Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Seance (2021) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Seance (2021) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2021 · 93 min · English
Echo score 48
Loading streaming availability…
Directed by
Simon Barrett
Starring
Suki Waterhouse, Djouliet Amara, Stephanie Sy, Megan Best, Madisen Beaty, Seamus Patterson

At Edelvine Academy for Girls, a new student named Camille Meadows discovers a hidden society practicing teenage mysticism and conducting séances. They attempt to contact the spirit of a former student, but their ritual goes horribly wrong when one member dies unexpectedly. The remaining girls must then confront the dangerous, dark forces they’ve unintentionally awakened and fight to survive the escalating supernatural threat.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (4)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Seance
  8. 8 Every angle
Loading streaming availability…

4 main characters · contains spoilers

Seance Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Seance (2021), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Camille Meadows (Suki Waterhouse)

    Camille is a determined and fiercely intelligent young woman who assumes Kerrie's identity to uncover the truth behind the strange happenings at Edelvine Academy. Her resilience enables her to navigate the dangerous social landscape, ultimately confronting her fears. As the story progresses, she evolves from a victim to an avenger, showcasing her complex traits and resourcefulness.

    • 👩‍🎓 Student
    • 🕵️ Investigator
  • Alice (Inanna Sarkis)

    Alice is the charismatic yet manipulative leader of her friend group, driving the initial prank that spirals into chaos. Her charm disguises a ruthless nature, leading to a series of treacherous decisions. As tension escalates, her role shifts dramatically, revealing deeper layers of fear and desperation as she confronts the consequences of her actions.

    • 👑 Queen Bee
    • 😈 Manipulator
  • Bethany (Madisen Beaty)

    Bethany is a key character whose layering of secrets culminates in her revealing nature as one of the culprits behind the murders. Initially appearing as a secondary character, she emerges with complex motivations tied to survival and loyalty within the group. This character demonstrates the potential for darkness in those who are pushed to their limits.

    • 😈 Villain
    • 👭 Friend
  • Trevor Landry (Seamus Patterson)

    Trevor, introduced as a handyman at the academy, plays a pivotal role in the unfolding chaos as he connects with both the students and the sinister events. His dual nature complicates the narrative, reflecting a blend of vulnerability and complicity. Trevor's involvement accentuates the murkiness of morality in the face of fear and loyalty.

    • 🔧 Handyman
    • 💔 Complicated

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:19

Was this helpful?

Setting

Where and When Does Seance Take Place?

The setting of Seance (2021): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

The events unfold in contemporary times where themes of social dynamics, bullying, and psychological horror play out against the backdrop of a modern educational institution. The blend of school life with supernatural elements resonates with the youthful struggle of identity, making it both relatable and terrifying.

Location

Edelvine Academy for Girls

Edelvine Academy for Girls is an all-girls boarding school steeped in tradition and shadowed by dark tales. Known for its strict discipline and haunting history, it becomes the backdrop for a series of chilling events following the death of a student. The eerie atmosphere of the academy, combined with its ghostly legends, contributes to the growing tension and horror experienced by the students.

  • 🏫 School
  • 👻 Haunted

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:19

Was this helpful?

3 major themes

Seance Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Seance (2021) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Supernatural

    The theme of the supernatural permeates the narrative, driving the plot through elements of ghostly encounters and séances. This often blurs the line between reality and the paranormal as the characters grapple with their fears and guilt. The interactions with the Edelvine Ghost evoke both terror and intrigue, deepening the mystery surrounding the academy.

  • Betrayal

    Betrayal is a central theme as friendships dissolve into mistrust and deceit among the girls. The manipulation and crafted lies lead to lethal consequences, revealing the darker sides of human nature when faced with jealousy and rivalry. Each character's motive becomes more sinister as they struggle for power and survival, showcasing the vulnerabilities within their relationships.

  • Revenge

    Revenge drives Camille as she adopts Kerrie’s identity, seeking justice for her friend's tragic fate. This theme unfolds through conflicts that arise from past grievances and a haunting need for retribution. Camille's transformation and ultimate confrontation highlight how the desire for vengeance can lead to a cycle of violence and tragedy.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:19

Was this helpful?

Character & theme questions

Seance Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Seance (2021): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

What is Edelvine Academy in the movie?

Edelvine Academy for Girls is an all-girls boarding school known for its strict discipline and haunting history. The school serves as the primary setting where the supernatural events unfold, and its dark traditions and ghostly legends create an atmosphere of tension and dread throughout the film.

  • edelvine academy
  • boarding school
  • setting
  • haunted school
Q2

When is the movie Seance set?

Seance takes place in contemporary times, set against a modern educational institution. The story blends present-day school life with supernatural horror elements, making the familiar setting of a girls' boarding school feel both relatable and terrifying.

  • time period
  • contemporary
  • modern setting
  • school horror
Q3

What is the supernatural theme about in Seance?

