The Midnight Hour

The Midnight Hour

Year: 1985

Runtime: 94 mins

Language: English

Director: Jack Bender

TV MovieRomanceComedyHorrorHorror the undead and monster classics

Phil, Melissa, Mitch, Mary and Vinnie are a group of high‑school friends who, on a Halloween night in Pitchford Cove, unintentionally raise the dead. As ghouls and resurrected bodies roam the town, the friends must confront the chaos they’ve unleashed, discovering that the night will change Pitchford Cove forever.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Midnight Hour (1985)

Trace every key event in The Midnight Hour (1985) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Halloween night sets plans in motion

On Halloween night in Pitchford Cove, five high school friends—Phil, Mary, Mitch, Vinnie, and Melissa—plan a night they’ll never forget. They raid the town’s historic museum for costumes and stumble upon ancient artifacts, including a trunk with a cursed scroll. The stage is set for a terrifying night of mischief and danger.

Halloween night Pitchford Cove, Massachusetts
2

The curse is uttered at the cemetery

Melissa recites the ancient curse at the local cemetery, triggering a chilling turn of events. The ground trembles as the dead respond to the incantation. Lucinda Cavender, Melissa’s ancestor, leads the rising undead into the town.

late at night Pitchford Cove Cemetery
3

The dead rise and terrorize the town

The town’s dead begin to roam the streets under Lucinda’s sinister command. Graves open and the undead spill into neighborhoods, turning the Halloween celebration into a nightmare. Fear spreads as the living confront a supernatural outbreak.

nighttime Pitchford Cove
4

The costume party becomes a battlefield

At the annual Halloween costume party, the undead crash the festivities and few realize what’s really happening because everyone is in disguise. Lucinda begins turning party guests, starting with Melissa, transforming friends into creatures of the night. The party devolves into a chaotic clash between revelers and risen dead.

during party Melissa's Halloween party, Pitchford Cove
5

Sandy warns of danger

Phil encounters a mysterious girl, Sandy Matthews, dressed in a vintage 1950s cheerleader outfit, who warns him that the town is in danger. She hints that the curse affects everyone and that time is running out. Her urgent warnings push Phil to consider what they must do to survive.

during party Around the party, Pitchford Cove
6

A plan to break the curse forms

Phil and Sandy realize they must break the curse by locating the Grenville Spirit Ring. The ring is hidden in the grave of Nathaniel Grenville, a witch-hunter whose bones hold the key to undoing the spell. They commit to racing against midnight to reach Grenville’s crypt.

before midnight Graveyard and Grenville crypt, Pitchford Cove
7

Silver bullets prepared

With police not taking the threat seriously, Phil scavenges his father’s silver coins to craft silver bullets. He forges a rifle-ready supply, equipping themselves against the undead. This preparation becomes crucial for the mission to Grenville’s crypt.

before heading to cemetery Phil's home
8

The Grenville Spirit Ring seized from a zombie

Inside the chaos of the party, Phil wrests the Grenville Spirit Ring from Zombie Mitch. The ring is the legendary artifact needed to seal the curse. Clutching it, they rush toward Grenville’s crypt to complete their plan.

late night Melissa's Halloween party, then Grenville crypt, Pitchford Cove
9

The crypt and the ritual unfold

They break into Grenville’s crypt and retrieve Grenville’s bones-and-dust remains to seal the curse. The ritual requires sealing the scroll with their artifacts, a dangerous moment as Lucinda and her horde close in. They carry the relics toward the surface to finish the ritual.

before midnight Grenville crypt, Pitchford Cove Cemetery
10

The sealing and the night ends

In Phil’s car, cornered by undead, they seal the parchment scroll with candle wax using Grenville’s remains as protection. As midnight tolls, every resurrected creature vanishes and wounds disappear, as if the night never happened. The town returns to ordinary innocence, though the memory lingers.

midnight Grenville crypt and road outside the cemetery
11

Discovery of Sandy’s fate

Phil discovers Sandy’s grave and learns she had been one of the undead all along. The revelation reframes the night’s events and adds a bittersweet twist to their victory. It hints at a lingering connection beyond death.

after midnight Sandy’s grave, Pitchford Cove
12

The implied watchful presence of Sandy

As Phil drives back toward town, the clock strikes midnight and a dedication on the car radio from Sandy suggests she will always look after him from beyond the grave. The final moment leaves a haunting reminder of the night’s cost. The fate of Sandy implies ongoing guardianship rather than closure.

midnight Car radio, en route to Pitchford Cove

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:21

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The Midnight Hour Summary

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The Midnight Hour Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Midnight Hour

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