A movie about the allegedly only documentet case of a person being murdered by a ghost. In the year 1817 the Bells have an uninvited guest in their home in Tennessee. A poltergeist starts haunting their house, destroys the interior, disturbs the family members and puts an acid test on the parents (Donal Sutherland, Sissy Spacek) and their daughter Betsy (Rachel Hurd-Wood). Father John soon suspects the "visitor" could be the vengeful ghost of an alleged witch. But all the effort to get rid of the intruder goes to waste...

The two versions differ a lot from each other. Not only were new scenes added to the unrated version, many of the plot scenes have been reintegrated elsewhere into the film oder edited. While the poltergeist's first attack has been divided in the normal version, the scene is put together in the unrated version. The normal version still tries to seem to be a real story, e.g. by text overlays at the beginning and the end to make the movie seem much more authentic, the unrated version almost completely abandons this. The story's denouement at the end of the film was also edited strongly.

Unrated Edition: 01:30.47 Min. NTSC w/ credits
Theatrical cut: 001:23.21 Min. NTSC w/ credits

Unrated Edition: 01:24.33 Min. NTSC w/o credits
Theatrical cut: 01:17.13 Min. NTSC w/o credits


The US-DVD by Lionsgate (Unrated edition) has been compared to the US-DVD by Lionsgate (PG-13 edition).

00.00
PG-13
Logo: "After Dark Films"

00.21
PG-13
Two text overlays are shown during the opening credits, seperated by a scenery shot.
23 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 00.19
Time code PG-13: 00.48

PG-13:
The film's title is being faded in and slowly disappears out of the image from the next scene.
1 sec.

Unrated
Movietitle, followed by a black screen in which it disappears quickly.
3 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 01.45
Time code PG-13: 02.12

PG-13:
After the young girl fleed from something in her room, you see the door being torn from outside. The door is shown from further away.
2 sec.

Unrated
The same scene, but the door is closer here.
2 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 01.51
Time code PG-13: 02.18

PG-13:
The girl is shown in a medium long shot, the thing behind the door apparently calmed down. She approaches it, suddenly the ghost of another girl appears next to her.
14 sec.

Unrated
Here, the girl is shown in a close-up, the girl's ghost appears here next to her as well. This time, it does look like it was from the movie "The Ring", though.
2 sec.

02.52
Unrated
After Elizabeth calmed her down, she lies a little longer on her bed, huddled up.
3 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 03.01
Time code PG-13: 03.37

PG-13:
Medium long shot of Elizabeth sitting down at her desk. She looks very sad.
7 sec.

03.01
Unrated
Close-up of Elizabeth, here she pours out herself another glass of vodka and drinks a bit.
23 sec.

03.29
Unrated
You see Elizabeth's face a little longer before she grabs the doll lying on her desk.
3 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 03.36
Time code PG-13: 03.52

PG-13:
Elizabeth tells the puppet "I know the feeling".
3 sec.

Unrated
Elizabeth in a medium long shot, looking at the puppet. She tells it "I know how you feel".
5 sec.

07.29
Unrated
During the christmas party, you see dancing Betsy longer. Then again shortly John Bell, who looks around.
6 sec.

15.27
PG-13:
Betsy is lying in bed asleep. In the PG-13 version, something slowly drags away her blanket.
8sec.

07.43
PG-13:
Here, the two talk in their chambers about how well their life goes. John should talk to James about his drinking. It was also nice that Professor Powell showed up again and that Betsy slowly becomes a young woman.
64 sec.

08.47
PG-13:You see a church from far away. A carriage drives up. Then, the court case takes place.
5 sec.

12.27
Unrated
After the trial, there is a zoom-in to Betsy's face, then fade to black.
7 sec.

10.57
PG-13:
You see Elizabeth at her desk. She is reading an old book: "There was always talk of witches and that Kate Batts was probably one herself. But until she cursed our family and strange things began to happen, Id never believed it."
11 sec.

15.46
PG-13:
A hall clock, John Bell enters his daughter's room. He quickly looks around the room. He notices the blanket has slipped down and covers her again.
37 sec.

