Paranormal Entity

Paranormal Entity

Year: 2009

Runtime: 88 mins

Language: English

ThrillerMysteryHorrorHorror

Decide the truth for yourself. Thomas Finley is arrested after police find him cradling his sister Samantha’s body; the victims also include Edgar Lauren, a professor and paranormal investigator. Finley claims a demonic entity attacked them, then he commits suicide. Relatives urge the release of a video found at the scene as a final testament to what occurred in the Finley home.

Dark
Bleak ending
Emotionally heavy
High intensity
Steady pacing
Simple story

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Paranormal Entity 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 – Paranormal Entity (2009)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Paranormal Entity (2009). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Modern day

The events unfold in a contemporary setting, with a home video camera and standard 21st-century communication in use. The story situates itself in present times, drawing on familiar domestic spaces to heighten realism. The found-footage style anchors the horror in a relatable, modern lifestyle.

Location

Finley family home

A suburban family home that becomes a site of escalating paranormal activity. The attic, the living room, and the hallway are locations of chilling occurrences. The house's seemingly ordinary facade belies a dark history and a malevolent presence.

🏚️ Haunted house 👻 Supernatural 🕯️ Horror atmosphere

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:25

Main Characters – Paranormal Entity (2009)

Meet the key characters of Paranormal Entity (2009), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Samantha Finley (Erin Marie Hogan)

Samantha is Thomas's younger sister who becomes the focus of the haunting. She endures disturbing paranormal events that overwhelm her, contributing to the family's unraveling and tragedy.

😨 Trauma 💔 Family strain 👁️ Supernatural

Thomas Finley (Shane van Dyke)

Thomas fights to protect his family as the hauntings intensify, setting traps and trying to reconcile with the danger. His actions lead to a wrongful conviction for Samantha's death and his eventual suicide.

😨 Fear 🧭 Mystery 🕯️ Supernatural

Ellen Finley (Fia Perera)

Ellen is the mother who attempts to contact her deceased husband, David, believing in communication with the beyond. Her attempts awaken the dark entity and culminate in a tragic self-harm incident.

💔 Family sorrow 👁️ Supernatural 🕯️ Secrecy

Dr. Edgar Lauren (Norman Saleet)

A psychic who explains the nature of the haunting and the entity plaguing the house. He identifies the focus on Samantha and the deep, malevolent energy at work inside the home.

🔮 Psychic 🧭 Investigation 👁️ Supernatural

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:25

Major Themes – Paranormal Entity (2009)

Explore the central themes of Paranormal Entity (2009), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👹 Demonic Nightmare

A dark entity invades a family home after attempts to contact the dead. The nightmare manifests as physical danger for Samantha and as a psychological tailspin for Thomas and Ellen. The film links the demon to a sleeping nightmare, referencing the ancient name maron as a source of fear. The theme explores how intimate spaces can become battlegrounds between the living and a malevolent force.

💔 Family Tragedy

The hauntings expose and magnify the fractures within the family. Trust dissolves as suspicion falls on Thomas, leading to a life sentence and eventual suicide, while Ellen and Samantha are driven to self-destruction. The tragedy unfolds as the family is consumed by fear, guilt, and grief. The haunting amplifies existing tensions, turning personal loss into a broader nightmare.

🕯️ Haunted Past

The house's history surfaces through a name, Maron, and a past owner who does not recognize it, hinting at a hidden lore. The demon seems connected to unresolved secrets and a legacy of danger within the residence. The film uses the setting to suggest that the past lingers in the present, shaping the characters' fates. The discovery of Maron as a nightmare incarnate deepens the sense of inevitability.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:25

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.

Found Footage Horror Movies Like Paranormal Entity

Unmediated footage of ordinary people being consumed by an unseen evil.If you liked Paranormal Entity, you'll find similar movies here. This collection features found-footage horror films where characters document their own terrifying demise. These movies share a sense of raw, immediate dread and bleak endings, making them perfect for fans of relentless supernatural horror.

found footageclaustrophobichopelessdisturbingparanormaldocumentary-styletensedesperate

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread unfold linearly, mimicking a documentary or home video format. The narrative follows a predictable but harrowing pattern: initial skepticism gives way to minor disturbances, escalating into undeniable and violent supernatural events. The journey is one of progressive helplessness, concluding with the utter destruction of those involved.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared formal technique and emotional trajectory. The found-footage aesthetic creates a visceral sense of realism and immediacy, while the consistent downhill slide into tragedy provides a cohesive, bleak viewing experience centered on the failure to overcome a malevolent force.

Bleak Family Horror Stories Similar to Paranormal Entity

Supernatural forces that systematically tear a family apart from within.Discover movies like Paranormal Entity that explore the theme of family annihilation by supernatural forces. These stories feature a dark, heavy tone and focus on the psychological torment and tragic downfall of a family unit, perfect for viewers who appreciate high-intensity, emotionally devastating horror.

family tragedydemonicoppressivegriefpsychological tormenthaunted housesuicidehopeless

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a stable family unit being infiltrated by a malevolent presence. The horror is deeply personal, pitting family members against each other or a shared, unstoppable foe. The story arc is a straight line to tragedy, involving themes of grief, loss, suicide, and the complete dissolution of the home as a safe haven.

Why These Movies?

These movies are connected by their core setting and thematic focus. The home becomes a claustrophobic battleground, and the destruction of the family unit is the central tragedy. They share a high emotional weight, a dark tone, and a focus on the intimate horrors of psychological and supernatural torment within a domestic sphere.

Unlock the Full Story of Paranormal Entity

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

Paranormal Entity Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Paranormal Entity, 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.

Paranormal Entity Summary

Paranormal Entity Timeline

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

Paranormal Entity Timeline

Paranormal Entity Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Paranormal Entity that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Paranormal Entity Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Paranormal Entity

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Paranormal Entity: 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 Paranormal Entity

Explore More About Movie Paranormal Entity

Paranormal Entity (2009) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Paranormal Entity (2009) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Paranormal Entity (2009) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow