Witchtrap 1989
Directed by
Kevin Tenney
Made by
Mentone Pictures
Witchtrap Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Witchtrap (1989). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Whitney O’Shay, Kathleen Bailey, is a clairvoyant who has always been wary of the pull her gifts exert. When Agnes Goldberg and Felix Goldberg, Judy Tatum and Rob Zapple respectively, nudge her toward embracing her abilities, she reluctantly agrees to join a high-stakes investigation. The target is a gothic Victorian home in Solano County, California, long rumored to be haunted by the spirit of Avery Lauter — a legendary illusionist, a man whispered about as a warlock, and a suspect in a string of grim killings. The team expands to include Ginger Kowowski, Linnea Quigley, a video technician who keeps the footage rolling, and a trio of wary operatives: Levi Jackson, Clyde Talley II, Tony Vincente, James W. Quinn, and a skeptical observer who questions every supernatural claim. Devin Lauter, Kevin Tenney, Avery’s nephew, hopes to reopen the house as an inn for paranormal tourists, but the plan stalls after the enigmatic magician Amazing Azimov, Richard Fraga, dies while spending the night inside the mansion.
An ill-starred séance sets the tone for what follows. Whitney experiences powerful visions of Avery, and tragedy strikes quickly—Ginger Kowowski is fatally impaled in the shower by a manifestation of Avery’s spirit. The group discovers Ginger’s body and quickly suspects the estate’s stubborn groundskeeper, Elwin, of the murder. When Levi attempts to leave to fetch help, Avery’s spirit seizes control of the car and kills him by running him down. The haunting intensifies as Avery’s vengeful presence reaches beyond the walls, killing Murphy and sparking a fierce quarrel between Agnes and Felix over the ethical boundaries of their pursuit.
The tension peaks as Elwin returns, firing at the group’s van and then turning his gun on Felix in a desperate bid to stop what might be a ritual. Whitney’s psychic flood deepens, and she becomes convinced that Avery is trying to complete a ritual that would grant him immortality. Agnes insists that the heart of Avery Lauter lies somewhere in the house, hidden behind a stone wall marked with a pentagram, and that recovering it could derail the fatal ceremony.
As the drama unfolds, Felix falls under Avery’s control, and Agnes presses the group to search the basement for the legendary heart. Behind a wall, a box containing Avery’s heart is found, and the ritual begins to unfold at a heartrending pace. Avery’s spirit seizes Whitney at intervals, and the possessed clairvoyant strikes down Felix in a brutal display of power, followed by a fatal hatchet blow that kills Agnes in front of the shocked survivors. Tony, ever the skeptic, fights to keep the investigation grounded even as Whitney’s visions insist on a supernatural explanation.
In a daring confrontation, Tony deploys an electromagnetic device intended to capture Avery’s energy field. Whitney warns that the device isn’t a permanent cage, but it buys them crucial seconds. The duo races to the attic, where Avery’s makeshift Satanic altar dominates the space. The basement device is eventually burned, and Avery’s spirit bursts free, attacking Whitney as the apparition regroups. A possessed Whitney drains Avery’s cremated remains from an urn, allowing the evil to return in a fully manifested form. Immortality gleams in Avery’s eyes as he is briefly impervious to bullets, but the plan shifts when Tony hurls the heart’s box from the attic window, shattering Avery’s connection to his physical form. The heart box explodes in a blaze of light, and Avery’s flesh dissolves, revealing Whitney alive and standing where the terror once took shape.
Dawn breaks as Whitney and Tony escape the crumbling estate in Levi’s car, leaving behind a house that bears the scars of a night-long battle with a fearsome, immortal force. In the quiet that follows, Tony resumes his security duties, but the echoes of the night linger: the memory of Avery’s menace haunts him, and civilians continue to flood him with tales of paranormal disturbances, ensuring that the legend of the haunted Lauter house never truly fades.
Witchtrap Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Witchtrap (1989) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Team assembles to investigate the haunting
Whitney O'Shay is recruited by Agnes and Felix Goldberg to use her clairvoyant abilities. Ginger Kowowski joins as the video technician, along with Murphy, Levi Jackson, and Tony Vicente, as they respond to Devon Lauter's haunted estate in Solano County. The group prepares to investigate the gothic Victorian home and the alleged crimes tied to Avery Lauter, a famed illusionist and suspected killer.
Failed séance reveals Avery and Ginger's death
An ill-fated séance overwhelms Whitney with visions of Avery. Ginger Kowowski is subsequently impaled to death by Avery's spirit in the shower. The group discovers Ginger's corpse and begins to suspect foul play tied to the haunting.
Levi's car is taken by Avery's spirit
Levi Jackson attempts to leave the house to notify authorities, hoping to bring help. Avery's spirit seizes control of Levi's car and drives it off course, resulting in a fatal collision. The group reels from the danger outside and redoubles their efforts inside the house.
