尖叫的头骨

讲述了Thefilmopenswithanarrateddisclaimeroverfootageofanopeningcoffin.Thenarratorexplainsthatthefilmsclimaxissoterrifyingthatitmaykilltheviewer,andreassurestheaudiencethatiftheydieoffrightwhilewatchingthefilm,theywillreceiveafreeburialservice,anditclosesonthecasketwhichhasacardinsidereadingReservedforYou.[1]NewlywedsJenni(PeggyWebber)andEric(JohnHudson)moveintoEricspalatialcountryhome.JenniisEricssecondwife;hisfirstwifeMariondiedwhensheaccidentallyslippedandhitherheadontheedgeofadecorativepondontheestate.AtthehometheymeetEricsfriends,theReverendSnow(RussConway)andhiswife(ToniJohnson),aswellasMickey(AlexNicol),thedevelopmentallydisabledgardener.EricprivatelymentionstotheSnowsthatJennispenttimeinanasylumfollowingthesuddendeathofbothherparents,andMrs.SnowrevealsthatJenniisverywealthy.JenniisdisturbedbothbyMickeysbeliefthatMarionsghostwanderstheestateandbyMarionsself-portraitinsidethehouse,whichJennibelievesresembleshermother.Whenshebeginstohearunexplainedscreamingnoisesandseeskullsaroundherhouse,shebelievesthatMarionishauntingher.ThoughEricspeculatestoJennithatMickey,whowasachildhoodfriendofMarionandthusdislikesJenni,maybebehindthetrickery,Jenniworriesthatsheisgoinginsane.EricthensuggeststoremoveMarionsself-portraitfromthehome.EricandJennitakethepaintingoutsideandburnit.Whiletheycleanuptheremainsofthepainting,askullemergesfromtheashes.WhileJennipanicsatthesightoftheskull,Ericdeniesthattheskullisthere.JennifaintsandEricwithdrawstheskullandhidesit,revealingthathewasresponsibleforthetrickeryallalonginanefforttogetholdofherwealth.Believingshehasfinallylosthersanity,Jenniresolvestobecommitted.ShetellsEricthattheentirepropertywillbemeticulouslysearchedfortheskullasalastresort.BeforeEriccanretrieveit,MickeysecretlystealstheskullandbringsittotheReverend,revealingEricsplans.Thatnight,EricpreparestomurderJenniandstageitasasuicide.JenniseesMarionsghostinMickeysgreenhouseandfleesbacktothehouse.Whensheenters,Ericbeginsthrottlingher.TheghostthenappearsandchasesEricoutsideandabouttheproperty;itfinallycornersandattackshim,drowninghiminthedecorativepond.AfterJenniregainsconsciousness,theSnowsarrive.Mrs.SnowcomfortsahystericalJenniandtheReverenddiscoversEricsbodyinthepond.Someundisclosedtimelater,JenniandtheSnowsdepartfromthehouse.ReverendSnowdeclareswhetherornotMarionsdeathwasanaccidentwillremainamystery.