What Is Something Weird About?
The premise of Something Weird in 298 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a bleak Midwestern town where everyday routine hums beneath a thin veil of the uncanny, Cronin Mitchell survives a violent electrical accident that leaves his face scarred and his senses forever altered. The shock awakens a latent form of extra‑sensory perception, prompting a pair of skeptical physicians to run experiments that hint at something beyond ordinary trauma. Isolated by his disfigurement, he retreats into anonymity, masking himself with dark sunglasses and a scarf while quietly offering private readings that hint at a world just beyond the visible.
A chance encounter with a strange, weathered tome summons an unexpected visitor: a grotesque witch who offers a bargain. In exchange for becoming her lover, she restores Mitchell’s lost visage in an instant, sealing a pact that blurs the line between salvation and surrender. The promise of normalcy is shadowed by the arrival of Ellen Parker, a captivating woman whose allure masks a deeper, more unsettling connection to the witch’s ancient power, setting the stage for an obsessive and perilous romance.
Drawn by his uncanny abilities, a no‑nonsense government operative, Alex Jordan, arrives to enlist Mitchell’s help in a series of investigations that have baffled local authorities. Alongside seasoned detectives, Mitchell’s psychic insights become a tentative bridge between the supernatural and the procedural, forcing him to navigate the uneasy alliance between his newfound gifts, his precarious personal bargain, and the demands of a system that doubts his sanity.
The film drifts through a feverish, surreal landscape where love, power, and the uncanny intertwine. Its tone is simultaneously gritty and ethereal, echoing the protagonist’s torn identity—part wounded survivor, part reluctant conduit for forces beyond comprehension. As Mitchell teeters between redemption and damnation, the story invites viewers to linger in the uneasy space where ordinary lives are haunted by extraordinary, unspoken pacts.
What Happens in Something Weird?
The complete story of Something Weird, from the first scene to the last, in 832 words (about 4 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 6 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
A man named Cronin Mitchell Tony McCabe survives a near-fatal electrical accident when a maintenance man falls from a power line pole, and the live wire arcs into his face, leaving him in excruciating pain. An ambulance brings him to the hospital, where the aftermath is grim: the other worker dies, but Mitchell lives, his body scarred and his spirit battered.
In the hospital, two doctors, Dr. Roxin Roy Collodi and Dr. White Jeffrey Allen, debate whether Mitchell’s condition includes genuine Extra Sensory Perception as a result of the shock. They run a few ESP tests, and the results seem to suggest something extraordinary. Mitchell’s disfigured appearance compounds a growing sense of hopelessness, and the medical team voices concerns about his will to live.
A local nurse, Nurse Browning Carolyn Smith, tends to him with professional care, but his advances are rebuffed as his face remains a constant reminder of his trauma. After leaving the hospital, Mitchell withdraws from society, masking his appearance with a black scarf and dark sunglasses. He loses his job and everything else he once had, and to cope he begins offering private psychic readings from his house, charging meager fees.
During one session, a book titled Bible of the Witches seems to materialize in his hands. Almost at once, an ugly hag enters and confronts him about his new abilities. The Hag, a witch named through a bargain, offers to restore his face to its former appearance in exchange for becoming her lover. Mitchell agrees, and his face instantly returns to normal, while the Hag vanishes.
He steps back into the world and soon crosses paths with Ellen Parker Elizabeth Wilkinson, a striking woman he meets in a dive bar. Yet Mitchell discovers that he cannot read Ellen’s mind, and their connection becomes anything but simple. They retreat to her apartment for a private moment, but Ellen abruptly reveals her true nature: she is the Hag in disguise and commands him to honor their deal. Mitchell reluctantly submits to this new, perilous pact.
The balance of power shifts when Mitchell attempts to use his powers to identify a serial killer terrorizing Jefferson, Wisconsin, a case that catches the attention of the federal government. Enter Alex Jordan William Brooker, a karate-leaning, no-nonsense government official sent to crack the case. He meets Mitchell and Ellen, and soon a complicated dynamic emerges: Jordan is instantly drawn to Ellen, while Mitchell remains uneasy about the arrangement. Detective Det. Maddox [Ted Heil] becomes involved, escorting Jordan to meet Mitchell and Ellen, and a wary collaboration begins.
