What Is The Collingswood Story About?
The premise of The Collingswood Story in 309 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the quiet town of Collingswood, New Jersey, a historic house becomes the unlikely backdrop for a modern coming‑of‑age story. Rebecca has just arrived to start her first year at Rutgers University, trading the familiar comforts of home for a cramped dormitory and a new, independent life. To stay tethered to the world she left behind, her boyfriend surprises her with a simple webcam, a device that promises to shrink the distance between two campuses and two hearts.
Johnny lives across the state, and their relationship quickly settles into a rhythm of late‑night video calls, shared playlists, and virtual tours of each other’s neighborhoods. Their digital intimacy is soon nudged by an enigmatic online psychic named Vera Madeline, whose charismatic presence turns casual curiosity into a tantalizing, if unsettling, thread of mystery. As the pair begins to explore the strange folklore whispered about Collingswood’s past, the lines between friendly investigation and dangerous obsession start to blur.
The film embraces a raw, found‑footage aesthetic, presenting the story entirely through the lenses of webcams, laptops, and handheld phones. This constraint creates a voyeuristic intimacy that pulls the viewer into the same fragmented, real‑time experience as the protagonists. The visual language is deliberately low‑key, letting ambient noises, flickering screens, and the occasional static crackle amplify the creeping sense that something unseen watches from the other side of the connection.
At its core, the narrative is a study of how technology can both comfort and betray, how the desire to know more about a place can lead us down unfamiliar corridors, and how the simple act of reaching out can open doors we never expected to find. The mood hovers between nostalgic college optimism and an eerie, slow‑building dread, promising a climax that will test the limits of trust, perception, and the very nature of what we choose to see on a screen.
What Happens in The Collingswood Story?
The complete story of The Collingswood Story, from the first scene to the last, in 633 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 4 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Rebecca Miles relocates to Collingswood, New Jersey to attend Rutgers University, renting a room in a historic house. On her twenty-first birthday, her boyfriend, Johnny Burton, gifts her a webcam so the two can maintain a long-distance relationship.
Johnny, via webcam, meets Grant Edmonds, the actor who plays Billy, and the online psychic Diane Behrens who goes by Vera Madeline, whom Billy claims contacted his deceased father.
Vera explains that Collingswood is well-known to psychics and mediums because of grim historical events tied to a secret society founded by a French immigrant named Alan Tashi. In the 1800s, Tashi is said to have murdered and mutilated nine girls—cutting out their eyes and slitting their mouths into grotesque smiles—before disposing of their bodies in a well nearby. When the townspeople attempted to seek vengeance, they found his home empty. In the attic, they discovered a wooden shaker toy but no sign of Tashi. Vera urges Johnny to have Rebecca contact her again for another session, suggesting that Rebecca is a sensitive and that she has important information for her.
Upon further investigation, Johnny discovers that the house Rebecca is living in was the site of a murder–suicide four years prior, in which a judge drowned his children in the bathtub before killing his wife and then himself. In crime scene photos published online, Johnny glimpses a wooden shaker toy. Armed with this knowledge, Johnny worries about Rebecca, who has been left alone in the house by the homeowners over the Halloween weekend. Rebecca begins to look for evidence of the supposed secret society in Collingswood. She records footage as she drives around town but is unable to locate the address of the original Tashi home.
On Saturday, which is Halloween, Rebecca again connects with Vera for a video conference. Rebecca inquires about the secret society Vera had told Johnny about; however, Vera denies having any knowledge of the matter and acts as though she has never spoken to Rebecca. Furthermore, she claims her psychic readings are for entertainment purposes only. Rebecca video calls Johnny to tell him about her call with Vera. While perusing the bookshelf in the den of the home, Rebecca finds postcards depicting a wooden shaker toy resembling the one left behind in Alan Tashi’s absence, as shown in the crime scene photos. Rebecca recalls that Vera spoke in French during one of their sessions and she begins to suspect that Vera might be a member of the secret society.
Johnny manages to contact Vera again, who tells him to get Rebecca out of the house and alludes to the fact that the secret society practiced rituals in the attic of the house. Meanwhile, Rebecca goes for a drive to get food. On the way home, she again attempts to locate the Tashi residence and manages to find it. When she returns home, Johnny tells her what Vera told him. A defiant Rebecca decides to explore the attic. Recording her endeavor with the webcam as Johnny watches she finds a secret room, where she locates a number of old photographs and occult paraphernalia. Her webcam stream is interrupted by a video call from Vera, who warns her to leave. Vera removes her sunglasses, revealing one glass eye—she explains that she narrowly escaped the cult, who cut out one of her eyes.
