Regression

John Gray admits to sexually abusing his 17-year-old daughter Angela but cannot recall the details. Detective Bruce Kenner launches a formal investigation and enlists Professor Kenneth Raines to attempt memory recovery through therapy. As the sessions unfold, the team begins to suspect their colleague Detective George Nesbitt may be involved.

Raines uses recovered-memory therapy on John Gray to retrieve buried memories. Angela's testimony and the pattern of abuse lead the investigators to entertain the possibility of a satanic cult behind the crimes. The prospect of a wider conspiracy deepens the tension as they press for leads and evidence.

The detectives detain their colleague George Nesbitt on suspicion of involvement in the abuse, but their search yields no solid evidence. The lack of proof leaves the case in a fragile limbo, even as memories returned in therapy raise questions about reliability.

Bruce and Kenneth travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to question Roy Gray, Angela's estranged brother, about the family history. Roy, under regression, recalls hooded figures entering his room as a child. The investigators begin to suspect Roy's grandmother, Rose Gray, though their search earns little evidence.

Roy's memories hint at a broader family connection, so Bruce and Kenneth search Rose Gray's house for clues. They find nothing conclusive and no proof of Rose's involvement emerges. The case remains unsettled as memories clash with the lack of physical evidence.

Bruce begins having nightmares involving satanic rituals, while Angela tells him the cult is out to kill her and that he is in danger. She also notes that her mother received strange calls and saw figures in the street before an accident. Bruce starts to experience the same phenomena, and the nightmares grow more intense.

Rose Gray jumps from the window of her house after seeing ghostly figures, heightening the sense of danger surrounding the family. The event marks a turning point as fear permeates their lives and the investigation intensifies.

Bruce meets Angela in the church's cemetery to reassure her, and after an emotional outburst, she kisses him. He is unsettled by the moment, leaves in shock, and begins to question the reliability of the memories surfacing through therapy.

While wandering the street, Bruce sees a soup advertisement and recognizes the woman pictured as the figure from his nightmares. This realization deepens his doubt about the reality of these memories and fuels concerns that therapy may have induced the visions. Kenneth's confidence in recovered memories also begins to waver.

The professor who was initially supportive of recovered-memory therapy starts to doubt its validity. He begins to suspect that the memories retrieved through therapy may not be real, casting doubt on the entire case. This shift foreshadows a broader skepticism about the satanic-abuse narrative.

Bruce is attacked by two hooded figures who turn out to be George Nesbitt and Farrell, seeking revenge for the past actions that derailed their lives. The confrontation exposes personal vendettas linked to the investigation and confirms that not all revelations are genuine.

Bruce confronts Angela about the abuse and she insists she spoke truthfully. She reveals a motive to escape her family and previously had a relationship with George, but he refused to elope with a minor. The confrontation shatters Bruce's certainty about the case and exposes complex personal dynamics.

John Gray decides to take the blame to protect Angela and pleads guilty, hoping for mercy and a chance at reunion with his daughter. His sacrifice is framed as an act of bad faith to salvage Angela's future and perhaps soothe her guilt.

The film closes with a somber note that many similar cases appeared before the Satanic panic faded, and there was never any proof that ritualistic abuse by organized Satanic cults existed. The societal memory lingers in skepticism, illustrating how mass hysteria can shape perceptions of truth.