Five college kids, one ghostly killer... you do the math.
Séance is a 2006 supernatural horror film, with some elements of the slasher genre.For as long as most people can remember, the Chelsea Building (former apartment, now a university dormitory) has been plagued by the spirit of a little girl, nicknamed "Chelsea" after the building. Few know the girl, actually named Cara Furia, lived in the building during the sixties, dying in 1965 when she fell down an elevator shaft when her mother was out, and while her older sister was asleep. Ever since then, Cara has stuck around for reasons unbeknownst to anyone but herself.By 2006, a girl named Lauren and her friends Alison and Melina have moved into Cara's old place. While Cara's antics (which consist primarily of making patterns on the bathroom floor) intrigue and frighten Lauren, her roommates are quick to dismiss them. When Thanksgiving weekend arrives, Lauren and her gal pals opt to stay on campus instead of going home, their only companions being middle-aged security guard Syd, Alison's boyfriend Diego (who is stuck pet sitting his roomie's parrot) and Grant, the reclusive boy who lives down the hall.After a bit of partying, and learning about Cara from Grant, Lauren and her roommates decide to hold a séance, led by Diego, a self-proclaimed expert on the subject (he wrote a term paper on spirits... it got a C-). When attempts to communicate with Cara prove futile, the group switch things up and try reaching out to James Spence, a deceased maintenance man who Grant's room used to belong to. Calling out to James actually works, and the group end up successfully summoning him. Unfortunately for them, it turns out James was a serial killer who was executed via the electric chair in 1973 when he was connected to the deaths of several children.He's glad to be back in his old home, with a boatload of fun powers at his disposal and... well, see the above tagline.
This film provides examples of the following tropes:
Drop the Hammer: The group try to trap James in a parrot, intent on killing it directly afterward with a hammer, thus also killing James. When this fails and Diego gets possessed, James gets one solid whack in with the hammer before Lauren stops him.
Drop What You Are Doing: Syd, when he realizes the person in the shower he was spying on was Diego.
Improvised Weapon: After her nightmare, Lauren wields a small fan while going into the washroom. James also makes use of a phone cord and a pair of scissors.
Make it Look Like an Accident: James finally decided to kill Cara by making it look like she fell down an elevator shaft.
Nice Job Breaking It Heroes: The séance, which was intended to be used to communicate with Cara, summons James. Later, when the group try forcing James into a parrot, the ritual is compromised, and gives James the ability to possess people.
Nothing Is Scarier: We don't see what James does to Alison, we just hear her begging him to stop, and see Cara scream in response.
Not Quite Dead: James... "survives" being electrocuted by a cable. Syd also lives despite all his injuries, only to later be possessed.
Our Ghosts Are Different: James can't be seen in the light, and can be hurt by what killed him (electricity, since he got the chair). Cara doesn't seem to follow the same rules, however.
Real Men Wear Pink: When he first appears, Diego has a pink robe (which he borrowed) on. He decides to keep it.
Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Instead of trying to help Lauren, Melina, and Syd in the basement, Grant runs off.
Serial Killer: Along with Cara, James raped and killed five other girls before being caught and executed.
The Scourge Of God: Played straight with most of the victims, but averted with Lauren and Meline. They both drink stolen whiskey, and the latter smokes a joint, yet they survive.
Shoot the Dog: One way to get rid of a ghost is by killing someone or something they possess (whether they do it willingly or by being forced to by a chant).
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