The Inhabitant

Emily is revealed to be the true killer when Tara returns home. Emily had been experiencing the same curse as her daughter, suffering from nightmares, murderous impulses, and visions of Lizzie Borden urging her to kill. She killed the townspeople while wearing Tara's dresses, framing her daughter. Additionally, Emily had killed her sister Diane's infant child years earlier, believing it was the product of incest between Diane and their father.

Diane mentioned during Tara's visit that Emily experienced the same curse, hinting that Emily was the killer all along.

The curse started with ancestor Lizzie Borden and passes through generations of the family. Those affected experience nightmares, murderous impulses, and visions of Lizzie Borden urging them to commit murder. The curse appears to be triggered by the vintage dresses sewn by Lizzie, who was an excellent seamstress. When someone wears or handles these dresses, they become susceptible to Lizzie's influence.

Tara's nightmares and violent visions begin early in the film, showing the curse's effect on her before she understands its source.

Emily killed her sister Diane's baby because she believed the child was the product of incest between Diane and their father. This act occurred years before the film's events and was a major factor in Diane's subsequent mental breakdown and institutionalization. The murder was one of Emily's first violent acts committed under the influence of the curse.

Diane hints at this tragedy when she tells Tara that Emily experienced the same curse, but the full truth only emerges later.

Suzy never returned or responded to Tara's calls after being sent to fetch the vintage dresses. While the film doesn't explicitly show her fate, the implication is that she became another victim of the curse, likely harmed by Emily who was already committing murders while wearing those same dresses.

Tara's growing fear about Suzy's disappearance reinforces the deadly nature of the curse spreading through the dresses.

The police suspected Tara because all the murder victims had issues with her, and witnesses saw the killer wearing one of Tara's distinctive vintage dresses. Since Tara's mother sold the dresses online, Emily had access to them and deliberately framed her daughter by wearing the dresses during the killings. The police had no reason to suspect the mother of a teenage girl.

Early in the film, the murders begin after Tara's nightmares start, making her appear connected to the crimes.

Emily believes Lizzie Borden killed her parents because of her mother's suspected infidelity, viewing Lizzie's actions as justified revenge. This twisted logic stems from Emily's own psychosis and the curse's influence. Emily sees herself as continuing Lizzie's legacy of eliminating those who betray family trust which explains why she murdered, townspeople she deemed unworthy.

This connection is hinted at when Emily talks about family loyalty and the curse's origins.

Yes, the curse remains active at the end. Although Emily is killed by police before she can harm Tara, the film concludes with one of Tara's brothers speaking to the spirit of Lizzie Borden. This implies he has become the next victim of the family curse, continuing the cycle of violence that began with Lizzie Borden herself.

The opening scenes establish the curse as generational, and Tara's own struggles with violent impulses foreshadow its continuation.

The vintage dresses sewn by Lizzie Borden act as psychic triggers for the curse. Since Lizzie was an expert seamstress, her emotional energy became embedded in the clothing she created. When descendants handle or wear these dresses, they become susceptible to Lizzie's influence, experiencing visions and murderous impulses. Tara realizes this connection after visiting Borden House and learning about Lizzie's seamstress skills.

Tara notices the correlation between the dresses and the murders after learning about Lizzie's tailoring work.

Aunt Diane was institutionalized for the murder of her own infant child. However, Diane claims she was not solely responsible, asserting that Emily also experienced the curse and was the true instigator of the violence. Diane escaped from the mental institution during the events of the film, adding to the mounting danger Tara faces.

Diane's institutionalized status is revealed early, but her escape and the truth about the baby murder come later.