🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Alistair Legrand
- Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
- Release year: 2015
- Runtime (length): 1h 26min
- IMDb rating: 4.7/10 (7.8K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 20%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A single mom fights ghosts that turn out to be her angry son from the future, who she then cuddles with to erase him from existence, which somehow fixes everything without causing a paradox.
🍿 The Diabolical: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Initial Haunting and Financial Struggles
Madison, a single mother, is battling financial hardship and raising two children in a house plagued by increasingly violent paranormal activity. Nightly, she and her children are terrorized by grotesque apparitions, leaving them exhausted and desperate. Madison seeks help from paranormal investigators, but they flee in terror, leaving her to face the horrors alone.

Seeking Scientific Explanations
Madison turns to Nikolai, her son’s science teacher and a former scientist, for help. He brings in equipment to record and analyze the paranormal events. Meanwhile, a real estate agent pressures Madison to sell her property, hinting at ulterior motives and future plans connected to her land. This adds another layer of stress to Madison’s already dire situation, as she is seemingly trapped in her haunted home.

Unveiling Project Echo
Through their investigation, Madison and Nikolai uncover a connection to a company called CamSET and a project called ‘Project Echo.’ They discover that Nikolai was involved in this project, which experimented with teleportation using human subjects. As they delve deeper, they realize that the paranormal events may not be supernatural at all, but rather a consequence of these dangerous scientific experiments gone wrong. The apparitions are becoming more tangible and violent, threatening their lives.

Confrontation and Time Travel Twist
Madison and Nikolai decide to fight back against the apparitions, setting traps and arming themselves. During a confrontation, the real estate agent is killed by one of the entities. As they seemingly defeat the apparition, Madison is fatally wounded. In a desperate attempt to save her son, she grabs onto the entity and is transported to the future, revealing the source of the haunting and the true nature of the apparitions.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Madison (Ali Larter): A struggling single mother who must protect her children from a terrifying presence in their home that turns out to be more than paranormal.
- Nikolai (Arjun Gupta): Madison’s scientist boyfriend who helps investigate the strange occurrences and uncovers a connection to his past research.
- Jacob (Max Rose): Madison’s troubled son who becomes entangled with the mysterious forces at play in their home.
- Haley (Chloe Perrin): Madison’s younger daughter who is initially perceived as having an imaginary friend that may be linked to the haunting.
- The Prisoner (Kurt Carley): A mysterious, scarred figure from the future, repeatedly teleported to the house to terrorize Madison and her family as part of a scientific experiment.
- Austin (Patrick Fischler): A representative from a company trying to buy Madison’s property, hinting at sinister motives and involvement in the events unfolding.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Madison: “It’s not real.” – Madison repeats this mantra to herself in the beginning, attempting to ward off the apparitions.
💰Box Office
- Budget: Unknown
- Domestic Gross: Unknown
- Worldwide Gross: $269,458
💥 The Diabolical Reviews
Personal Review
Okay, so I went into this movie expecting a spooky ghost story, but it took a wild turn into sci-fi territory! At first, I was totally confused, but the more I watched, the more I wanted to know what was going to happen. The twist with the son from the future definitely surprised me, but the end was very abrupt and I wish there was more explanation. I felt bad for Ali Larter’s character, Madison. She’s dealing with so much as a single mom, and then this crazy stuff starts happening in her house. The scene where the creature crawls out of the dryer really freaked me out! Overall, it’s a flawed movie, but still entertaining in a weird way. I would say its worth a watch.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of low-budget horror films”
- “Viewers who enjoy movies with sci-fi twists”
- “Those interested in paranormal stories with unique explanations”
- “People looking for a different take on the haunted house theme”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Violence and gore”
- “Scary images and jump scares”
- “Brief language”
- “Disturbing themes of time travel and experimentation”
Professional Reviews
- Bloody Disgusting: “Despite a promising premise, ‘The Diabolical’ stumbles with its confusing plot and reliance on jump scares. Ali Larter tries her best, but the messy storytelling and uninspired creature design ultimately disappoint, making for a forgettable horror experience.
- IMDb User Review: “What starts off as your typical new house haunted ghost transforms into a sci-fi mess and a ridiculous tie in to the scientist and a time paradox that would put all to shame. The writers sure didn’t. Check it out and maybe you have a theory since the writers sure didn’t.
- Film Threat: “The Diabolical attempts to blend the haunted house genre with sci-fi elements, resulting in a mixed bag. While the concept has potential, the execution is uneven, with a convoluted plot that struggles to maintain suspense. A valiant effort, but ultimately falls short.
Audience Reactions
Some viewers enjoyed the unexpected twist into science fiction, finding it creative and different from typical horror movies.: The acting was praised by some, especially Ali Larter’s performance, despite the negative reviews.
Overall Consensus: Mixed reviews, with some appreciating the attempt to blend horror and sci-fi, while others criticized the confusing plot and execution.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “The film blends elements of the haunted house genre with science fiction, aiming for a unique twist on familiar tropes.”
- “Director Alistair Legrand wanted to create a sense of unease and tension by gradually revealing the true nature of the threat.”
- “The low budget required creative solutions for special effects, relying on practical effects and clever camera work.”
🖥️ How to Watch The Diabolical?
As of October 2024, ‘The Diabolical’ is available for streaming on various platforms like Tubi with ads. Check JustWatch or similar services to find current rental and purchase options on platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play Movies. Be sure to compare prices across platforms to find the best deal.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed The Diabolical, you might like these similar films:
- The Pact (2012): Similar slow-burn horror with a focus on character and a twist that subverts expectations.
- Dark Skies (2013): Family being terrorized by an unseen presence, slowly uncovering the truth behind it.
- Beyond the Black Rainbow (2010): Explores themes of scientific experimentation and altered states of consciousness in a visually striking way.
🛒 The Diabolical Related Products
- Funko Pop! Movies: Horror – The Nun: A cool addition to a horror-themed collection, inspired by the scary movie series.
- Ring Video Doorbell – 1080p HD video: Help increase your sense of security like Madison in the movie, with enhanced features that let you see, hear, and speak to anyone from your phone, tablet, or PC. Includes improved motion detection, privacy zones and audio privacy, and crisper night vision.
- Echo Dot (5th Gen, 2022 release) | Smart speaker with Alexa: Like in the movie, connect to Alexa to play music, audiobooks, and podcasts throughout your home with multi-room music. Plus, Alexa can answer questions, tell jokes, read the news, set alarms, and more.
- Halloween Animatronics Decorations 6.5Ft: 6. 5Ft Halloween Decorations Animated Witch, Halloween Haunted House Decor with Sound Light Sensor
🎧 Soundtrack
The Diabolical features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
‘The Diabolical’ is a horror-sci-fi film about a single mother and her children who are terrorized by paranormal events in their home. They soon discover that the haunting is connected to a scientific experiment involving time travel and teleportation.
While it initially appears to be a ghost story, ‘The Diabolical’ takes a sci-fi turn, revealing that the haunting is caused by time travel experiments gone wrong. It blends elements of both genres.
The ‘ghosts’ are actually test subjects from the future who are being teleported back in time. One of these subjects is Madison’s son, Jacob, from the future, who has been brainwashed and turned into a weapon by a corrupt corporation.
While specific filming locations are not widely publicized, ‘The Diabolical’ was filmed in the United States.
🔥 Bonus Content
The Diabolical (2015) Explained in Hindi | The Diabolical Ending Explained Hindi Detailed
Confused about the ending of The Diabolical? This video breaks it down in Hindi, explaining all the key plot points and leaving no stone unturned. Seriously, this explanation is so thorough, it’s like having the director explain it to you!
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