The Oracle

The Oracle

Year: 1985

Runtime: 94 mins

Language: English

Director: Roberta Findlay

MysteryHorrorCrimeThriller

A Power That Is Ancient. A murder victim reaches out from beyond the grave in an attempt to possess the body of a young woman who has moved into his old apartment.

The Oracle (1985) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at The Oracle (1985) 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.

In a cramped, aging apartment building where the walls seem to retain the memory of every life that has passed through its corridors, an uneasy stillness lingers. The place bears the weight of an ancient, unseen power—something that has allowed the dead to whisper across the veil of death. This subtle menace infuses the everyday routine with a quiet, unsettling dread, turning ordinary moments into potential portals for something far older than the bricks themselves.

Jennifer arrives with her husband Ray, eager to claim a fresh start in the modest flat that once belonged to a reclusive elderly woman, Mrs. Malatesta. The apartment’s past is hinted at through odd trinkets and the lingering scent of rituals long forgotten, yet the couple is initially more concerned with the practicalities of moving in than the building’s shadowed history. As Jennifer begins to settle, she feels the house’s atmosphere pressing in, as if the very air is alive with faint, desperate calls from beyond.

The film’s tone walks a fine line between intimate domestic drama and unsettling gothic horror. It cultivates a mood where the ordinary—shared meals, quiet evenings, the simple act of unpacking—coexists with the palpable sense that an unseen presence watches, waiting for an opening. The ancient power hinted at in the opening promise suggests that a murdered soul is reaching out, hoping to inhabit the body of the newcomer. This uneasy blend of the familiar and the supernatural keeps the audience constantly questioning what is real, what is imagined, and how thin the barrier truly is between the living and the restless dead.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:56

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Movies about claustrophobic supernatural siege like The Oracle

Characters trapped in a location by a relentless supernatural force.If you liked The Oracle, you'll find similar stories of characters trapped by a haunting presence in these films. This list features movies where a home or building becomes a prison, with a supernatural entity slowly tightening its grip in a relentless, oppressive narrative.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically begins with a character moving into or discovering a new location, only to find it already occupied by a powerful, often ancient, supernatural force. The story is a downward spiral of investigation and resistance, where attempts to understand or fight the entity only lead to a deeper entrapment and psychological unraveling.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their shared focus on a contained setting as the primary source of horror, a steady escalation of supernatural threat, and a pervasive feeling of being watched and hunted within one's own home. They create a powerful sense of inescapable dread.

Movies about cursed artifacts with bleak endings like The Oracle

Stories where a sinister artifact brings tragedy to its possessors.For viewers who enjoyed The Oracle's story of a supernatural planchette, this list features similar movies about cursed objects. These films explore the dark legacy of powerful artifacts, where investigation leads to psychological torment and typically concludes with a tragic, hopeless ending for the protagonist.

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Narrative Summary

The plot follows a predictable but compelling arc: discovery of the object, initial fascination, unfolding investigation into its terrible past, and the protagonist's gradual loss of control as the object's curse takes hold. The endings are almost always bleak, suggesting the curse is inescapable and will merely pass to the next victim.

Why These Movies?

These films share a core focus on a malevolent inanimate object as the primary antagonist. They are united by themes of inescapable fate, the danger of curiosity, and a narrative structure that moves from mystery to despair, leaving the audience with a sense of futility and cyclical horror.

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The Oracle Summary

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The Oracle Summary

The Oracle Timeline

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The Oracle Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Oracle

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Oracle

More About The Oracle

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