Dreams in the Witch House
Walter begins to worry about Epperley as she starts to pass away. He promises not to let her go, but it’s no use. She’s taken away before his very eyes.
Walter begins to doubt the medium’s abilities and decides to end the relationship.
Walter, a part-time bartender, hears two men talking about a “other dimension” and becomes interested. ..
Walter interviews the man outside who admits that the portal is real. In fact, what’s behind is a forest for lost souls; a sort of limbo area for those who aren’t ready to move on. The man tells Walter that the portal leads to a place where people can go if they’re ready to leave their troubles behind.
Walter wants to find a way to cross over, and he’s eventually given a vial of Liquid Gold, along with a warning not to cause any ripples. When he reawakens, Walter finds himself in a strange ethereal realm where nothing is quite what it seems. Vines wrap hungrily around his wrist and pull him into the forest, where the stumps of trees stick out like tombstones.
Walter follows the sound of singing to a young Epperley, whom he eventually finds. However, the vines grab him and pull him back to reality. ..
Walter realizes that he has a way of returning to his beloved, Keziah Mason. He spends more time researching her life and finds out that she was killed for being a witch, but she believed vehemently that there was a portal allowing you to cross over. Walter is able to find her body and bring her back to life using the power of the portal.
Walter is banished from his own society after his actions, and told to return “when he’s an honourable man again.” ..
Walter continues to research this house and its strange goings on, unaware that he’s being stalked by a shadowy figure with glowing eyes. This figure comes to him while he’s suffering from sleep paralysis that night. It’s Keziah, and worse, a rat with a human face shows and retorts how this is the one they’ve been waiting or, someone who will apparently free them from this waking hell.
Walter wakes up in the same house he fell asleep in. He takes a drink from the Liquid Gold and returns to the forest. He tries to save his sister, but realizes she wants to return too. “I will have you,” The witch rasps, and proceeds to kiss Walter hard. Epperley saves his brother’s life at the last second and they hurry away. ..
Walter has left a ripple in the world, and with Epperley back, that also means Keziah has returned too. This is all part of a prophecy – for the dead to remain whole, the living must die. And as Epperley and Walter are twins, that would denote that Walter needs to die for Epperley to return. And the killer? None other than Keziah herself. “The witch will have you dead by sunrise,” The medium says, as Walter is frantic and desperate to keep his sister alive.
Frank races to the church, hoping to find sanctuary and protection from the Witch. When he arrives, he finds that the Sister has already been killed. The Witch begins to attack Walter, controlling his body and forcing him out of the church. ..
Just before Keziah kills Walter, Epperley gets involved and moves her hand, causing Keziah to stab herself in the head. With that, the witch turns to ash and disappears. Epperley also disappears, but she smiles and tells Walter that she’s finally free before vanishing. ..
Some time later, Frank sits by Walter’s side while he’s bedbound, pointing out how no one will ever know what he’s been through. However, something appears to be stirring in the attic. When Frank heads up, he finds the witch’s remains rotting away.
Frank’s investigation is interrupted by Walter screaming that there’s something inside him, prompting Frank to head back downstairs. In true Alien fashion, the human rat bursts out his chest and rushes away, giggling and cheering. Unfortunately, the witch has won and had her prize; Walter is dead by sunrise. ..
Walter’s body comes back to life, and the rat that was controlling it takes control of Walter’s body again. The rat decides to ride this body for as long as it can. ..
Del Toro’s film is a mix of fantasy and horror, with a focus on the latter. The story is simple but effective in conveying that sense of urgency and helplessness.
The Cabinet of Curiosities ended its double bill with a decent chapter. While it’s far from perfect, there’s certainly enough here to whet the appetite for the next two episodes dropping tomorrow. ..