Jordan’s interest in Ellen grows, but she insists she belongs to Mitchell and is bound to be his one true lover, a sentiment she asserts with growing certainty. When Jordan presses her, she resists his advances but warns that Mitchell’s power makes him dangerous. Mitchell, meanwhile, experiences a mix of awe and fear as his abilities expand—he levitates a chair at a party, drawing crowd-pleasing awe as well as uneasy whispers.
A troubling thread runs parallel as Mitchell visits a church and conjures a ghost that claims the house’s tragic history, hinting that the spirit will not return if he keeps a certain distance from the living. Around this time, Jordan intensifies his pursuit of Ellen, who rebuffs him by asserting she is tethered to Mitchell. When Jordan pushes too hard, Ellen warns Mitchell that he must act against him, even if it means killing the man.
Mitchell’s resolve falters as Ellen—still unified with him in the eyes of others—manipulates the situation. In a tense turn, Mitchell agrees to kill Jordan only if it serves the larger arc of their fateful bond. A surreal sequence follows: Jordan, alone in his hotel room, appears haunted by a strange, blue-tinted phenomenon as he faces an unseen danger, escalating the sense of danger and fragility around everyone involved.
The narrative twists when, during a late-night LSD session arranged by Jordan, Mitchell discovers a shocking truth: Detective Maddox is the actual serial killer. Mitchell’s fears become a grim reality as Maddox seems poised to shoot him, and the trio’s fragile alliance teeters on the edge of collapse. In a climactic turn, Maddox is killed by the arriving Jordan and police, and Mitchell’s death appears to seal the fate of the investigation. Yet Jordan claims victory and moves forward with Ellen, seizing credit for solving the case.
In the final act, Jordan and Ellen are alone in a parked car, and Ellen kisses him before undergoing the Hag’s transformation in full view of everyone. Jordan, terrified, flees and stumbles into a fiery hazard at an excavation site, badly burned on part of his face. The Hag draws near again, offering to heal the damage and restore his scar so they can be together—repeating the ancient, cruel cycle of power, deception, and desire.
The film closes on a chilling reminder: even when the immediate danger seems resolved, the bargain struck with forces beyond understanding binds the living to a perpetual, cycle-bound fate.
Something Weird Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “Electrical accident and survival” to “Cycle of vengeance continues: final transformation”. 13 events name a place, across 13 locations.
- 1
Electrical accident and survival
Cronin Mitchell survives a catastrophic electrical accident when a maintenance man falls from a power-line pole and a live wire thrusts across his face. The paramedics discover the other man is dead while Mitchell endures excruciating pain. An ambulance carries him away, beginning a long journey fueled by shock and uncertainty.
When:During the accident Where:Accident site
- 2
ESP confirmed by doctors
At the hospital, Dr. Roxin and Dr. White discover that the near-fatal charge has unlocked a form of extrasensory perception in Mitchell. They debate his brutal facial disfigurement and whether his gift can be real, using ESP test cards to argue their case. Mitchell's pain and despair underscore the tension between science and the unknown.
When:Shortly after accident Where:Hospital
- 3
Nurse harassment and exile
Though he has survived, his state of mind proves fragile; he harasses a local nurse with his disfigured face, which she rebuffs, highlighting his isolation. After this incident, Mitchell withdraws from public life, hiding behind a scarf and sunglasses. He begins offering private psychic readings from home, trying to reclaim some control over his life.
When:After hospital stay Where:Hospital and home
- 4
Prophecy begins: Bible of the Witches and return of his face
During a private reading, a book called the Bible of the Witches appears in his hands as if summoned. A hag enters and proposes a deal: use her magic to restore his face in exchange for becoming her lover. Instantly his facial scar is erased, and the hag vanishes, leaving him with a new, dangerous bargaining chip.
When:During reading Where:Mitchell's home
- 5
Meeting Ellen Parker
Mitchell steps back into the world and meets Ellen Parker in a dive bar. He cannot read her mind, which fascinates him and deepens the intrigue. They go back to her apartment, and the budding connection promises new possibilities.
When:After his return to public life Where:Dive bar
- 6
Ellen's true nature revealed and pact
Inside Ellen's apartment, she rapidly transforms into the hag and makes clear that he must honor their agreement. Mitchell reluctantly accepts this new master-slave dynamic and agrees to serve her. The deal binds him to the hag, complicating any genuine autonomy he once hoped to reclaim.
