The City of the Dead 1960

1692: Selwyn is Burned and Binds a Pact

Elizabeth Selwyn is burned at the stake in Whitewood. Before dying, she and Jethrow Keane sell their souls to Lucifer in exchange for immortality and vengeance, binding themselves to the town's fate. The Devil's terms demand two yearly virgin sacrifices on the Hour of Thirteen during Candlemas Eve and the Witches' Sabbath.

The Covenant: Two Annual Sacrifices

The pact ensures Whitewood remains under Selwyn's influence, with two annual virgin sacrifices required each year. Candlemas Eve and the Witches' Sabbath become ritual anchors for Selwyn's immortality and the coven's power. The town's terror persists across generations.

Present-day Professor Recommends a Field Trip

After lecturing on witchcraft, Professor Alan Driscoll suggests Nan Barlow visit Whitewood during her vacation to study its history firsthand. He emphasizes the town's notoriety and the occult narratives surrounding it. Nan accepts the assignment as part of her research.

Nan Arrives at The Raven's Inn

Nan settles into The Raven's Inn, run by the eccentric Mrs. Newless, and becomes acquainted with Patricia Russell. Patricia lends Nan a book on witchcraft and hints that Candlemas Eve holds real significance in Whitewood. Nan's curiosity deepens as she prepares to uncover the town's secrets.

Lure to the Basement and the Sacrifice

Nan is lured to the basement where she is restrained on a satanic altar by Mrs. Newless and coven members. Mrs. Newless at last reveals herself as Elizabeth Selwyn and confirms the ritual plan. The ritual on Candlemas Eve proceeds as the coven closes in on its planned sacrifice.

Nan's Sacrifice is Carried Out

Nan's struggle ends as the coven completes the ritual for Selwyn. The basement darkens with chants as the victim is offered to the coven. Her disappearance leaves Nan's fiancé and brother with mounting fear back home.

Investigation Starts: The Inn's Disappearance

Two weeks after Nan vanishes, Bill Maitland and Richard learn that The Raven's Inn does not appear in any phone directory. Patricia approaches them with concern, and they decide to travel to Whitewood to search for Nan. The case turns increasingly dire as rumors of witchcraft resurface.

Bill Survives a Sinuous Car Crash

En route to Whitewood, Bill experiences a terrifying apparition of Selwyn that causes a near-fatal car crash. He survives but is gravely wounded, fueling the sense that the coven's power still stalks the town. The incident deepens the trio's resolve to uncover the truth.

Richard Encounters Patricia and the Reverend

Richard reaches Whitewood, reunites with Patricia, and they visit Patricia's grandfather, Reverend Russell. He reveals that Whitewood has fallen under Selwyn's coven control, linking the present danger to the ancient pact. The revelation confirms the town's malevolent ancestry persists.

Patricia Is Kidnapped; Graveyard Confrontation

Patricia becomes another coven sacrifice as the coven closes in. Richard makes a frantic attempt to save her, and they are cornered in the graveyard. The confrontation tightens the net around the town's cursed history.

Driscoll Exposed as Coven Member

Professor Driscoll is revealed to be a member of the coven, tying the academic world to the town's occult conspiracy. His involvement signals that the danger is not limited to the town's past but is active in the present. The revelation elevates the stakes for Nan, Bill, and Richard.

Bill Arrives with a Crucial Tool

A severely injured Bill arrives at the last moment and pulls a large wooden cross from the ground. He uses the cross to drive back the coven as Selwyn wounds him gravely. The artifact becomes a symbol of the town's salvation effort.