15.32
Unrated
Lucy wakes up and gets out of bed. Betsy walks to the window and looks into the darkness. She notices the wolf under her window. Suddenly, the window shutter slams. She goes back to bad and pulls the blanket up under her nose. You see Lucy, hugging her scared children. Back to Betsy's room, the window suddenly opens. Betsy looks around, but cannot see anything. She carefully checks under her bed and thinks looking into the wolf's glaring eyes. Lucy enter the room and hugs Betsy. They talk a little and leave the room together.
118 sec.

18.33
PG-13:
John Bell and his son are outside. John is armed with a rifle. They are looking for the mysterious sound from outside.
22 sec.

17.30
Unrated
Lucy Bell wants to go downstairs with her children. As they are descending, suddenly a bullet bursts through the main door. Everyone hugs scaredly. Then John comes in again, they all return to bed.
31 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 24.26
Time code PG-13: 18.55

PG-13:
After Betsy tries to flee from the sounds in her room, but finds out that the room's door is locked, you see her crawling back to her bed.
3 sec.

Unrated
Here, on the other hand, you see Betsy crawl onto her bed in a close-up.
5 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 24.41
Time code PG-13: 19.07

19.07
PG-13:
Additional camerapan through the room. Also, an alternate shot of Betsy.
5 sec.

19.16
PG-13:
The PG-13-version pans several times through the room as the poltergeist attacks. This is missing in the unrated cut. Camera pan to the puppet. Betsy is shown from above, then close-up. Another camera pan to the chimney, then again to Betsy and finally to the window.
20 sec.

19.28
PG-13:
An additional shot of Betsy in the bed.
1 sec.

19.35
PG-13:
An additional scene of John Bell und his son outside the house. Followed by an alternate shot of the darkness.
6 sec.

25.23
Unrated
The parents calm Betsy after the poltergeist's first attack, an additional shot of John Jr. entering the room.
3 sec.

20.27
PG-13:
In the PG-13 version you see an alternative shot of John Bell.
4 sec.

25.38
Unrated
John Jr. asks, whether everything was okay. John Sr. answers, she only had a bad dream.
10 sec.

26.02
Unrated
You see Betsy once more lying in her bed.
6 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 18.04
Time code PG-13: 20.46

PG-13:
Take of the Bells' house from a distance. The talk between John and Lucy Bell begins later than in the unrated version. It is longer, though. You see Lucy hugging her husband. Betsy is standing outside, listening at the door.
23 sec.

Unrated
Lucy says that she could have been killed by the miss, John plays that down. Then the part of the discussion about old Kate Batts' land and the curse she cast upon the family takes place.
37 sec.

21.22
Unrated
Betsy swings once more on the playground.
4 sec.

22.26
Unrated
John is outside again, deerstalking, he thinks he saw a girl in a white dress, but he is wrong. He then notices something on the roof. He raises his rifle, but there is nothing there. He lowers the gun.
46 sec.

27.27
PG-13:
During the Séance there is an additional shot of James.
1 sec.

29.30
Unrated
Here, a shot of James is missing, but the transition to the next scene depicting everyone sitting at the table, is longer in the unrated version.
1 sec.

23.12
Unrated
The door of Betsy's bed room is slowly opening.
1 sec.

27.53
PG-13:
After Lucy walks through the house, she checks Betsy once more through the door.
11 sec.

26.08
Unrated
After the ghost attack, Lucy and John Bell walk through the house and talk. John does not believe it was just a nightmare. He suspects old Kate Batts. He wants to go to her to have his revenge but his wife manages to bring him to reason. Subsequently, Professor Powell is seen at the window, he blows out the candles and leaves.
76 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 30.50
Time code PG-13: 28.58

PG-13:
The door of Betsy's bedroom is opened slowly.
5 sec.

Unrated
Here, it is being battered in.
3 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 30.53
Time code PG-13: 29.03

The camera moves towards sleeping Betsy, b/w shot.

no time difference

PG-13:	Unrated:

29.19
PG-13:
An additional camera pan through Betsy's room.
1 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 31.05
Time code PG-13: 29.18

Betsy looks through her room scaredly. This shot is in color in the PG-13 version and b/w in the unrated cut.
no time difference

PG-13:	Unrated:

29.22
PG-13:
An additional camera pan through Betsy's room.
1 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 31.08
Time code PG-13: 29.23

Betsy again, scaredly looking through her room.
no time difference

PG-13:	Unrated:

29.24
PG-13:
Again, an additional camera pan through Betsy's room.
1 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 31.11
Time code PG-13: 29.27