When:Immediately after meeting Where:Ellen's apartment
- 7
Investigation and LSD plan
Mitchell tries to use his ESP to help identify the Jefferson killer, drawing the attention of government investigator Dr. Jordan. Jordan reveals a plan to give him LSD to unlock deeper powers and asks him to meet the next day. Mitchell agrees, sensing that the drug might be dangerous but necessary.
When:During investigation Where:Jefferson, Wisconsin
- 8
Public display of power
At a party, Mitchell demonstrates his abilities by levitating a chair for the astonished crowd. The spectacle raises questions about the source and control of his power. Mitchell's fame grows, even as the mysterious influence over him deepens.
When:During the investigation Where:Party
- 9
Church summons ghost
Later, in a church, Mitchell summons a ghost that claims ownership of a haunted house. The apparition touches him briefly before departing, leaving the priest and congregation unsettled. Mitchell asserts that the ghost's presence will not return.
When:During visit Where:Church
- 10
Ellen orders killing Jordan; Mitchell's refusal
Ellen instructs Mitchell to kill Dr. Jordan who pursues her, but Mitchell refuses to kill by conventional means. The moral conflict intensifies as Ellen presses him to take drastic action. He begins to plot an alternative approach to resolve the threat.
When:Evening Where:Various locations
Show the other 3 events of Something Weird Hide the last 3 events
- 11
Jordan's hotel-bed scare
That evening Jordan returns to his hotel room and is attacked by his blue bed sheets in a strange, supernatural incident, but he escapes unscathed. The bizarre attack demonstrates the reach of the supernatural influence around Mitchell.
When:Evening Where:Hotel room
- 12
LSD trip and killer revealed; Maddox shot
Mitchell takes the LSD and experiences a hallucinatory sequence in which he identifies Detective Maddox as the killer. Maddox seems to shoot Mitchell, but Jordan and the police arrive and kill Maddox instead. Despite Mitchell's death, the police close the case with Jordan claiming credit.
When:During LSD trip Where:Jefferson
- 13
Cycle of vengeance continues: final transformation
In the final scene, Jordan is with Ellen in his parked car when she transforms into the hag again. He flees and crashes into a fire flare at an excavation site, injuring his face. The hag offers to heal him and restore his scar if he agrees to be her lover, perpetuating the cycle of power, manipulation, and horror.
When:Final scene Where:Excavation site
Who Are the Main Characters in Something Weird?
9 characters, among them Cronin "Mitch" Mitchell (Tony McCabe), Ellen Parker (Elizabeth Wilkinson) and Dr. Alex Jordan (William Brooker): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- C"
Cronin "Mitch" Mitchell (Tony McCabe)
Played by Tony McCabe
Cronin Mitchell survives a deadly electrical accident and awakens powerful ESP. His disfigured face paints him as an outcast, driving him to seek restoration by any means. Reborn in a regained appearance, he becomes entangled with the Hag and the occult world, trading autonomy for a dangerous bargain.
- 🔥 Antihero
- 🧠 ESP
- 🔁 Transformation
- EP
Ellen Parker (Elizabeth Wilkinson)
Played by Elizabeth Wilkinson
Ellen Parker is the seductive figure who appears as a beautiful woman to others but is revealed to be the Hag in disguise. She uses her allure to control Mitchell and later manipulates Dr. Jordan, claiming exclusive possession over him. Her dual nature drives the central romance-and-vengeance dynamic of the story.
- 💃 Manipulator
- 🪄 Witch
- 👁️ Illusion
- DA
Dr. Alex Jordan (William Brooker)
Played by William Brooker
A government-backed investigator who joins the hunt for the serial killer. He is drawn to Ellen, becomes entangled in Mitchell's ESP-driven world, and exposes the clash between bureaucratic ambition and occult power. His pursuit culminates in a perilous confrontation with the Hag.
- 🕵️ Investigator
- 🧪 Science vs Magic
- 💼 Authority
- DM
Det. Maddox (Ted Heil)
Played by Ted Heil
A tough, morally compromised detective who leads the case against the killer. He pursues power and control, culminating in a fatal confrontation that exposes the corruption at the town's core. His actions propel the plot toward a tragic, karmic twist.
