Tormented

Tormented

Year: 1960

Runtime: 75 mins

Language: English

Director: Bert I. Gordon

ThrillerHorrorHorror

A ghost-woman owned him body and soul! A jazz pianist is haunted by his dead ex-lover’s crawling hand and floating head.

Tormented (1960) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Tormented (1960) 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 the hush of a remote Cape Cod island, the rhythm of the tides and the whisper of gulls set a steady tempo for a community that moves as gently as the sea itself. The town’s modest homes, the weather‑worn lighthouse, and the cramped local cafés form a world where everyday life feels almost rehearsed, yet an undercurrent of unease lingers like a low‑key jazz note waiting to resolve.

Against this backdrop, Tom Stewart is a gifted jazz pianist whose hands seem to translate the ocean’s pulse into melody. On the verge of marrying his steady and supportive fiancée, Meg Hubbard, he is absorbed in rehearsals, evening gigs, and the hopeful anticipation of a future that promises both artistic fulfillment and personal stability. The island’s close‑knit atmosphere amplifies the intimacy of his relationships, making his impending wedding feel like the final, perfect movement of his current life’s composition.

Just as Tom prepares to step into this new chapter, a shadow from his past resurfaces in the form of his former lover, Vi Mason, now a ghostly presence that refuses to stay buried. Her unsettling return—marked by fleeting glimpses, chilling sensations, and an uncanny sense that she still knows his every move—injects a thin, eerie filament into the island’s otherwise placid fabric. The quiet streets begin to echo with strange sounds, and the lingering scent of salt carries whispers of something beyond the ordinary.

Amid the growing tension, other island figures such as Meg’s younger sister, Sandy, and the wary ferryman, Nick Lewis, hover at the edges of Tom’s world, each adding their own layer of intrigue and subtle pressure. The film balances a moody, almost noir atmosphere with the haunting allure of the supernatural, leaving Tom—and the audience—to wonder whether love, guilt, and the sea’s relentless pull can ever truly be untangled.

Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 09:15

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies where characters are haunted by guilt like in Tormented

Stories where a protagonist's past sins manifest as inescapable supernatural torment.If you liked the psychological torment in Tormented, you'll find similar stories here. This collection features movies where a character's guilt over a past transgression manifests as a relentless supernatural force, leading to a bleak and inescapable reckoning.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern follows a character who commits a wrong, often a murder or betrayal, and is then pursued by a supernatural entity tied to their victim. The story is a slow unraveling of their sanity as the haunting escalates, forcing a confrontation with their moral failure, typically ending in tragedy.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their core theme of guilt-made-manifest. They share a dark tone, heavy emotional weight, and a focus on psychological dread over simple jump scares, creating a cohesive experience of moral and supernatural horror.

Gothic psychological horror movies like Tormented

Atmospheric tales of supernatural hauntings rooted in tragic romance and despair.Explore more films that capture the gothic horror vibe of Tormented. These movies feature isolated settings, supernatural hauntings driven by fatal attraction, and a consistently dark, melancholic mood that builds to a tragic conclusion.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative unfolds in a confined, often archaic setting where a romantic relationship turns fatal. The ghost of a spurned or wronged lover returns, not just to scare, but to claim ownership or deliver poetic justice. The plot is a steady descent into despair as the living are consumed by the past.

Why These Movies?

They are united by a specific gothic horror aesthetic: a focus on tragic romance as the source of horror, a melodramatic and dark tone, and a supernatural presence that is intimately tied to the characters' emotional histories.

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Tormented Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Tormented

More About Tormented

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