The Quiet Ones

In May 1974, Dr. Joseph Coupland conducts a lecture at Oxford University, presenting his theories on paranormal events and chaotic thoughts. He illustrates his points using footage from a previous case involving a boy named David Q, whose belief in a figure named Mr. Gregor led to a deterioration in his mental state.

During the lecture, Dr. Coupland introduces Jane Harper, the subject of his current experiment, emphasizing her troubled mental state compared to that of David Q. This sets the tone for the exploration of psychological themes and the complexities of mental illness.

After the lecture, Joseph meets Brian, who has been recruited to document the experiment despite not being a student. Their conversation delves into themes of faith, belief and the psychological aspects that will unfold during the experiment.

Joseph takes the experiment to a flat where he has enlisted Chrissy, another Oxford student, to assist. During this initial gathering, the group learns about Jane’s struggle with her psychic turmoil, as Joseph begins to probe her traumatic past, setting the stage for dark events ahead.

Joseph engages Jane in conversation about a doll named Evie, which serves as a significant symbol of her inner turmoil. Jane's perspective reveals her deep-seated pain and desire to escape from her harrowing memories.

As the psychological experiment progresses, dark and scary occurrences unfold, reflecting Jane’s deteriorating mental health. Joseph becomes increasingly manipulative, using footage of David Q to push Jane into emotional crises, blurring ethical boundaries in the name of research.

After losing funding from Oxford, Joseph decides to relocate the experiment to the countryside, hoping the change will revive interest. The isolation intensifies tensions within the group and deepens Jane's struggles as she longs for connection while feeling trapped.

As the group delves deeper into their psychological explorations, unsettling experiences begin to occur. Jane exhibits bizarre behaviors, and members of the group start to sense grim harbingers of death surrounding them, escalating fears and dread.

The experiment takes a dark turn as the group learns about rituals connected to the Lilitu sect, revealing a tragic past tied to Jane's experiences. Joseph attempts to control Jane’s manifestations but inadvertently provokes chaos, leading to devastating consequences.

In a critical moment, Jane begins to recall her past and realizes that she was once Evie Dwyer, born into a life shrouded in horror. This revelation transforms the narrative, linking her identity to the malevolent events occurring around them.

The climax of the experiment erupts into violence and despair as Brian desperately tries to save Jane from her fate. The chaos that ensues leads to tragic resolutions, with the experiment spiraling out of control, resulting in several deaths.

Fast forward to 2014, Brian, now an older man, finds himself recounting the horrific events to a skeptical doctor. Despite his insistence that Evie's presence is responsible for the tragedies, the doctor is unconvinced and views Brian as the culprit.

As Brian narrates his tale, a supernatural occurrence begins to unfold, with smoke emerging from his hands. This chilling moment hints at the possibility that he has become a vessel for Evie’s malevolence, blurring the lines between guilt and supernatural influence.