The supernatural theme drives the plot through ghostly encounters and séance rituals that blur the line between reality and the paranormal. The characters grapple with their fears and guilt as they interact with the Edelvine Ghost, creating a mysterious and terrifying atmosphere that defines the film's horror elements.

  • supernatural
  • ghosts
  • séance
  • paranormal
Q4

What does the betrayal theme represent in the movie?

Betrayal represents the breakdown of friendships as trust dissolves into deceit and manipulation among the girls at Edelvine Academy. The theme reveals the darker sides of human nature when jealousy and rivalry emerge, with each character's motives becoming increasingly sinister as they struggle for power and survival.

  • betrayal
  • friendship
  • manipulation
  • trust
Q5

What role does revenge play in Seance?

Revenge drives Camille Meadows as she assumes Kerrie's identity to uncover the truth and seek justice for her friend's tragic fate. This theme highlights how the desire for vengeance leads to a cycle of violence and tragedy, with Camille transforming from victim to avenger throughout the story.

  • revenge
  • camille meadows
  • justice
  • kerrie
Q6

Who is Camille Meadows in Seance?

Camille Meadows is a determined and intelligent young woman who assumes another student's identity to investigate the strange events at Edelvine Academy. She evolves from a victim into an avenger, showcasing resilience and resourcefulness as she navigates the dangerous social landscape and confronts supernatural threats.

  • camille meadows
  • protagonist
  • identity
  • avenger
Q7

Who is Alice in the movie Seance?

Alice is the charismatic yet manipulative leader of a friend group at Edelvine Academy. She drives the initial prank that spirals into chaos, her charm disguising a ruthless nature. As events escalate, her role shifts dramatically, revealing deeper layers of fear and desperation as she faces the consequences of her actions.

  • alice
  • leader
  • manipulative
  • friend group
Q8

Who is Bethany in Seance and what is her role?

Bethany is a character whose secrets culminate in her being revealed as one of the culprits behind the murders. Initially appearing secondary, she emerges with complex motivations tied to survival and loyalty within her friend group, demonstrating how people can be pushed to dark extremes.

  • bethany
  • murderer
  • culprit
  • secrets
Q9

What is Trevor Landry's role in Seance?

Trevor Landry is the handyman at Edelvine Academy who plays a pivotal role in the unfolding chaos. His connections with both students and the sinister events add complexity to the narrative, reflecting a blend of vulnerability and complicity that complicates the story's moral landscape.

  • trevor landry
  • handyman
  • supporting character
  • academy
Q10

What is the Edelvine Ghost in the movie?

The Edelvine Ghost is a supernatural presence associated with the academy's dark history and ghostly legends. The ghost evokes both terror and intrigue, deepening the mystery surrounding the school and serving as a central element of the supernatural theme that drives the narrative's horror elements.

  • edelvine ghost
  • supernatural
  • ghost
  • legend

Movie threads

More Movies Like Seance, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Seance tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Claustrophobic Supernatural Slashers like Seance

Supernatural killers stalk isolated groups in tense, confined settings. If you liked the tense, confined horror of Seance, explore more movies where a supernatural killer preys on an isolated group. These films combine the mystery of a whodunit with the relentless tension of a slasher, creating a gripping and anxious viewing experience.

  • claustrophobic
  • suspenseful
  • paranoid
  • revengeful
  • anxious
  • atmospheric
  • Tone: dark, tense, revengeful
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically begin with a group entering or residing in a confined space, only to be systematically hunted after a supernatural force is unleashed. The story focuses on survival, escalating tension, and uncovering the vengeful motive behind the killings, often leading to a final, bloody confrontation with one or few survivors.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their shared sense of claustrophobia, a fast-paced escalation of supernatural threat, and a focus on the psychological toll of being hunted. The combination of a slasher structure with a vengeful ghost or curse creates a specific, intense subgenre of horror.

Vengeful Ghost Mysteries with Hidden Identities like Seance

A mysterious newcomer uncovers a dark past tied to a vengeful spirit. For viewers who enjoyed the hidden identity twist and vengeful spirit in Seance, this thread collects horror mysteries where a character's past is linked to a supernatural threat. These films blend whodunit elements with ghostly revenge for a complex and emotionally charged story.

  • revengeful
  • mysterious
  • dark
  • atmospheric
  • suspenseful
  • emotional
  • Tone: dark, bittersweet, heavy
  • Pacing: steady, building to a fast climax
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The pattern follows an outsider or newcomer who becomes involved in a local legend or tragedy. As a supernatural threat emerges, the protagonist investigates, often discovering that their personal history is intrinsically connected to the vengeful entity. The climax reveals the true motive behind the hauntings and the protagonist's role in the events.

Why they belong together: They share a core narrative structure of a mystery unraveling a past wrong, driven by a ghostly force for justice. The emotional weight comes from themes of guilt, trauma, and revenge, often culminating in a bittersweet resolution where the truth is uncovered at a great personal cost.

If you liked this

Movies Like Seance

Similar movies to Seance: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Seance (2021) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Seance in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app