Things Heard & Seen

In 1980, Catherine Claire is faced with numerous challenges in Manhattan as she navigates life with her husband, George, and their daughter, Franny. Her battle with bulimia contributes to her feelings of isolation, creating tension within the family.

George secures a position teaching art history at a college, prompting the family to relocate to a spacious farmhouse in upstate New York. This significant transition marks a new chapter in their lives, but it also deepens Catherine's sense of loneliness.

In the farmhouse, Catherine stumbles upon an old Bible that holds a detailed family tree of the previous owners, the Smits. The discovery reveals several names that are ominously marked as 'Damned,' leaving Catherine intrigued and unsettled by the implications.

Catherine begins to notice unusual lights in the farmhouse, which she believes are guiding her to a vintage ring. The ring soon becomes a significant artifact for her, symbolizing a growing connection to the haunting presence she feels permeating their new home.

Franny experiences strange visions of a female spirit, deepening the family's connection to the supernatural elements of the farmhouse. This leads her to seek comfort from her parents, revealing the unsettling atmosphere surrounding their new living situation.

To help manage her household duties, Catherine hires Eddie and Cole Vayle as a handyman and babysitter. This decision inadvertently brings Justine Sokolov, George's colleague, into their lives, complicating Catherine's emotional landscape further.

While adjusting to their new environment, George begins to flirt with Willis, Eddie's cousin. This new relationship adds to the tensions in the household and creates a sense of imbalance as Catherine struggles with her own issues.

During a visit from Floyd DeBeers, head of the art history department, he acknowledges a spirit's presence in the house. His reassurance of its benign nature leads to the suggestion of a séance, further entrenching the family's connection to the supernatural.

At a party hosted by Catherine and George, shocking details about the farmhouse's history come to light. The previous owners met a tragic end in a murder-suicide, and it is revealed that Catherine's antique ring once belonged to Ella, their mother.

Catherine confronts George about the unsettling history of their new home, intensifying the existing tensions in their relationship. The confrontation forces them to face not only their troubled marriage but also the dark past of the farmhouse.

After George departs for a visit to his parents, Catherine and Floyd conduct a séance that brings the spirit of Ella into their midst. The experience escalates when Floyd warns Catherine of a potentially dangerous spirit lurking in the house.

Amidst the chaos, Catherine uncovers George's infidelity with Willis, shattering her trust completely. This revelation deepens her turmoil and sets the stage for her subsequent actions, pushing her toward reckless choices.

In an act of retaliation against George's betrayal, Catherine begins an affair with Eddie. This decision spirals her deeper into conflict, aligning her with the very spirit world that haunted her and complicating her already fragile state.

In a desperate attempt to maintain control, George murders Catherine in cold blood, subsequently disguising it as a tragic accident. The shocking turn of events leaves Franny to grapple with the aftermath as suspicions loom over George’s behavior.

In a frantic bid to evade arrest, George attempts to flee on his cousin’s boat as a storm arises. The vessel encounters disaster, mirroring the tragic artwork that had been projected in his class, symbolizing George's ultimate fate for his heinous actions.