What Is Evil Things About?
The premise of Evil Things in 291 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the quiet stretch of the Catskills, a group of five college friends embarks on a weekend escape from the bustle of New York City. The retreat is set up as a birthday celebration for Miriam, who has been granted access to her aunt’s spacious country home by Aunt Gail. Accompanying her are Cassy, a quick‑witted roommate; Mark, the skeptical pragmatist; Tanya, an easy‑going spirit who struggles with the driving; and Leo, an aspiring filmmaker eager to document the getaway. Their dynamic is a blend of playful banter and underlying tension, the sort that surfaces when close friends are confined together in an unfamiliar, isolated setting.
The house itself sits amid snow‑capped woods, a rustic sanctuary that feels both inviting and slightly out of step with the world they left behind. As the night falls, the group settles into the rhythm of a weekend meant for laughter, cake, and whispered stories, while Leo sets up his camera to capture the ordinary moments that might later feel extraordinary. The surrounding landscape, with its winding roads, small gas stations, and diner stops, introduces a subtle sense of unease, hinting that the remote countryside holds more than just scenic beauty. The ever‑present hum of the forest and the occasional glint of passing vehicles create an atmosphere where the line between calm and apprehension blurs.
Two days later, the friends vanish without a trace, leaving behind only fragmented clues and an enduring mystery that haunts both the locals and the investigators who revisit the case years later. The film’s tone balances the nostalgia of a youthful excursion with a creeping dread that something unseen is watching, turning a simple weekend into the catalyst for an unsolved disappearance that continues to echo through the quiet woods.
What Happens in Evil Things?
The complete story of Evil Things, from the first scene to the last, in 863 words (about 4 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 6 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Five college students—Miriam Dearing, Elyssa Mersdorf; Cassy Crawford, Laurel Casillo; Mark Schaefer, Morgan Hooper; Tanya Kochen, Torrey Weiss; and Leo Pugliese, Ryan Maslyn—leave New York City for a weekend in the Catskills to celebrate Miriam’s birthday. Miriam’s Aunt Gail, Gail Cadden, lends them a large country home for the occasion, promising a quiet escape from campus life. The group—already buzzing with the thrill of a new project—arrives with Leo’s video camera in hand, hoping to capture the weekend in a candid, documentary style.
From the moment they hit the road, a chilling undercurrent threads through the trip. A dark red van keeps popping up in their rearview, the driver repeatedly honking and weaving in and out as if intent on shadowing them. The tension grows when a gas station stop yields a second sighting: the same maroon vehicle lingers a moment too long, as if recording their every move. A chance encounter at the pump—an anxious moment turned awkward—leads to a small, unsettling exchange when a girl from the station returns a phone Cassy left behind. The van’s presence doesn’t fade; it simply looms louder, surfacing again at a diner where the vehicle never quite leaves the curb, watching them through the window as they eat.
Inside Aunt Gail’s home, the mood shifts from tense to celebratory as Miriam’s friends pull together a birthday surprise for her. The night unfolds with warmth and laughter, Leo filming the celebration, capturing the group’s camaraderie against the glow of candles and party lights. But the sense of being watched lingers in the shadows, a quiet hum beneath their cheerful chatter.
The following day, the friends attempt a hike into the snowy woods, and the forest’s quiet becomes almost oppressive. They become lost in its depths, following faint sounds—the crackle of a radio, branches snapping underfoot—until fear pushes them back toward the safety of the house. Back inside, the group begins to sense something else at work: silent phone calls, a looming feeling of being watched, and then a package left on the front step—a taped film wrapped in brown paper.
What the tape reveals is chilling and precise: they have been secretly filmed since they started their road trip. The footage shows the gas station moment with the girl returning Cassy’s phone, the tense confrontation at the diner, and finally the stalker’s view from inside Aunt Gail’s home—peering through windows as the group laughs, parties, and sleeps. The tape confirms that the maroon van and its driver have been following them the entire time, and the stalker’s gaze shifts from public spaces to the private sanctuary of the house.
The house goes quiet as the phone rings again, only to yield silence on the other end. Signals falter; the group finds their car missing, and a new threat lingers on the property. A van arrives in the driveway, sending a fresh wave of fear through the rooms as they struggle to regain a signal and to maintain some sense of safety. The power suddenly fails, plunging the house into darkness, and Miriam manages to reach a 9-1-1 call that drops mid-conversation, leaving the group with more questions than answers.
In the tense hours that follow, Mark arms himself with a knife and investigates a room where a two-way radio crackles to life on its own. The door shuts from the inside; Mark’s anguished cries echo through the hallway as Cassy bangs on the door, forcing it to open just enough for them to scramble away. They flee upstairs, voices raised in a frantic, desperate plan to escape, but their exit is thwarted when a member of the stalker’s shadow looms just outside, and the others witness a terrifying moment: the camera that Leo handed to Tanya shatters, leaving them with only the raw, unfiltered sound of a scream.
