[3][4] It follows a young girl who, after being released from a psychiatric hospital following her mother's death, begins to experience strange events in the family's mansion.

Three years later, her adolescent daughter, Susan, has been released from a psychiatric hospital, where she was incarcerated after suffering a nervous breakdown.

Though deemed mentally healthy, Susan is still confused about the details of her mother's death, and is unable to remember the events of the night she died.

Upon release, Susan is read her mother's will, which details her inheritance of hundreds of thousands of dollars, which she will receive in full at age twenty five.

It is also stipulated that Susan can remain in the family's home for as long as she would like, but that its various contents will first need to be auctioned, generating income that Edward states he needs due to bad business dealings.

Later, the venal Francene suggests Edward have Susan recommitted in order for him to gain control of her trust fund.

One night, Susan finds a portrait of her mother bleeds after she scratches it, and she is subsequently met by an apparition of Jessica which bursts into flames before her eyes.

While fighting in the bedroom, Susan renders Francene unconscious, knocking over a candle and igniting the bed in flames.

Gene Tierney was originally announced for a lead role[5] and Hedy Lamarr was signed to support Ameche and Hyer.