Another difference between colour and b/w.
no time difference

PG-13:	Unrated:

29.27
PG-13:
Again, another camera pan through Betsy's room.
1 sec.

31.45
Unrated
Camerapan towards startled Betsy in black/white.
8 sec.

32.25
Unrated
The unrated cut has a longer camera pan over Betsy, her mother and the rest of the family.
5 sec.

30.33
PG-13:
After the poltergeist's haunting, the window suddenly flies open.
1 sec.

32.32
Unrated
The same scene, but shown from a different perspective.
1 sec.

33.46
Unrated
He adds there has to be a logical explanation for everything.
3 sec.

34.58
Unrated
Professor Powerll also insists on everything having to have a logical explanation. James contradicts him.
5 sec.

32.59
PG-13:
An additional shot of Professor Powell.
1 sec.

35.34
Unrated
John Bell says he saw Betsy being hit, Professor Powell asks again if he saw who hit her. John negates.
6 sec.

35.42
Unrated
Professor Powell continues insisting it was no poltergeist. John and his son look desperately.
6 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 38.58
Time code PG-13: 36.38

PG-13:
Here is first "Remem" written, the rest of the word is being written by itself.
2 sec.

Unrated
There is already "Remember" written into the book here.
1 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 40.41
Time code PG-13: 37.59

PG-13:
As the poltergeist possesses Betsy again, the shot in which she breathes quickly is much longer.
10 sec.

Unrated
Lucy is standing in the door and watches what happens to Betsy.
2 sec.

38.16
PG-13:
Betsy writhes a little longer.
2 sec.

41.09
Unrated
Lucy wants to get to Betsy to help her but Professor Powell holds her back.
1 sec.

38.39
PG-13:
Another additional shot of Betsy on the bed.
1 sec.

41.14
Unrated
Betsy moans longer than in the PG-13 version.
3 sec.

41.17
Unrated
Professor Powell still holds on to Lucy.
1 sec.

41.23
Unrated
Lucy wants to get to Betsy but Professor Powell still holds her back. Betsy rolls her eyes.
5 sec.

38.43
PG-13:
Lucy enters through the door and sees Betsy writhing.
5 sec.

39.01
PG-13:
The poltergeist attacks again. Betsy fidgets in an additional shot on the bed.
5 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 42.43
Time code PG-13: 40.12

Tracking shot through the room across all the characters. Difference only in the color scheme.
no time difference

PG-13:	Unrated:

40.17
PG-13:
During the tracking shot through the room, the PG-13 version features an additional scene of James opening the book.
1 sec.

40.23
PG-13:
One more scene of James reading: "Destroy them! Cast them out!".
1 sec.

40.35
PG-13:
James reading again: "The foolish shall not stand".
2 sec.

41.58
PG-13:
Longer shots of John Jr. & Lucy. You also see the black maid. There is also a different shot during the explosion.
8 sec.

42.26
PG-13:
Back in the present time. An outside shot of the mansion. You see Elizabeth looking at children's photographs.
11 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 46.48
Time code PG-13: 44.30

PG-13:
Lucy and the maids clean the place in an additional shot.
1 sec.

Unrated
Lucy and the maids clean the place longer, John Jr. fixes a window.
12 sec.

47.01
Unrated
A stranger knocks at the door, a maid opens.
6 sec.

47.16
Unrated
The delivery of the bag is longer.
5 sec.

52.38
Unrated
In the PG-13 version, the outburst-scene is divided, in the unrated cut not. Here you also see:
John wants to go and shoot old Kate Batts. Lucy holds him back and says that he might be lynched for murder. She carefully takes the pistol out of his hand.
7 sec.

53.23
Unrated
The girl says that Betsy had no reason to be afraid because she was with her after all.
2 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 53.49
Time code PG-13: 50.50

The poltergeist terrorises the siblings.
no time difference

PG-13:	Unrated:

53.51
Unrated
The attack continues.
7 sec.

56.12
Unrated
After the hypnotizing-session, Professor Powell strokes through Betsy's hair once more.
1 sec.

56.46
Unrated
The tracking shot starts a little earlier.
5 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 57.09
Time code PG-13: 53.57

PG-13:
John Jr. says "What does it want?". You see James again, turning away scaredly.
4 sec.