Vera’s call suddenly ends and Rebecca reconnects with Johnny. He watches as she attempts to flee the attic in a panic but is confronted by Alan Tashi. Simultaneously, an unknown figure emerges from the closed door behind Johnny and attacks him. The movie ends with an unknown figure taking the webcam to the wooden shaker toy, a shot of Rebecca smiling in the dark and a dead Johnny with his eyes cut out and a Glasgow smile across his face.
The Collingswood Story Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “Rebecca moves to Collingswood and rents an old house” to “Ending: the webcam is taken and tragedy darkens the scene”. 14 events name a place, across 12 locations.
- 1
Rebecca moves to Collingswood and rents an old house
Rebecca Miles relocates to Collingswood, New Jersey to attend Rutgers and rents a room in a historic house. On her twenty-first birthday, her boyfriend Johnny Burton gives her a webcam so they can stay connected over distance. This setup places her at the center of the town's eerie history.
When:Arrival / around her 21st birthday Where:Collingswood, New Jersey
- 2
Johnny meets Vera and others through webcam
Johnny, via webcam, connects with Grant Edmonds (the actor who plays Billy) and the online psychic Vera Behrens, who goes by Vera Madeline. They discuss past events and Vera claims to have communications with a deceased relative connected to Billy. The online interactions introduce the film's supernatural thread.
When:Early in the story Where:Online
- 3
Vera describes Collingswood's grim history and a secret society
Vera explains that Collingswood has dark ties to a secret society founded by a French immigrant, Alan Tashi. She recounts a legend of nine murdered girls and a wooden shaker toy found at the scenes. She suggests Rebecca may be a sensitive with information the group desires.
When:After initial online discussion Where:Online session
- 4
Johnny uncovers the house's murder–suicide past
Johnny discovers the house Rebecca rents was the site of a murder–suicide four years earlier, involving a judge who drowned his children and killed his wife before killing himself. Crime photos online show a wooden shaker toy as a clue. The revelation deepens the sense of danger for Rebecca.
When:Before Halloween weekend Where:Collingswood house
- 5
Johnny worries as Rebecca is left alone for Halloween
Johnny becomes increasingly worried about Rebecca after she is left alone in the house over the Halloween weekend. He fears the legacy of the secret society and Vera's warnings may put her in harm's way. This sets the stage for the investigation to intensify.
When:Halloween weekend Where:Collingswood house
- 6
Rebecca searches for evidence of the secret society
Rebecca starts investigating the secret society's lore, recording footage as she drives around Collingswood. She struggles to locate the original Tashi residence and becomes more entrenched in the mystery. The town's history becomes a living backdrop for her paranoia.
When:Halloween weekend Where:Collingswood
- 7
Halloween Saturday online call with Vera
On Saturday, Halloween, Rebecca connects with Vera for a video conference to ask about the secret society. Vera denies knowledge and claims her readings are for entertainment only. This exchange fuels Rebecca's suspicion that Vera may be connected to the cult.
When:Saturday, Halloween Where:Online
- 8
Postcards reveal the shaker toy and hints of a link
While perusing the den, Rebecca finds postcards depicting a wooden shaker toy identical to the one in the crime photos. She recalls Vera spoke in French during a session, which leads her to suspect Vera is connected to the secret society. The discoveries deepen the mystery.
When:Halloween weekend Where:Den
- 9
Vera warns Rebecca to leave and hints about attic rituals
Johnny calls Vera again, who warns Rebecca to leave the house and implies that the attic is used for cult rituals. Vera reveals she narrowly escaped the cult and had an eye cut out. The warning heightens the sense that danger is closing in.
When:Halloween weekend Where:Online call
- 10
Rebecca locates the original Tashi residence
Rebecca drives to locate the original Tashi residence and succeeds, linking the town's past to the looming danger. This discovery pushes her deeper into the mystery and sets up further discoveries in the attic.
When:Halloween weekend Where:Collingswood town
Show the other 4 events of The Collingswood Story Hide the last 4 events
- 11
Rebecca enters the attic and uncovers a hidden room
Returning home, Rebecca climbs to the attic, recording the moment with Johnny watching via webcam. She discovers a secret room filled with old photographs and occult paraphernalia that confirms the cult's reach. Vera interrupts with a warning to leave, amplifying the danger.
When:Halloween night Where:Attic
- 12
Vera exposes her eye and backstory during the attic call
During the attic sequence, Vera removes her sunglasses to reveal a glass eye, explaining she narrowly escaped the cult that cut out her own eye. The revelation heightens the sense that the cult operates beyond reason. The call adds a personal stake for Vera in the events.
When:Halloween night Where:Video call from attic
- 13
Confrontation with Alan Tashi and the attacker strikes
Rebecca's stream continues as she tries to flee the attic, but she is confronted by Alan Tashi. Simultaneously, an unknown figure emerges from a closed door behind Johnny and attacks him. The scene culminates in overt danger for both Rebecca and Johnny.