Murphy is killed; tensions rise among investigators
Avery's malevolent presence claims the life of Murphy, heightening fear within the team. Agnes and Felix quarrel over the ruthlessness and methods required to pursue the investigation. The group grows more divided as the haunting intensifies.
Elwin attacks Tony in the basement
The groundskeeper Elwin launches a sudden assault on Tony Vicente in the basement, forcing him to retreat and raising questions about the estate's security. Elwin escapes after the confrontation, leaving the group unsettled. The violence underscores that not all threats are supernatural.
Whitney’s visions reaffirm Avery’s murders
Agnes and Felix calm Whitney as she experiences another psychic vision confirming Avery's murders. The team begins to suspect that the haunting is tied to a ritual and a malevolent attempt at immortality. Whitney's abilities become central to understanding the danger.
Elwin returns; van explodes and Felix is wounded
At nightfall, Elwin returns and fires at the group's van, blowing the gasoline tank and causing an explosion. He then shoots Felix in the leg, further crippling the group and escalating the peril around the home. The incident confirms that the danger comes from both human and supernatural forces.
Search for Avery's heart begins
Whitney theorizes that Avery seeks immortality through a ritual within the home. Agnes insists that Avery's heart must be hidden somewhere inside the house and linked to a pentagram-marked stone wall, setting a dangerous scavenger hunt in motion. The team starts to map possible locations for the artifact.
Heart behind the wall and Felix possessed
Felix becomes possessed by Avery, provoking Agnes to confront the truth that the heart lies behind a stone wall in the basement. Behind the wall, a locked box supposedly contains the heart. The possession intensifies the ritual's urgency and danger.
Avery fully manifests; Agnes and Felix die
Avery seizes control of Whitney intermittently, and Felix is killed as Avery hurls a hatchet into Agnes's head, ending her life. The ritual accelerates as Avery reveals his immortality myth. The group is left reeling from the rapid, brutal turns of events.
Tony uses an energy-capturing device
Tony deploys an electromagnetic device intended to capture Avery's energy field, trying to contain the evil force. Whitney warns him that the device may not be strong enough to hold Avery permanently. The attempt represents a last-ditch effort to stop the ritual.
Attic showdown and altar; Avery escapes energy trap
The team races to the attic where Avery's makeshift Satanic altar resides. The basement device is burned, releasing Avery as the energy trap fails. Avery bursts through the floor to attack Whitney, escalating the peril to a final confrontation.
Whitney's possession and the cremation ritual
A possessed Whitney consumes Avery's cremated remains from an urn, allowing Avery to re-manifest fully. He boasts of immortality as Tony fires at him, but ordinary bullets prove ineffective. The struggle culminates as Tony hurls the heart box from the attic window, triggering a dramatic collapse of Avery's presence.
Dawn departure from the house
At dawn, Whitney and Tony depart the house in Levi's car, leaving the estate behind for the moment. The danger seems to have subsided, but the memory of Avery's threat lingers. The departure marks a temporary end to the immediate haunting.
Aftermath: Tony resumes his security job
Some time later, Tony resumes his security work, though he remains relentlessly haunted by memories of Avery and the civilians who once sought help. Whitney also carries the psychological scars of the night and the near-miss of annihilation. The case leaves both of them changed, wary of the supernatural.
Witchtrap Characters
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Whitney O'Shay (Kathleen Bailey)
A clairvoyant who is reluctant to embrace her gifts. She experiences visions of Avery and becomes a central figure in the attempt to uncover the truth behind the hauntings. Her psychic abilities both propel the investigation and expose her to Avery's influence, culminating in a revelation about her own connection to the spirit.
Avery Lauter (J.P. Luebsen)
A famed illusionist, warlock, and suspected serial killer whose spirit lingers in the house. He seeks immortality through a ritual and possesses others to advance his plan. His malevolence drives the conflict, and his influence culminates in a battle for control of the living and the dead.
Agnes Goldberg (Judy Tatum)
A determined paranormal investigator aligned with Felix, driven by the pursuit of truth and a willingness to take ruthless measures. She believes cracking Avery's heart can halt the ritual, and she challenges skepticism within the group. Her resolve ultimately leads to a tragic confrontation.
Felix Goldberg (Rob Zapple)
A fellow investigator whose allegiance is tested by the haunting. He becomes possessed by Avery, illustrating how the supernatural threat can corrupt individuals. His arc emphasizes the peril of harnessing occult forces and the fragility of the investigators' grip on reality.
Ginger Kowowski (Linnea Quigley)
A video technician who documents the investigation. Her death by impalement marks one of the film's early shocks and demonstrates the immediacy of Avery's danger. She serves as a catalyst that deepens the group’s fear and urgency.
Tony Vincente (James W. Quinn)
Skeptical of the supernatural explanations yet willing to engage with the team to protect Whitney. He uses an electromagnetic device to trap Avery's energy, a key move in the fight against the haunting. His actions push the narrative toward a climactic confrontation.
