[opening theme music playing]
[Zak] For centuries, humans have attempted to achieve
so-called second sight.
The ability to see beyond the world outlined by our five senses.
One of the most common attempts to achieve this
is called scrying.
And when we scry, we use mirrors
or polished gemstones
to peer beyond the veil of reality.
I think it's possible
that scrying can open portals to the spirit world.
But once that portal is opened,
I believe it can be very difficult to close.
Now in 2016,
a woman brought me a mirror that she described as very "angry".
And in months previous she said that some sort of dark entity
had emerged from the mirror
and savagely attacked a member of her family.
She also told me that she had inherited the mirror
from her uncle who was a criminal lawyer
and aspiring movie producer.
He claimed it once belonged to Bela Lugosi,
the actor famous for introducing Count Dracula
to American movie audiences.
Now, allegedly, Lugosi was fascinated by the occult.
And it's possible that he may have used this mirror for scrying.
And if he did, perhaps he opened up a portal
that remains active to this day.
The woman also told me that in 1982,
her uncle was brutally murdered in his home
and that the perpetrator of the crime was never caught.
Now if the mirror captured the reflection of that murder,
is it possible that the dark energy released by that event
was trapped within it?
And, if so, is this force responsible
for the experiences so many have had
while looking into it?
We might never know the answers to these questions.
But the following story was inspired by real events
surrounding this mirror.
[man] The hell?
No.
Get out! Get out!
Get off of me!
[breath trembling] Let me go!
No, please!
[grunting]
[screams]
Please!
[screams]
[cries out in pain]
[gunshot]
[violin plays]
Well done. We'll see you tomorrow.
[Cindy] Did you call your mom?
[Zoe] No, not yet, Aunt Cindy.
A full scholarship, that would be amazing.
Yeah.
Today was easy. Tomorrow is the hardest part.
-[Cindy] The sight-reading? -[Zoe] Yeah.
They could ask me to play anything.
I mean, I know a lot of music,
but there is no way to prepare.
You've been preparing since you were three.
I'm pretty sure you'll be perfect.
Irene!
Come set the table please. Dinner in 10.
[Irene] Mom, if Zoe's gonna take up half of my room,
she should have to do half of my chores too.
[Cindy] Okay missy, just set the table please.
[doorbell rings]
Honey, can you get it?
-[Zoe] I'll get it. -[Cindy] Thank you.
Let's see what this is.
Oh, there's a letter.
[Irene reading] Dear Cindy,
I was cleaning up the basement last week and found this.
Thought it might bring back some happy memories.
Oh my gosh!
It's from Aunt Joan. Oh my, I can't believe it!
What's the big deal? it's just a mirror.
You don't understand.
This used to belong to your great uncle Bob.
Me and your mom used to go visit him in LA every summer.
Mom's never mentioned him.
-[Cindy] Really? -[Zoe] No.
You girls would've loved him.
He was a lawyer
but he was really into movies and he wanted to produce them.
There were posters and props all over his house.
But this,
this belonged to his favorite actor
Bela Lugosi.
Who?
You know,
[mimics Slavic accent] Dracula. [laughs]
You know where it would look really good?
Irene's room.
No, Irene doesn't want...
Yes I do! Zoe's right.
And I know just where to put it.
Okay, a touch left.
No a little, ugh.
-Okay, okay, right. -[Cindy] Mm-hmm.
Okay wait, stop. Perfect. Yes.
-[Cindy] So worth it. -Okay.
-See, perfect spot. -[Cindy] It looks really good.
-[smoke detector beeping] -Oh, stir-fry!
[Irene] Oh!
[ominous music playing]
[Cindy] Zoe! Dinner!
Coming.
You ready?
No.
You're not nervous?
Of course I'm nervous.
All I need to do
is read the notes and play them perfectly.
Piece of cake.
Yeah well it's a lot harder than it sounds.
I would give anything
to know what I'm playing tomorrow.
I bet you're gonna be great.
It'll be so cool finally having you around.
We could like, go to the nail salon.
And get our hair done.
Oh! We can go to the mall and shop for clothes.
We can go pick up new pillows for the bed...
[voice fades]
Nice to see you again.
[string breaks]
[gasps]
Oh my God, are you okay?
Yeah, I'm, I'm fine.
Are you sure? That looks pretty bad.
No, I'm fine. I'm fine.
I was, I was just thinking about tomorrow.
[Cindy] Hey maestro.
What happened? What is that?
[Zoe] Oh, I'm fine.
[Cindy] Let me get you some ice. What did you do?
Nothing. Just a curling iron.
[Cindy] Here. Put that on.
Thank you.
[Cindy] Can I do anything else?
Well...
You can talk to me sweetie, tell me.
I think we should move the mirror.
Why? You were so excited about it.
I know, and it's beautiful.
It's just, I think you should get to enjoy it too
and I mean, I didn't even' know your uncle.
Well, you were just a little girl when he died.
Let's not talk about that.
You need to get ready for your audition.
Did something bad happen?
[sighs]
[sniffles]
I just miss him, you know.
Yeah, of course.
Can I get you some eggs before you go?
Oh no, uh, it's okay.
I should get going. I have to warm up.
Okay honey, good luck.
Thank you.
Break a leg.
Zoe, wait!
You're gonna kill it.
They shot him in the head.
What? Seriously? When?
1982, I think. They never caught the guy.
It was in the newspaper. Crazy, right?
