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.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Paranormal Entity (2009)

Trace every key event in Paranormal Entity (2009) 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

Conviction revealed and prisoner suicide

A notice reveals that Thomas Finley has been convicted of raping and killing his sister, and murdering Dr. Edgar Lauren, a psychic. He claimed a demon committed the murders, and he is sent to prison where he ultimately commits suicide. The opening establishes the tragic backstory that haunts the family.

Opening sequence Court/Prison
2

Family believes Ellen communicates with the dead

Ellen, their mother, believes she is contacting her deceased husband David. The family senses a demon is haunting them, creating an ominous atmosphere in the home. The idea of a supernatural force sets the stage for the haunting to unfold.

Evening Family home
3

Demon's first attack on Samantha

After Ellen's attempts to reach David, the family experiences a series of terrifying events as Samantha becomes a primary target. The entity's presence escalates with violent attacks on Samantha, signaling a malevolent force at work in the house. The family grows more convinced that something unseen is tormenting them.

Night Family home
4

The note 'MARON' is discovered

Ellen writes something on a piece of paper and crumples it; Thomas finds the note under Samantha's pillow spelling 'MARON'. The discovery hints at a demon's name linked to the haunting and deepens the mystery. Thomas begins to suspect a supernatural cause behind the events.

Night Samantha's room
5

Thomas devises traps and relocates family to safety

Thomas rigs traps around the house using bells and wire while Ellen and Samantha stay at a hotel for safety. He hopes to trigger and trap the intruding force when the bells ring. The plan marks a shift from passive fear to active defense.

Night Around the house and hotel
6

Demon disrupts traps and terrorizes Thomas

The wire and bells are ripped from the wall and hurled at Thomas, showing the demon's power to bypass his defenses. He locks himself in a bedroom as the demon bangs on the door. The haunting proves dangerous enough to threaten the entire household.

Night House
7

Ellen's panic call and Samantha's suffering

Thomas receives a frantic phone call from Ellen, who is hysterical after the demon follows them and attacks Samantha. They return home to find Samantha in pain and in distress. The family is pulled deeper into the nightmare as the haunting intensifies.

Night House
8

Samantha found in attic trance

Thomas finds Samantha in the attic, standing in a trance wearing minimal clothing and unable to remember what happened. The scene underscores the demon's control over her body. Ellen wakes to thuds outside and is briefly seen with a knife before retreating to her bedroom.

Night Attic
9

Samantha's bathroom trauma and Ellen's knife moment

Thomas is told of Samantha's trauma and rushes to the bathroom where she lies in the tub, traumatized and exposed. Ellen wakes to noises and is seen with a knife in the living room before retreating. The family edges closer to a breaking point as the danger escalates.

Night Bathroom; Living room
10

Ellen's suicide following the deaths

Ellen slits her wrists and is found with the weapon still in hand before being taken to the hospital. She is later revealed to have died by suicide after hearing of her children's deaths. The tragedy compounds the sense of hopelessness surrounding the house.

Night House; Hospital
11

Dr. Edgar Lauren arrives and explains the haunting

The psychic Dr. Edgar Lauren arrives to help and explains that a powerful dark entity inhabits the home and targets Samantha. He identifies Maron as a nightmare-like demon and offers a plan to evict it. The scene sets up the confrontation as the family seeks relief from the haunting.

After Ellen's injury Living room
12

Samantha's levitation and demon rape captured on camera

During an attempted exorcism, the camera records Samantha levitating in her room and being raped by an invisible demon. Thomas fights to intervene, but the assault continues as chaos erupts around him. The sequence ends with a heavy presence closing in on Samantha's lifeless face.

Night Samantha's bedroom
13

Thomas's conviction and suicide

Thomas is charged with Samantha's rape and death and is sentenced to life in prison. Not long after, he commits suicide, ending his role in the tragedy. The events leave the audience with a sense of guilt and unresolved horror surrounding the house.

Following events Court/Prison
14

Ellen's suicide is revealed

It is revealed that Ellen also commits suicide after hearing of her children's deaths. The family is annihilated by the demonic force that would not release its grip. The tragedy leaves a lingering sense of doom as the attic recording remains a chilling relic.

After events Home
15

The attic recording endures

A year later, the recording Thomas made is found in the family's attic, suggesting the horror was captured and could haunt future generations. The film closes with the sense that Maron may still lurk within the house. The unresolved fate lingers as a warning about the power of the demon.

One year later Attic

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:32

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

Characters, Settings & Themes in Paranormal Entity

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

Characters, Settings & Themes in Paranormal Entity

Paranormal Entity Spoiler-Free Summary

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Paranormal Entity Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Paranormal Entity

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