Sometimes They Come Back

Jim Norman returns to his hometown of Liberty, Missouri after accepting a teaching job. He moves back with his wife Sally and their son Scott, hoping for a fresh start. The present-day chapter begins as they settle into their old town.

In 1963, nine-year-old Jim witnesses his brother Wayne's murder during a mugging in a train tunnel. As the killers flee, three of them — Richard, Vinnie, and David — are killed when a train crashes into their car parked on the tracks; Carl survives after bailing out. The event anchors the film's haunting past that resurfaces later.

After returning to Liberty, Jim begins to have haunting nightmares about his brother's murder. The memories begin to blur into the present, foreshadowing the danger that will resurface. The nightmares set the tone for the supernatural threat to come.

Three of Jim's students are killed by the ghosts of Wayne's murderers, who have returned as students in Jim's classroom. The spectral conflict spills into his teaching, unsettling both him and the other teachers. Police start to suspect Jim due to his proximity to the dead students.

On the 27th anniversary of Wayne's murder, the revived gang challenges Jim to a confrontation. They attempt to kill Jim's son Scott with their car, escalating the danger. Jim must confront the unresolved past to protect his family.

Jim realizes that Wayne's spirit is stuck in limbo because his brother's murder remains unsettled. He becomes determined to resolve the crime and free Wayne. The revelation ties Jim's fate to the supernatural trial unfolding around him.

Jim goes to the cemetery and discovers the graves of the greasers who killed Wayne. The three resurrected gang members appear and tell Jim that Carl—the survivor—must complete their revenge. The pledge sets the stage for a climactic confrontation.

Using a phone book, Jim tracks down now-adult Carl and forces him to return to the tunnel with him. Carl, wary and frightened, flees from Jim's demand and refuses to go willingly. This chase adds pressure to resolve the past before the gang acts again.

The greasers break into Jim's house and threaten Sally and Scott, forcing Jim to step back into the fight. He resists their intimidation, driving them back and protecting his family. The danger now shifts toward a direct showdown near the old tunnel.

Jim leads his wife and son to a church where the demonic gang cannot enter, providing a temporary sanctuary from the haunting. The church becomes a focal point for their plan to confront the past without immediate threat. The defense relies on multiparty protection and spiritual safeguards.

Jim returns to his abandoned childhood home and finds the old car keys he took on the day of Wayne's murder. Carl reappears, apologizes for Wayne's death, and says he is no longer afraid and ready for the confrontation. The moment marks a shift toward facing the killers one final time.

In the train tunnel, Carl defies the others, and Wayne returns from limbo to aid Jim. Lawson stabs Carl to death, sending Wayne’s spirit free. The ghost train appears and pounds the gang, killing them as they attempt to flee, while Jim distracts the ghosts by tossing the keys to the ground. Wayne moves on to the afterlife and the family escapes the tunnel as the train vanishes.