Tower of Terror

Tower of Terror

Year: 1997

Runtime: 89 mins

Language: English

Director: D.J. MacHale

FamilyHorrorComedy

When a disgraced reporter takes on a case at an abandoned luxury hotel, he discovers that five guests vanished without a trace sixty years ago. As he delves deeper, the hotel’s eerie corridors reveal clues that suggest new arrivals may never leave, turning a simple investigation into a chilling fight for survival.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Tower of Terror (1997)

Trace every key event in Tower of Terror (1997) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Abigail's visit and the curse explanation

Abigail visits Buzzy Crocker and recounts the Halloween 1939 incident at the Hollywood Tower Hotel, where five guests vanished when lightning trapped them in an elevator and became ghosts. She asserts the curse can be reversed only by its contrary, and that recovering the passengers' personal items is essential to breaking it.

Buzzy's home/office
2

Discovery of spells and the plan to break the curse

Buzzy investigates the shuttered hotel and discovers a book of spells connected to Abigail's story. He realizes the curse could be undone by the opposite magic and begins to assemble a plan to locate the relics and reenact the incident to end the haunting.

Hollywood Tower Hotel
3

Q Todd joins the effort

Buzzy and Anna enlist Chris 'Q' Todd, the hotel caretaker and Dewey Todd's grandson, to help. He reluctantly agrees, hoping to honor his grandfather and to secure the hotel's future.

Hollywood Tower Hotel
4

Claire Poulet arrives and Buzzy's distraction

Inside the hotel, Buzzy meets the actress Claire Poulet, hired to stage fake ghost photographs for the tabloid. He pursues a relationship with her, but she resents that his career ambitions take precedence over helping the spirits.

Hollywood Tower Hotel
5

Ghostly threats and Anna's resolve

As fear grows, the ghosts threaten the investigators with appearances. Anna remains steadfast and pledges to help the spirits escape the curse and reverse Abigail's plan.

Hollywood Tower Hotel
6

Carolyn's true identity revealed

The ghost of Carolyn Crosson reappears and is revealed to be the same 'Claire Poulet' that Buzzy had met. The revelation confirms the haunting and its deceptive layers.

Hollywood Tower Hotel
7

Jill uncovers Abigail's jealousy and family ties

Jill, researching from outside, learns Abigail Gregory is Sally Shine's sister and that Abigail's jealousy fueled the curse. She notes Abigail has been in a sanitarium and is allowed out only on day release.

Jill's investigation
8

Personal relics and the elevator repair

Buzzy explains that finding the five personal effects—Sally's hair, Emeline Partridge's handkerchief, Dewey Todd's spare bell-boy hat, Gilbert London's spectacles, and Carolyn's locket—and repairing the elevator are the keys to finishing the ritual. The plan sets the stage for the climactic showdown.

Hollywood Tower Hotel
9

Return to the hotel and the trap

Buzzy and Jill rush back to the hotel with the relics, but arrive to find the five ghosts entering the repaired elevator. Anna follows and manages to reach Sally after the doors close, while the elevator car ascends.

Hollywood Tower Hotel
10

Confrontation on the 11th floor and confession

The group confronts Abigail on the 11th floor; she tearfully confesses her actions as Sally appears and reveals the truth behind the family rift. Abigail is left distraught but uncertain how to stop the spell.

11th floor
11

The bracelet, jealousy, and the finish

Sally explains the birthday party she planned for Abigail and how Abigail's jealousy sparked the curse. Buzzy reveals the origin of the spell and why the counter-magic is needed, and Abigail's self-pity shows she cannot halt the magic.

11th floor
12

Lightning strikes and the reversal of the curse

Lightning strikes the hotel at 8:05 PM, and the repaired elevator cars plummet toward the basement. Sally and Abigail reconcile as they dissolve into golden sparkles, stopping the elevators just before impact and breaking the curse.

8:05 PM Hollywood Tower Hotel elevator shaft
13

Ghosts ascend and the hotel is restored

With the curse broken, Carolyn, Gilbert, Dewey, Emeline, and Sally ascend to the Tip-Top Club for the party, and one by one they move on to Heaven. The Hollywood Tower Hotel is restored and reopened to the public, with Q taking charge as the new owner.

Tip-Top Club / Hollywood Tower Hotel

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 10:44

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Tower of Terror Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Tower of Terror

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Tower of Terror

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Tower of Terror Spoiler-Free Summary

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