Outside, the stalker’s path remains deliberate and cold. The footage from the van shows Miriam running through the darkness, the stalker’s lights narrowing in as he follows her into the woods. Inside the house, Cassy attempts to find a safe route, only to discover the stalker inside, his night-vision camera cutting through the dark as he closes in. A final, terrifying lunge leaves Cassy screaming, the screen catching only that single, haunting moment before the scene cuts to black.
The film closes with a broader view: the stalker sits among a bank of monitors, watching a mosaic of videos that capture the group’s day-to-day moments—the laughter, the sleep, the private spaces of their retreat. Leo’s own footage appears in the mix, suggesting that the stalker may have infiltrated more than one perspective. A final shot pulls back to a park where the stalker surveys another cluster of friends; he trails them, unseen, as they roam and film their own memories.
As the credits roll, the audience is presented with the stalker’s itinerary in real time: from the highway where he first spots the group to the quiet of the house windows where he films them as they sleep. The film ends on an unresolved note, preserving the unease that frames what was meant to be a simple weekend getaway—a reminder that some weekends, and some watchers, never leave.
Evil Things Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Group departs New York City for the Catskills weekend” to “End credits montage reveals ongoing stalking in public spaces”. 15 events name a place, across 12 locations.
- 1
Group departs New York City for the Catskills weekend
A group of five college friends leaves New York City for a weekend at Miriam's aunt's country house in the Catskills. Miriam invites Cassy, Mark, Tanya, and Leo to celebrate her birthday. Leo brings his video camera to document the trip, signaling a planned film project among the friends.
Where:New York City / On the road to Catskills
- 2
Dark red van taunts the group on the road
Early on the highway the group notices a dark red van that honks and overtakes them, then slows to pace their car. The driver repeatedly tailgates and passes, creating a growing sense of being watched. They also spot the van at the gas station and later at a diner.
Where:Highway to the Catskills; gas station; diner
- 3
Gas station encounter and Cassy's missing phone returns
At a small gas station Cassy sees the same maroon van and a girl rushes out to return Cassy’s missing phone. The group is spooked by the van’s lingering presence. They drive away cautious but increasingly unsettled.
Where:Gas station
- 4
Diner confrontation with the van
The van drives into the diner parking lot and lingers by the windows. Mark exits to confront the driver, but the van leaves before any confrontation can escalate. The encounter heightens the sense that someone is following them.
Where:Diner
- 5
Arrival at Aunt Gail's house and birthday celebration
The group reaches Aunt Gail's country house in the Catskills and she helps them get the power on. Miriam’s friends surprise her with a birthday cake, and Leo films the intimate celebration as the night unfolds. The mood is festive, but unease lingers just beneath the surface.
When:Evening Where:Aunt Gail's country house, Catskills
- 6
Day 1 hike and getting lost in the snowy woods
The next day they hike through snowy woods and quickly become disoriented as dusk approaches. They hear unfamiliar crackling noises and branches snapping, which scatter them and force a frantic search for the way back. After a tense excursion, they manage to return to the house.
When:Day 2 Where:Snowy woods near Catskills
- 7
Silent phone calls and the arrival of a mysterious tape
During dinner they receive silent phone calls, heightening the feeling of being watched. A brown-paper-wrapped video tape is left on the front step, and its contents reveal they’ve been secretly filmed since the road trip. The tape confirms a stalker has been following them.
When:Evening Where:Aunt Gail's house
- 8
Tape confirms stalker followed them from road to house
The tape shows footage from the gas station, the diner, and the house, including shots of the stalker peering through windows. It makes explicit that the same maroon van has tracked them all the way to the Catskills. The group realizes the danger is real and ongoing.
Where:Video content
- 9
Nighttime security breach: stalker inside the house
The tape also depicts the stalker inside the house filming them as they sleep. The sense of safety vanishes as they realize someone is watching them closely from within. The home becomes a site of fear rather than refuge.
When:Night Where:Aunt Gail's house
- 10
Power outage and failed emergency call
Back in the present, Miriam tries to call for help, but there is no signal and the line goes silent. The power in the house fails, plunging them into darkness as the threat seems to close in. A SUV or van appears in the driveway, heightening the panic.
When:Night Where:Aunt Gail's house
Show the other 5 events of Evil Things Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Mark investigates; the two-way radio becomes a threat
Mark grabs a knife after hearing a noise and discovers a still-on two-way radio crackling in the hall. The door to the room shuts from the inside and Mark's muffled cries are heard, forcing the others to flee upstairs and hide. The group’s attempt to confront the danger ends in confinement.
When:Night Where:Inside the house
- 12
Escape attempt and Tanya's camera breaks
From the upstairs vantage point the group sees the stalker drive away, prompting Leo to urge everyone to run back inside. Inside, Tanya trips and breaks the camera, leaving only audio of her screams as Leo's fate remains unknown. The house becomes a trap as they try to regroup.
When:Night Where:Inside and around the house
- 13
Miriam flees the house as the stalker closes in
The video footage shows Miriam escaping the house and the stalker re-emerging with lights on the van to pursue her into the woods. The chase through the trees heightens the suspense and signals the next phase of the danger. Her fate in the immediate moment is left ominously unresolved.