Yeah.
You better go. You're gonna be late.
Yeah, okay.
-[Irene] Good luck! -[Zoe] Thank you!
Nice to see you again.
[Cindy] Hello?
-Aunt Cindy? -Hi, hon.
It was amazing.
Oh my God, that's incredible.
I couldn't have done it without you.
Thank you so much for letting me stay at your house.
You're the best.
[Cindy] I'm always here for you, sweetie.
Your cousin loves having you here.
We both do.
Oh, this is so exciting!
You worked so hard for this.
Irene is going to be so happy.
Are you on your way home?
-Zoe? -Yeah!
I'll be home soon.
I just have to run some errands.
Okay, bye.
[dramatic music playing]
Oh my God.
[screams]
[mirror breaks]
I'm so sorry, I'll pay for it.
[man] Keep your money.
Seven years bad luck is punishment enough.
That stuff's not real.
Hmm, you'd be surprised.
You looking for something?
What's with all the mirrors?
[man] Mostly decoration.
Some people still use them for scrying.
[Zoe] What?
Scrying. Never heard of it?
No.
Supposedly,
if you gaze into a mirror long enough
you can open a portal to different dimensions.
That's scrying.
Communicating with spirits.
Talking to a family member or lost lover.
Or maybe something...
something much worse.
Maybe.
We've been trying to communicate with the dead forever.
Since back with the Mayans.
The Mayans didn't have mirrors.
No, but they did look into polished bronze.
Or into reflective pools of water.
It's the same idea.
Is there someone you're trying to connect with?
No. Why?
Well, you're here.
It means you're at least curious.
[Zoe] Oh my god! I did it!
I was so perfect.
You live in my bedroom and my bathroom.
Can I get a second away from your perfect little life?
What?
My God, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean ...
Well, you did.
Thank you.
Hey, Irene,
are you okay?
Do you want to talk about it?
[ominous music playing]
[screams]
It's not real. It's not real.
[Zoe] Hey.
Look what the cat dragged in.
I need your help.
You said people can use mirrors as portals.
I believe that's true.
So, could a spirit get stuck?
It's possible.
The portals can trap energy if it's intense enough.
And if the portal saw something horrible...
[gunshot]
could that dark energy attach itself to the mirror?
Did it do that to your neck?
What are you gonna do?
I don't know. Break it?
That should close the portal, right?
I wouldn't do that.
You'll more than likely just piss it off.
Piss what off? What the hell is happening to me?
Something in here might help.
No promises.
You know,
sometimes people just find it easier to live with it.
There's a lot of scary stuff out there.
Be careful.
Circle of reflection, circle of affection
may the evil doing harm
-cease to haunt upon this charm. -[electricity crackling]
Someone's still in here.
Can you please turn on the lights?
[ominous music playing]
[thud]
Hello?
Is anyone there?
What the hell is going on?
Hello?
[screams]
Help! Please!
Somebody!
Help!
[crying] No, please don't!
Please stop!
Please! Please stop!
-No! Please! -[gun cocking]
No!
[Irene knocking on door] Zoe, open the door!
Please, Zoe, open the door!
Zoe!
What is going on?
Are you okay?
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah!
[Cindy] Hey, sweetie.
What's wrong?
Aren't you worried about Zoe?
No, should I be?
She's been acting so strange lately.
Like totally just not herself.
You know Zoe.
She thinks she has the weight of the world
on her shoulders all the time.
Yeah, I guess.
You know, she could really use our support right now.
It's what family's for, right?
-I love you. -I love you too.
I'm gonna go check on Zoe.
You can go make some dinner, okay?
I'm gonna stay here for little bit.
Okay.
-Zoe. -[gasps]
It's okay! It's only me.
It's okay darling.
-It's a bad dream. -Okay.
-You're okay. -Okay.
Oh honey. You're okay.
[sobs]
You're good, you're good.
It's okay.
You're okay.
It's just a dream, okay?
-Okay. Okay, okay. -Okay.
Come on.
Okay I'll call you in a bit.
Circle of reflection, circle of affection,
may the evil doing harm
cease to haunt upon this charm.
The vile deeds cast on me,
be returned to thee times three.
Head to toe, skin to bones,
shut this door and keep it closed.
Circle of reflection,
circle of affection,
may the evil doing harm,
cease to haunt upon this charm.
The vile deeds cast on me,
be returned to thee times three.
Head to toe, skin to bones,
shut this door, and keep it closed.
Circle of reflection, circle of affection,
may the evil doing harm,
cease to haunt upon this charm.
The vile deeds cast on me,
be returned to thee times three.
Head to toe, skin to bones,
shut this door and keep it closed.
[breathing heavily]
[sighs]
No.
[gunshot]
[screaming]
[Cindy] Zoe! Zoe!
Look at me!
It's okay, you're gonna be okay! I promise, I promise.
Irene! Come quick!
No, no, no, look at me, look at me!
-Look at me. You're gonna be okay. Call an ambulance. -[Zoe crying]
Now! Go call an ambulance!
Okay you're going to be okay. I promise, I promise, okay?
No, look at me, look at me, look at me!
Look at me. Keep looking at me. Zoe, Zoe! Zoe!
Zoe, no! Zoe! Zoe!
Look at me! Zoe! Zoe!
[siren wailing]
[cries] No!
[sirens continue]
[dramatic music playing]
[music stops]
[ominous music playing]
[closing theme music playing]