Thefilmopenswithanarrateddisclaimeroverfootageofanopeningcoffin.Thenarratorexplainsthatthefilm'sclimaxissoterrifyingthatitmaykilltheviewer,andreassurestheaudiencethatiftheydieoffrightwhilewatchingthefilm,theywillreceiveafreeburialservice,anditclosesonthecasketwhichhasacardinsidereading"ReservedforYou."[1导演采用平实的艺术表达。影像修复技术为历史研究提供支持，全彩处理让历史更加生动，画面呈现增强真实感。但技术使用保持克制，整体色调追求历史真实。整体场面注重人文意义。色彩运用体现严谨理念，声音设计追求内敛风格。　　NewlywedsJenni(PeggyWebber)andEric(JohnHudson)moveintoEric'spalatialcountryhome.JenniisEric'ssecondwife;hisfirstwifeMariondiedwhensheaccidentallyslippedandhitherheadontheedgeofadecorativepondontheestate.AtthehometheymeetEric'sfriends,theReverendSnow(RussConway)andhiswife(ToniJohnson),aswellasMickey(AlexNicol),thedevelopmentallydisabledgardener.EricprivatelymentionstotheSnowsthatJennispenttimeinanasylumfollowingthesuddendeathofbothherparents,andMrs.SnowrevealsthatJenniisverywealthy.　　JenniisdisturbedbothbyMickey'sbeliefthatMarion'sghostwanderstheestateandbyMarion'sself-portraitinsidethehouse,whichJennibelievesresembleshermother.Whenshebeginstohearunexplainedscreamingnoisesandseeskullsaroundherhouse,shebelievesthatMarionishauntingher.ThoughEricspeculatestoJennithatMickey,whowasachildhoodfriendofMarionandthusdislikesJenni,maybebehindthetrickery,Jenniworriesthatsheisgoinginsane.EricthensuggeststoremoveMarion'sself-portraitfromthehome.EricandJennitakethepaintingoutsideandburnit.Whiletheycleanuptheremainsofthepainting,askullemergesfromtheashes.WhileJennipanicsatthesightoftheskull,Ericdeniesthattheskullisthere.JennifaintsandEricwithdrawstheskullandhidesit,revealingthathewasresponsibleforthetrickeryallalonginanefforttogetholdofherwealth.　　Believingshehasfinallylosthersanity,Jenniresolvestobecommitted.ShetellsEricthattheentirepropertywillbemeticulouslysearchedfortheskullasalastresort.BeforeEriccanretrieveit,MickeysecretlystealstheskullandbringsittotheReverend,revealingEric'splans.Thatnight,EricpreparestomurderJenniandstageitasasuicide.JenniseesMarion'sghostinMickey'sgreenhouseandfleesbacktothehouse.Whensheenters,Ericbeginsthrottlingher.TheghostthenappearsandchasesEricoutsideandabouttheproperty;itfinallycornersandattackshim,drowninghiminthedecorativepond.　　AfterJenniregainsconsciousness,theSnowsarrive.Mrs.SnowcomfortsahystericalJenniandtheReverenddiscoversEric'sbodyinthepond.Someundisclosedtimelater,JenniandtheSnowsdepartfromthehouse.ReverendSnowdeclareswhetherornotMarion'sdeathwasanaccidentwillremainamystery.