- A separated couple attempts to keep their friendship alive by video chatting. But a chance encounter with an online psychic initiates a disturbing reign of terror.
- When Rebecca went away to college her boyfriend John thought webcams would help them stay in touch. But idle curiosity leads to a dark secret when they video chat with Vera Madeline, an online psychic, who initiates a deadly reign of terror over their lives. Years before Zoom and FaceTime the acclaimed film THE COLLINGSWOOD STORY (2002) created an instant sensation: a feature film cleverly comprised of video chats. Sundance/Cannes filmmaker Mike Costanza helped pave the way for films such as PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, HOST, AND UNFRIENDED. THE COLLINGSWOOD STORY stars Stephanie Dees (HALLOWEEN IV), Johnny Burton, Grant Edmonds, and Diane Behrens (GAS FOOD LODGING, BIG LOVE, MONEYBALL.). COLLINGSWOOD screened at festivals including Frightfest in London and The Fearless Tales Film Festival in San Francisco and won the Best Cast and Best Indie Film Awards.
- Rebecca Miles has left her hometown of Bedford, Virginia, to attend college in Collingswood, New Jersey. For her 21st birthday, her boyfriend John gifts her with a webcam so they can stay in touch. Rebecca rents a room in a historic house in Collingswood and gives John a video tour of her new space. Rebecca inadvertently mentions that the owners of the house are away for the weekend. John is taken aback: why didn't she invite him down knowing they would have the entire house to themselves? Rebecca claims she's stressed with homework and promises John that next weekend he can come up to party.
John's slacker friend Billy surmises that Rebecca must be seeing someone else that's why she didn't invite John to NJ. John tells Billy that the only reason she left Bedford was to get away from her lecherous stepdad. Billy tells John the only reason he got Rebecca the webcam was so that he could "stalk her online!"
Later Rebecca thanks John for making her birthday a special one. John informs her that it's not over yet. For her "birthday entertainment" John has lined up several webcam characters for Rebecca to visit online including a hokey psychic, Vera Madeline. After video chatting with an oddball exhibitionist and an offbeat singer, Rebecca is all too eager to video chat with the medium. Rebecca initiates the video chat with Vera Madeline who is viewed in silhouette with a multitude of burning candles lit behind her. A tape recording of Vera's voice plays which details her services including a "seance experience". The recording also includes Vera's disclaimer that it's for "entertainment purposes only". When Rebecca is asked for her first name she replies "Lisa" in an effort to keep her real name private. Vera's voice on the recording informs Rebecca that she can contact "D.P's". Rebecca is confused and asks what that means. Vera lights a candle illuminating her face and replies: "Dead people". After a couple underwhelming comments Vera suddenly taps into dark trouble. She asks Rebecca if something disturbing recently happened with a family member. A sudden wind begins blowing the candles behind Vera who grows frightened. She calls Rebecca by her real name and informs her that she is very receptive. Vera wants to continue with the reading Rebecca declines and ends the video chat.
Rebecca tells John that her reading was pretty lame especially with the candles suddenly blowing in the background. However, somehow Vera knew her real name. Rebecca then realizes that people can use their Caller ID with the video chat software and laughs it off with John. It's now John's turn to have a reading. John tries to refrain from laughing during Vera's recorded spiel. He is on to her cold reading until Vera suddenly goes into a trance whereby she has a message for his friend Rebecca. Vera informs John that in the mid 1800's a man by the name of Alan Tashi murdered nine girls in a cult ritual. He then disposed of the bodies in a well on his property. After the bodies were discovered a lynch mob was after Tashi but he barricaded himself inside the house and hid in the attic. But when the authorities gained entrance Tashi had disappeared without a trace. The only thing they found in the attic was a child's toy, a stick of wood with a demented pumpkin face on it, a Halloween shaker. She tells John the cult still exists in Collingswood and Rebecca is in danger.
John quickly informs Rebecca what Vera revealed about the cult. Rebecca is reluctant and believes it's a scam by the psychic to get them to pay her to go on about the "story". Rebecca informs John that she must get back to her homework.