Unrated
Here, the camera moves through one, though.
7 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 57.45
Time code PG-13: 54.29

PG-13:
After Betsy is being grabbed by the ghost and dragged out of the room, you see an additional shot of Lucy and her little daughter.
1 sec.

Unrated
Here, you see John running after Betsy on the other hand.
1 sec.

58.50
Unrated
Professor Powell is sitting longer at the table, studying his documents.
12 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 59.28
Time code PG-13: 59.01

John is completely desperate, he is sitting in church and talks to god. The only difference between PG-13 and unrated is, that it is mirror-inverted at two parts.
no time difference

PG-13:	Unrated:

01:01.05
Unrated
John and Professor Powell are sitting at the table and talk longer about the events and what may be behind them.
25 sec.

01:05.59
Unrated
As Lucy tries to flee, they are being attacked by a wolf. There is an additional shot of the wolf attacking the horse and bringing it down.
1 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 01:06.08
Time code PG-13: 01:05.15

PG-13:
Betsy is lying in bed, sleeping, her mother is with her. Here, Lucy watches in a sideways-shot.
2 sec.

Unrated
Lucy is looking into the camera here as Betsy awakens.
2 sec.

01:06.11
PG-13:
Full moon, Lucy goes through the house again. She notices unconcious Betsy in her bed and holds her in her arms, cryingly.
19 sec.

01:07.37
PG-13:
Lucy lays down to the girl in the bed and strokes her face.
5 sec.

01:09.31
PG-13:
Short tracking shot over the wild growing scrub.
6 sec.

01:10.46
Unrated
Lucy has visions of her daughters suffering.
13 sec.

01:12.06
Unrated
In the vision, Lucy covers the younger daughter with a blanket and enters the next room. Betsy is asleep, but a male figure is bowing over her. Through the candle's flame, Lucy cannot make out who it is. Startled, she drops the candle.
24 sec.

01:09.53
PG-13:
You see the hall clock and Betsy sleeping.
9 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 01.16.19
Time code PG-13: 01.10.15

PG-13:
Here, Betsy is lying under the blanket.
3 sec.

Unrated
Here, she is lying in her nightdress in bed, she is being covered with the blanket by a stranger.
35 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 01:12.35
Time code PG-13: 01:11.56

PG-13:
You see terrified Lucy a little earlier.
5 sec.

Unrated
A landscape shot, followed by terrifiedly looking Lucy.
4 sec.

01:16.02
Unrated
Betsy is sitting on the bed and crews out her hair. She is looking into the mirror and has a vision. Then, the scene shown earlier in Lucy's vision in the PG-cut takes place.
11 sec.

01:17.20
Unrated
Lucy is being dragged through the room in different shots by her father.
6 sec.

01:11.13
PG-13:
You see the puppet lying next to the bed.
2 sec.

01:18.10
Unrated
The ending of the vision was extended. The father is clearly depicted as the offender. Also, contrary to the PG-13 version, the regret over his deed is definetly visible.
61 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 01:19.25
Time code PG-13: 01.11.45

The unrated version adds a blood stain at two parts.
no time difference

PG-13:	Unrated:

01:19.34
Unrated
After John Bell has left the room, Betsy's ghost appears next to the bed. She says "Mama always was a heavy sleeper".
4 sec.

01:19.38
Unrated
The vision ends, zoom-out from the house. Betsy puts the mirror aside.
10 sec.

Alternative footage:
Time code UR: 01:20.14
Time code PG-13: 01:12.47

PG-13:
In revenge for her daughter's rapep, Lucy poisons her husband. Betsy's poltergeist appears, notices dead John, looks to Lucy, who is now sitting in the rockingchair and finally leaves the house.
99 sec.

01:20.14
Unrated
Here, Betsy herself takes revenge on her father. Lucy watches the scene from a rockingchair. Then, an explaining flashback in black/white takes place.
141 sec.

01:15.02
PG-13:
A tracking shot over the snowy landscape up to Elizabeth's house.
14 sec.

01:24.00
Unrated
Elizabeth drops the package as she notices Betsy's ghost.
1 sec.

01:24.25
Unrated
"This film is based on true events"
5 sec.

01:16.26
PG-13:
"Text overlay"
20 sec.

01:26.46
PG-13:
"Text overlay"
24 sec.

01:30.35
Unrated
Logo: "After Darks Films"
9 sec.