- 🕵️ Detective
- 🔪 Serial Killer
- 💀 Villain
- TH
The Hag (Mudite Arums)
Played by Mudite Arums
A witch who appears as a hag and offers to restore Mitchell's face in exchange for his loyalty. She embodies manipulation and perpetual temptation, ensuring that the deal binds her victims to her will. Her presence drives the film's cycle of bargains and violence.
- 🧙 Witch
- 🪄 Magic
- 👹 Villain
- NB
Nurse Browning (Carolyn Smith)
Played by Carolyn Smith
A nurse who tends to Mitchell after his accident and becomes the target of his early unwanted advances. Her stance highlights the moral boundaries that Mitch must navigate and the consequences of his changed nature.
- 🩺 Nurse
- 💬 Boundaries
- 🚫 Harassment
- DR
Dr. Roxin (Roy Collodi)
Played by Roy Collodi
One of the doctors who treats Mitch and argues for the validity of ESP. He represents scientific curiosity and cautious optimism about paranormal phenomena, often clashing with the more skeptical or unscrupulous figures around him.
- 🧪 Scientist
- 🔬 ESP
- 🧭 Inquiry
- DW
Dr. White (Jeffrey Allen)
Played by Jeffrey Allen
A colleague of Dr. Roxin who collaborates on ESP experiments and participates in the investigation into the killer. He becomes part of the medical-politico complex that governs the town’s fate.
- 🧬 Doctor
- 🧠 Psychology
- 🕳️ Danger
- BW
Banker's Wife (Ione Rolnick)
Played by Ione Rolnick
A minor character who appears in town life and adds to the social fabric surrounding the central mystery. Her presence helps demonstrate the wide reach of the town’s secrets.
- 🏦 Socialite
- 🪪 Status
- 🗝️ Secrets
Where and When Is Something Weird Set?
Something Weird is set in Jefferson and Wisconsin (1960s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1960s
The events unfold in a 1960s American setting, an era marked by counterculture and experimentation. Psychic phenomena, hallucinogenic drugs, and investigative intrigue collide with superstition and small-town paranoia. The period mood amplifies the film's blend of science, occult magic, and moral ambiguity.
Where
Jefferson, Wisconsin
Jefferson is a small Midwestern town in Wisconsin where the story unfolds. Its ordinary streets—hospital, church, and a seedy dive bar—become stages for uncanny events. As ESP experiments and a witch's bargain disrupt the quiet life, the town is drawn into a struggle between science, superstition, and personal longing.
- ❄️ Small Town
- 🕯️ Mystery
- 🧭 Midwest Setting
What Are the Themes of Something Weird?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them ESP & Magic, Identity & Appearance and Power & Morality.
-
01
ESP & Magic
Cronin's near-death experience awakens a powerful ESP that unsettles his sense of self and invites occult forces into his life. The film toys with the tension between scientific doubt and supernatural possibility, showing how belief can shape reality. ESP becomes both a tool and a trap as Mitchell seeks control over others and his own fate.
-
02
Identity & Appearance
Mitchell's disfigurement and restoration reveal the fragility of outward identity. The Hag's magic restores his face, but exposes a deeper form of bondage—the need for others' magic and approval. The repeated transformations—physical and relational—mirror the film's preoccupation with surface versus substance.
-
03
Power & Morality
Scientists chase proof and control, while the Hag manipulates power through desire. The plot blends medical discourse and occult pacts to question who governs truth and justice. In the end, murder, cover-ups, and a manipulated narrative reveal the dark costs of power.
What Kind of Film Is Something Weird?
Dark in tone, with variable pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Variable
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bleak
A feverish and surreal descent into supernatural obsession, where a man's deal with a witch for psychic power and a restored face traps him in a cycle of dark manipulation and inevitable doom.
- feverish
- surreal
- dreadful
- obsessive
- sinister
- paranoid
- supernatural bargain
- psychic powers
- fatal attraction
- identity and disfigurement
Content notes: disfigurement, supernatural manipulation, serial killer, murder, burn victim, drug use (LSD).
Quiz
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Where to Watch Something Weird
Stream it on Cultpix. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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