John searches on the internet all about Collingswood, New Jersey, and discovers that the house Rebecca has moved into was once the scene of a horrific murder/suicide. Just as Rebecca is about to climb into bed for the night, John informs her that in the very same house she is in, a judge killed his wife and children before killing himself. He then informs Rebecca that the judge was a member of the cult and Vera was right. The cult still exists. Rebecca becomes unnerved and John suggests they keep their cams on all night so he can watch over her. Rebecca agrees and climbs into bed weary and frightened. She tells John she needs to be up by eight AM as the college library closes early on Saturday. John agrees to wake her up.
In the middle of the night Rebecca is awoken by a nightmare in which she catches a glimpse of the sinister Halloween shaker.
Safe in the morning Rebecca hurries off to the library and John gets ready for work. Before he leaves for his warehouse job John continues his search online. He finds crime scene photos from the house Rebecca has moved into. While he scrolls down the page he views an image of a bathtub where two young bodies were discovered. John then believes he sees a Halloween shaker inside the tub. He inspects the web page closer. Suddenly the tub is empty. He quickly refreshes the page. John is frightened and perplexed. Whatever he saw before is not there now.
While heading to the library Rebecca records her first video email for John while driving through the town of Collingswood which is decorated for Halloween.
John video chats with Billy and demands he check out the same crime scene photo online. However Billy does not see anything in the bathtub. Billy informs John that he's taking the online psychic a little too seriously and for him to go out and get some fresh air.
After the library Rebecca records another video email for John. She tells him that she researched the same online articles that he did. However she's not quite convinced that there ever was a cult. Once back in her rented room Rebecca and John discuss their findings. Rebecca offers to confront Vera to find out once and for all the truth. Rebecca starts a video chat with Vera who abruptly stops her recorded introduction. Rebecca reminds Vera that they spoke last night and she wants to know what's going on. Vera doesn't seem to remember video chatting with her. Rebecca grows frustrated and impatient. She tells Vera that she told John about a cult and it's leader. Vera chuckles and informs Rebecca that her disclaimer clearly states her readings are for "entertainment purposes only." Rebecca asks if it was all a sick joke? Vera laughs and ends the video chat.
Rebecca video chats with John and with frustration informs him that Vera made up the entire story. While putting some books back into a bookshelf Rebecca is taken aback when she finds a pair of antique postcards. She walks over to her laptop and shows them to John. To his horror each illustrated antique postcard has a Halloween shaker in them. They both become unnerved as they recall Vera mentioning how one was found in the house that the cult leader lived in. John is now determined to find out what's really happening. Despite Rebecca's protest he immediately calls Vera. But it's only the candles burning in the background. Vera has vanished. When John resumes chatting with Rebecca she is clearly over everything and tells him to drop the subject. John reminds Rebecca that he is there for her and will drive there now to be with her. She's not interested in that idea. She tells him that she's going out to eat and ends the video chat without saying goodbye.
John finally reaches Vera who tells him how the judge killed his wife and two children in disturbing detail. She tells John that she couldn't speak before because it was too dangerous. Vera tells him that they practiced rituals in the attic. And Rebecca is now in danger. John tries to convince Vera that they will be OK. John has decided to drive to New Jersey to protect his girl. Vera insists that Rebecca is just going through the motions and does not love him anymore. She has someone else.
While driving at night Rebecca records her final video email for John. She discovers the creepy old house that the cult leader Alan Tashi lived in. She then immediately heads home. There she video chats with John. He is in no mood for games. John confronts Rebecca and tells her that Vera just informed him that they practiced rituals in the attic. Rebecca is pissed that he would believe some "cheap psychic'' over her. Rebecca then informs John that she will find the attic and look around to prove nothing happened. And Vera is the liar. John desperately tells her not to but Rebecca is on a mission.
She enters the attic and at first spots nothing out of the ordinary. But advancing further into the darkness Rebecca discovers what appears to be a hidden door. Inside the darkened space she finds a secret room which she shows to John by moving her laptop around. Vera interrupts the video chat and pleads with Rebecca to get out! Rebecca hangs up on Vera and suddenly finds herself locked inside the secret room with no escape. John watches in utter horror, unable to help, as Rebecca discovers a demonic presence there with her. A disturbing and deadly ritual begins.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content