When:Climax Where:Attic and house
- 14
Ending: the webcam is taken and tragedy darkens the scene
The unknown figure drags the webcam toward the wooden shaker toy as the final image. The film ends with Rebecca smiling in the dark while Johnny lies dead with his eyes cut out and a Glasgow smile across his face, signaling the cult's victory.
When:End of film Where:Inside the house
Who Are the Main Characters in The Collingswood Story?
4 characters, among them Rebecca Miles (Stephanie Dees), John (Johnny Burton) and Vera Madeline (Diane Behrens): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- RM
Rebecca Miles (Stephanie Dees)
Played by Stephanie Dees
Rebecca is a driven college student who relocates to Collingswood to attend Rutgers. She believes she is a sensitive with important information to uncover and pursues clues about the secret society through surveillance and exploration. Her confidence faces fear as the attic and town history pull her deeper into the mystery.
- 🎯 Determined
- 🧠 Intuitive
- 🕵️♀️ Investigator
- J(
John (Johnny Burton)
Played by Johnny Burton
Johnny is Rebecca’s boyfriend who communicates with her via webcam from a distance. He is protective and pragmatic, trying to keep Rebecca safe and to warn her away from danger. As the mystery intensifies, he becomes a target, and his fate underscores the peril surrounding the house.
- 🛡️ Protective
- 🗣️ Risk-aware
- 🎭 Loyal
- VM
Vera Madeline (Diane Behrens)
Played by Diane Behrens
Vera is an online psychic who insists her readings are for entertainment but hints at deeper ties to Collingswood’s occult rumors. She warns Rebecca to leave and reveals her own history of escaping the secret society. Vera’s one glass eye becomes a striking symbol of the cult’s reach and trauma.
- 🧿 Mysterious
- ⚖️ Ambiguous
- 🧠 Insightful
- B(
Billy (Grant Edmonds)
Played by Grant Edmonds
Billy is the actor who plays a character named Billy, encountered by Johnny and Rebecca through webcam interactions. He talks about his deceased father and the darker side of the online world, hinting at larger conspiracies. His ties to Vera and the cult are left ambiguous, leaving his true role unsettled.
- 🎭 Performative
- 🕵️♂️ Ambiguous
- 🗝️ Connected
Where and When Is The Collingswood Story Set?
The Collingswood Story is set in Collingswood and New Jersey (21st century (present day)). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
21st century (present day)
The events unfold in contemporary times, with Rebecca using a webcam and online communications to connect with others. Halloween weekend in modern Collingswood heightens the atmosphere as digital tools intersect with age-old legends. The blend of current technology and occult history pushes the characters toward dangerous discoveries.
Where
Collingswood, New Jersey
Collingswood, New Jersey, is depicted as a historic town anchored by a venerable house Rebecca rents while attending Rutgers. The setting emphasizes old architecture, creaking attic spaces, and a local lore that hints at a darker past. A nearby well and the house's crime-history create a tense backdrop for the secret society rumors driving the story.
- 🏰 Historic town
- 👻 Haunted house
- 🗝️ Secret society
What Are the Themes of The Collingswood Story?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Secret Society, Technology vs Superstition and Haunted House.
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01
Secret Society
A pervasive mystique surrounds a clandestine group tied to Collingswood’s attic and well. The story links a series of historical murders to ongoing occult rituals, showing how rumors can escalate into real peril. The investigators seek truth through clues, yet the society remains elusive and dangerous. The narrative implies that some secrets leave enduring scars.
-
02
Technology vs Superstition
Webcams, video calls, and online readings propel the investigation, giving Rebecca both discovery and exposure. Digital tools expose hidden truths while also masking deceit, especially from Vera and the society. The tension arises from using modern tech to confront ancient dread, questioning what is real. Technology is both a bridge to truth and a portal to danger.
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03
Haunted House
The historic home exudes a haunted atmosphere, with the attic revealing occult paraphernalia, old photographs, and a wooden shaker toy linked to the past. A murder–suicide in the house’s history foreshadows present danger and family secrets hidden within the walls. Isolation and misdirection reinforce the sense that the house itself holds memories. The finale underscores how the house preserves trauma across generations.
What Kind of Film Is The Collingswood Story?
Tense in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Tense
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bleak
An intensely claustrophobic and paranoid horror experience that builds relentless dread through the intimate, voyeuristic lens of webcams, culminating in a shocking and bleak finale.
- claustrophobic
- paranoid
- anxious
- uneasy
- sinister
- unsettling
- online communication
- paranormal investigation
- ancient evil
- long-distance relationship
Content notes: mutilation, murder of children, murder-suicide, supernatural horror.
Quiz
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