Delusion 1981

Meredith takes a job at Fairlawn estate

Meredith arrives at the Fairlawn estate to care for Ivar Langrock and recounts her mother's recent death to her father in a letter. She is greeted by the estate staff, including the stern butler Phillip and Ivar's attorney Jeffrey Fraser. The introduction establishes the tense, secrets-filled atmosphere of the house and sets up the impending drama.

Meredith discovers Wilfred's locked room and befriends Ivar

Meredith finds a locked second-floor room where Wilfred lives and begins to form a tentative friendship with Ivar. She confides in Ivar about her mother's institutionalization and her father's alleged abuse, deepening their bond. The room becomes a symbol of the estate's hidden past and the danger it conceals.

Gabriel arrives after his parents' deaths

Langrock's adult grandson Gabriel arrives to stay at Fairlawn after the accidental deaths of his parents. He has spent much of his life on a commune in Arizona, which adds an unsettled, outsider dynamic to the household. Meredith's initial sympathy for him contrasts with the mounting suspicion around the estate.

First death unsettles the household

A series of deaths begins with the discovery of Langrock's dog hanging from a tree in the garden. The shocking event signals that something sinister is at work within the house. Meredith and the others grow more wary as the atmosphere tightens around them.

Wilfred's death looks like suicide

Wilfred dies in his room, apparently by suicide when he jumps out the window. The death fuels fear and speculation about a malevolent force at Fairlawn. Meredith and Ivar begin to suspect that a human killer is at work rather than a string of tragic accidents.

Gabriel's advances create tension

Gabriel makes sexual advances toward Meredith, making her increasingly uncomfortable. The unwanted attention adds a personal danger to the already tense atmosphere. Meredith's boundaries are tested as the mystery deepens.

Phillip is murdered in the wine cellar

Phillip is found dead in the wine cellar, crushed under a fallen wine rack and struck with a table leg. The police initially deem it an accident, while Jeffrey later accuses Gabriel of the murder. The conflicting interpretations heighten the sense that the house is hiding something deadly.

Detective reveals the murder ruling in the garage

In the garage, a detective informs Alex that the coroner has deemed Philip's death a murder. The revelation contradicts the prior accident assessment and throws the investigation into confusion. The sense of danger in the house intensifies as more questions arise.

The detective is found dead; Alex is attacked

After the detective leaves, Alex hears a commotion and returns to find the detective dead. The unseen killer then attacks Alex, beating him to death. The ongoing violence deepens the mystery and highlights the house as a deadly trap.

Meredith finds the bloodied table leg

While searching the house, Meredith discovers a bloodied table leg and calls Jeffrey in a panic. He tells her he is on his way to the house. Just as Jeffrey arrives, she discovers Gabriel's body stuffed in a closet, escalating the horror.

Jeffrey's confrontational revelation

Jeffrey confronts Meredith, claiming he has just come from a hospital where her mother was kept. He reveals that her mother died during Meredith's birth and accuses Meredith of murders, alleging she was institutionalized for murdering her father who molested her. The confrontation shatters Meredith's sense of reality and trust.

Meredith attacks Jeffrey and confronts Ivar

Meredith attacks Jeffrey with the table leg, driven by fear and anger. She storms downstairs, intending to kill Ivar, but Ivar counters her, knocking her unconscious with a cane. The tense confrontation marks a turning point in the unraveling plot.