The House That Screamed

Teresa Garan arrives at the 19th-century French boarding school for troubled girls, immediately sensing the oppressive atmosphere. She feels she is being watched and notices odd occurrences from the moment of arrival. The sense of danger hints at the secrets looming within the school's walls.

Headmistress Fourneau, aided by Irene, enforces discipline through harsh beatings and strict control. The routine of punishment creates fear among the students and hides darker secrets. The oppressive environment sets the tone for what follows.

One night a girl disappears, and Irene is blamed for failing to keep track of the keys that permit entry and exit. The accusation deepens the school's paranoia and erodes trust among students and staff. The mystery of what happened hangs over the dorms.

Teresa enters a romantic relationship with Luis, the headmistress's son, which pulls her deeper into the school's secrets. The affair complicates her view of Fourneau and the power structure around the place. The relationship becomes a lifeline amidst growing unease.

The disappearances continue, and Teresa becomes increasingly uneasy about what happens to the girls. The atmosphere grows thicker with fear and suspicion. She senses that danger lurks behind every door in the building.

In the middle of the night, Teresa formulates a plan to escape the school and return to safety. She weighs her options carefully, aware of the risks involved. The escape plan marks a pivotal turning point in the narrative.

Irene awakens to Teresa leaving and rushes outside to the gate, hoping to stop her. She fears the consequences of Teresa's revelation and the potential exposure of the abuse. The chase underscores the urgent tension between escape and control.

Teresa says goodbye to Luis, who gives her money from his savings to aid her travel. The gesture adds emotional complexity to their relationship amid the danger. Her departure appears imminent despite the risks.

Teresa attempts to break out through a downstairs window, but is attacked by an unseen figure and killed. The brutal act dramatically shifts the mood from suspense to horror. Her death leaves a void and intensifies the investigation into the school's secrets.

Irene returns to the parlor to find the windowsill soaked with rainwater from the storm. She confronts Fourneau, insisting Teresa could not have escaped and warns that she plans to leave — perhaps to blackmail if necessary. The confrontation escalates the conflict between these two women.

In a tense exchange, Fourneau compels Irene to hand over her keys, tightening control over who can come and go from the school. The power dynamic is laid bare as Irene complies under pressure. Trust within the household dissolves further.

Later that evening, Fourneau catches Irene attempting to escape and follows her upstairs, where she hides in the attic. The pursuit reveals the claustrophobic paranoia fueling the school’s corridors. The attic becomes a focal point for the unfolding horror.

In the attic, Irene is stabbed to death, and her hands are severed from her body. The violence signals a ritualistic, grotesque escalation. The murder leaves the elder figures and the students in a state of horror and disbelief.

In a hidden chamber of the attic, Señora Fourneau discovers her son Luis with a corpse made of dismembered female parts. She realizes his frustrated desires have driven him to a psychotic fixation. The mother’s worst fears about her son are suddenly brought into stark reality.

Luis explains his intent to create his own 'ideal woman' modeled on his mother, and he imprisons Fourneau in a room to train his creation. The revelation redefines the family’s dynamic and the fate of all involved as she screams in horror. The film closes on a disturbing image of control, danger, and twisted obsession.