Terror

Terror

Year: 1978

Runtime: 87 mins

Language: English

Director: Norman J. Warren

HorrorHorror

It Buried For A Hundred Years… But Never Laid To Rest! The descendants of a witch hunting family and their close friends are stalked and killed by a mysterious entity.

Terror (1978) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Terror (1978) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

The film opens in a remote English countryside where the crumbling Garrick estate looms over a landscape scarred by a centuries‑old witch‑hunt. Long ago, the feared sorceress Mad Dolly met a brutal end, but her curse is said to have lingered like a dark echo, waiting for a chance to awaken. The story is steeped in gothic atmosphere—rain‑slick stone corridors, candle‑lit rooms, and an ever‑present sense that the past is refusing to stay buried. The mood is one of creeping, unease‑dripping horror, where folklore and personal history intertwine to create a world that feels both timeless and suffocatingly close.

​James Garrick inherits the house and a fragment of the legend, and he invites his cousin ​Ann, an ambitious young actress, to a private screening that promises more than just film. Their circle includes a charismatic mesmerist named ​Gary, a pragmatic roommate ​Suzy, and a handful of friends who share cramped studio spaces, late‑night gigs, and a fragile camaraderie forged by artistic ambition. As they gather—whether in the shadowed halls of the manor, a gritty strip club, or a makeshift studio—their interactions are charged with a blend of youthful optimism and an undercurrent of inherited dread, each character bringing their own hopes and anxieties to a setting that seems to listen.

When the evening’s festivities begin, the estate’s somber history starts to stir, turning ordinary moments into something unsettling. Subtle signs—a sudden cold draft, inexplicable creaks, the feeling of being watched—hint that the old curse may be more than a story. The film balances its horror roots with character‑driven tension, letting the audience wonder whether the real danger lies in the lingering specter of Mad Dolly or in the fragile bonds between the modern day guests. The stage is set for a night where the line between superstition and reality blurs, and the characters must confront a menace that has waited a hundred years to be unearthed.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 18:01

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Supernatural Slasher Horror Movies like Terror

Stories where an ancient, unstoppable supernatural force enacts a violent curse.If you liked the relentless, curse-driven killings in Terror, you'll find similar movies here. These films feature an unseen or ancient supernatural force as the slasher, creating a unique blend of folk horror and gruesome slasher tropes for a distinctly chilling experience.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative revolves around a group, often connected by bloodline or a shared past transgression, being picked off one by one by an inhuman force. The story is less about whodunit and more about the inevitability of the curse, following a steady, grim progression towards a final, often devastating, confrontation with the supernatural.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their core premise: a supernatural slasher. They share a high intensity, a dark and oppressive tone, and a focus on atmospheric dread over mystery. The experience is defined by feeling hunted by something beyond human comprehension.

Bleak Gothic Horror Movies with Ancestral Curses like Terror

Tales of families confronting a grim supernatural fate inherited from the past.For viewers who appreciated the theme of ancestral doom and the bleak, hopeless finale in Terror. This collection highlights similar films where a family's dark history comes back to haunt them with supernatural terror, leading to an emotionally heavy and grim conclusion.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern follows a protagonist or family discovering a terrible secret about their lineage, which triggers a supernatural reckoning. The journey is one of escalating dread and psychological breakdown as they futilely try to escape a fate that was sealed generations ago, culminating in a tragic and hopeless ending.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their core theme of ancestral curses and their consistently bleak, Gothic atmosphere. They share a heavy emotional weight, a dark tone, and a pacing that steadily builds towards an inevitable, devastating conclusion, offering no respite or hope.

Unlock the Full Story of Terror

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

Terror Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Terror, 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.

Terror Summary

Terror Timeline

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

Terror Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Terror

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Terror

More About Terror

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