challenge it.

🔮 Necromancy

Necromancy sits at the core of the conflict, as Cato pursues the resurrection of his dead son Timothy. The ritualistic pursuit is framed as dangerous, costly, and morally ambiguous, affecting everyone involved. The film treats magic less as spectacle and more as a corrupting force that reshapes truth and agency.

🌫️ Premonition

Lori’s visions and sense of déjà vu blur the line between dream and waking life, creating a sense of impending fate. These premonitions propel the plot toward a cycle of fear and potential doom that characters attempt to escape. The theme explores fate, free will, and how forewarning can become a self-fulfilling trap.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:46

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Necromancy Summary

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Necromancy Summary

Necromancy Timeline

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Necromancy Timeline

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