Levi Jackson (Clyde Talley II)
A member of the group who plans to leave the property to notify authorities but becomes a casualty when Avery's influence turns the car against him. His fate underscores the pervasiveness of the haunting and the danger of attempting to escape the house.
Elwin (Hal Havins)
The groundskeeper who becomes entangled in the house’s violence and attempts to ambush the intruders in the basement. His presence highlights the old estate’s secrets and the unpredictable danger lurking within.
Devin Lauter (Kevin Tenney)
Avery's nephew who tries to reopen the house as an inn for paranormal tourists but halts the plan after Azimov’s death. He represents the modern impulse to commodify the supernatural, which the film critiques.
Azimov (Amazing Azimov) (Richard Fraga)
A magician enlisted to spend the night in the house, drawn into the occult danger. His presence marks the lure of showmanship and mysticism that accompanies the haunting, ending in a tragic death as the ritual progresses.
Frank Murphy (Jack W. Thompson)
A member of the investigative party who faces the escalating peril within the house. His fate mirrors the broader theme of danger that accompanies a pursuit of the supernatural.
Q.T. Secretary (Lynn McRee)
A staff member within the paranormal team, adding to the group’s dynamics and the operational side of the haunting investigation.
Q.T. Employee (Virginia Miller)
Another staff member assisting the team, contributing to the logistical aspects of the investigation and the sense of a professional operation.
Bartender (Greg Lewolt)
A minor supporting character who appears during the group's nocturnal activities within the house, contributing to the film’s texture of a lived-in, slightly chaotic investigation.
Witchtrap Settings
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Location
Solano County, California, Gothic Victorian home
The action centers on a gothic Victorian home located in Solano County, California. The house is presented as a place steeped in history, murder rumors, and occult activity. It becomes the focal point for the investigators and Avery's malevolent presence, shaping the eerie atmosphere. Its isolated setting amplifies the sense of danger and mystery surrounding the haunting.
Witchtrap Themes
Discover the main themes in Witchtrap (1989). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Supernatural
The film centers on supernatural forces that haunt the house and its inhabitants. Whitney's visions reveal hidden murders and past misdeeds, urging the team to confront cosmic threats beyond ordinary explanation. The line between belief and manipulation blurs as spirits exert influence over the living. Ultimately, the supernatural drive compels characters to face the consequences of meddling with occult power.
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Violence
Violence erupts as Avery's spirit possesses individuals and activates deadly traps within the house. Ginger is killed in a violent act, setting off a chain of fatalities among the investigators. Felix is briefly possessed and joins the body count, while Agnes falls to Avery's hatchet. The climax showcases ritual-driven murder and the brutal effort to stop it.
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Occult
The core conflict revolves around an occult ritual intended to grant immortality. Avery's heart, hidden behind a wall and behind a pentagram, becomes a critical objective. The make-shift Satanic altar, the occult device, and the ritual structure all underscore how ancient dark practices collide with modern investigative methods. The struggle centers on containing or destroying the occult power before it completes its transmutation.
Witchtrap Spoiler-Free Summary
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In the shadowed hills of Solano County, a Victorian house once slated to become a boutique inn has taken on a reputation that lures the curious and the unnerved. The building, with its creaking floorboards and candle‑lit parlors, feels less like a bed‑and‑breakfast and more like a character in its own right—a looming, gothic backdrop where the line between history and horror blurs. The atmosphere is thick with whispered legends of a malevolent presence, and the air itself seems to hum with an unsettled energy that sets the tone for a night that promises far more than ordinary scares.
The story follows Whitney O’Shay, a gifted clairvoyant who has always kept her abilities at arm’s length, wary of the pull they exert on the world around her. When she is approached by a pair of determined investigators—Agnes Goldberg and Felix Goldberg, both seasoned parapsychologists—their invitation to explore the house’s dark past forces her to confront the very gifts she has tried to suppress. Alongside them is Tony Vincente, a pragmatic police officer whose skepticism offers a grounded counterpoint to the supernatural agenda, keeping the group’s ambitions in check while supplying a dose of real‑world caution.
Together, they assemble a small, eclectic crew drawn together by curiosity, professional duty, and the promise of uncovering something beyond the ordinary. The dynamics are a tightrope of belief and doubt: the clairvoyant’s visions, the scientists’ empirical hunger, and the cop’s insistence on tangible proof create a tense, layered interplay that fuels the narrative’s suspense. The house, with its hidden rooms and lingering echoes, becomes the arena where these conflicting worldviews clash, each character’s personal doubts mirroring the broader question of whether some forces are simply beyond understanding.
As night descends, the line between investigation and terror begins to fade. The setting’s oppressive silence, punctuated by the occasional creak or distant whisper, amplifies the feeling that the house itself may be watching. In this uneasy truce between rational inquiry and the unexplainable, the team finds themselves drawn deeper into an experience that feels less like a game and more like a confrontation with an ancient, unsettling presence.
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