When:Night Where:From the house into the woods
- 14
Cassy is found by the stalker inside the house
Inside, Cassy creeps through the dark until she is spotted by the stalker behind a couch. He advances with his camera as the others watch in terror, unable to intervene. The scene ends with Cassy’s scream echoing through the house.
When:Night Where:Inside the house
- 15
End credits montage reveals ongoing stalking in public spaces
The final sequence shows the stalker moving through parks and streets, filming another group of friends as they go about their day. The montage underscores the persistent threat, culminating with the stalker continuing to observe from the shadows. The credits roll over footage of surveillance continuing beyond the house.
Where:Park and public spaces
Who Are the Main Characters in Evil Things?
7 characters, among them Miriam Dearing (Elyssa Mersdorf), Cassy Crawford (Laurel Casillo) and Mark Schaefer (Morgan Hooper): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- MD
Miriam Dearing (Elyssa Mersdorf)
Played by Elyssa Mersdorf
Miriam is the birthday girl who brings her friends to her Aunt Gail's country home in the Catskills. She appears sociable and hopeful, but the weekend reveals how quickly security can crumble when stalkers are watching. Her role as organizer and focal point of the group drives the dynamics as danger escalates.
- 🎭 Friendship
- 🎯 Central figure
- CC
Cassy Crawford (Laurel Casillo)
Played by Laurel Casillo
Cassy is practical and loyal, quick to react to threats. She confronts danger directly and fights to protect the group, illustrating courage even as the situation grows bleaker.
- 🎭 Loyalty
- 🛡️ Protector
- MS
Mark Schaefer (Morgan Hooper)
Played by Morgan Hooper
Mark is protective of his friends and takes a proactive stance against the stalker. His actions show bravery but also reveal how fear can lead to rash decisions.
- 🎭 Group dynamics
- 🗡️ Courage
- TK
Tanya Kochen (Torrey Weiss)
Played by Torrey Weiss
Tanya brings energy to the group and stays involved as events unfold. She captures moments on camera and helps navigate the crisis, demonstrating resilience.
- 🎭 Friend in crisis
- 📷 Documenter
- LP
Leo Pugliese (Ryan Maslyn)
Played by Ryan Maslyn
Leo is an aspiring filmmaker who brings a video camera to document the weekend. His pursuit of footage becomes a thread of evidence, and his fate remains a haunting mystery.
- 🎬 Filmmaker
- 🕵️♂️ Evidence
- AG
Aunt Gail (Gail Cadden)
Played by Gail Cadden
Aunt Gail is Miriam's generous hostess who provides the countryside home. She appears warm and supportive, but the remote setting intensifies the creeping sense of danger.
- 🎭 Relative
- 🏡 Host
- M
Maya
Played by Leo's Dog
Maya is Leo's dog who accompanies the group on their trip. The dog's presence adds warmth and a touch of normalcy amid growing tension.
- 🐕 Companion
- 🐾 Domestic detail
Where and When Is Evil Things Set?
Evil Things is set in New York City and Catskills (Present day). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Present day
The events occur in contemporary times, with modern tech such as cell phones, a video camera, and 9-1-1 available. The weekend escape unfolds in today’s world, where everyday devices become tools for both connection and menace.
Where
New York City, Catskills
Five friends travel from New York City to a large country home in the Catskills for a weekend. The Catskills setting provides a remote, wooded backdrop that heightens isolation and suspense as the group is stalked. The journey from urban to rural emphasizes the contrast between safety in the city and vulnerability in the countryside.
- 🏞️ Countryside setting
- 🏠 Country house getaway
- 🚗 Road trip
What Are the Themes of Evil Things?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Surveillance, Isolation and Trust under threat.
-
01
Surveillance
The group is secretly filmed and tailed by a stalker, turning a casual road trip into a chilling surveillance nightmare. The camera becomes a weapon that invades privacy and fuels fear.
-
02
Isolation
Remote placement in the Catskills, mounting power and signal outages, and a missing car isolate the group. This isolation heightens paranoia and makes safe escape almost impossible.
-
03
Trust under threat
Friendships are strained as danger looms. Characters must decide who to trust while secrets and fear complicate their decisions.
-
04
Fear and survival
The looming stalker and mysterious noises create constant tension. The group is forced to improvise, confront their fears, and seek a way to survive the night.
What Kind of Film Is Evil Things?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bleak
A relentlessly anxious and paranoid found-footage horror film that builds from unsettling roadside encounters to a terrifying home invasion, leaving the viewer with a profound sense of helplessness and dread.
- anxious
- paranoid
- claustrophobic
- sinister
- ominous
- terrifying
- stalking
- found footage
- home invasion
- survival horror
Content notes: stalking, home invasion, psychological terror, implied murder.
Quiz
How well do you remember Evil Things? Test yourself on the story.
Where to Watch Evil Things
Stream it on Cineverse and Fawesome, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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The Roku Channel 
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