Thefilmopenswithanarrateddisclaimeroverfootageofanopeningcoffin.Thenarratorexplainsthatthefilm'sclimaxissoterrifyingthatitmaykilltheviewer,andreassurestheaudiencethatiftheydieoffrightwhilewatchingthefilm,theywillreceiveafreeburialservice,anditclosesonthecasketwhichhasacardinsidereadingReservedforYou.[1] 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.
