MovieChat Forums > Burnt Offerings (1976) Discussion > The aftermath

The aftermath

posted 10 years ago by ElectricWarlock
13 replies | jump to latest

I just watched this movie for the umpteenth time today and I wondered what would happen after the Rolf family disappeared. Assuming they'd be recognized as missing persons would there be a big investigation where the house would be raided? What would they say about the framed pictures of the family members on the table? How would the Roz and Arnold be able to explain this to get all suspicion off them? And most importantly, would the police want to talk to Marion/Mrs. Allardyce? I think it would be interesting to know what happened after these movies, and how many family members have wanted to know where their missing relatives were in the past. With all the people who rent the house and go missing, you'd think someone would be getting suspicious.

[–] fiatlux-1 10 years ago

But why would the Allerdyces be investigated? No one knew the Rolfes were even staying there.

The film leaves it out, but in the novel Ben convinces Marian to not tell their friends their address for the summer. They tell them 'they're going away on a long trip'.

So no one would come looking for them there.

"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."

[–] ElectricWarlock 10 years ago

Well, the movie really didn't mention anything about family or friends, you're right about that. I just assumed they told everyone close to them about their plans when maybe they didn't at all. But I was under the impression they had been renting the house for many, many years. I thought each picture on the table represented a life the house "claimed" so one of the disappearances must've been connected to that house at some point. Unless everyone rented it without telling where they were going?

People do vanish without a trace all the time, though. Just earlier this week I was reading stories about people who have been missing for years and there's not even one little clue about where they could be. Very creepy and sad at the same time that something like that could happen to a person.

[–] fiatlux-1 10 years ago

Good point about the number of people renting over the years. But I think you may be onto something when you say that maybe no one told where they were going.
I'm of the belief that the evil makes them not reveal their location to anyone.
This makes sense, because in the novel Ben & Marian decide to not say a word AFTER they first visit the house. So the influence it had over them began then, it certainly did on Marian!

"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."

[–] ZolotoyRetriever 10 years ago

Haven't read the book, but just going by what was presented in the movie, I came up with the following observations:

When the aunt (Bette Davis' character) died, wouldn't Ben and/or Marian have had to call somebody like an ambulance service to come out and recover the body of the deceased? And, didn't Ben and Marian have to leave the mansion, go back to wherever (don't recall where they came from) to make all the necessary arrangements for Aunt Elizabeth's funeral, not to mention attend the funeral? They would have to have filled out some official documents stating the cause and place of death, which would have left at least some record of where they had been staying. So later in the summer, when they turned up missing, authorities would have had at least some idea of where to look for them.

Also, when they first made the rental agreement with the Allardyces, they presumably paid the rental fee with either check or possibly credit card, again leaving a clue for authorities to follow up as to their whereabouts.

[–] fiatlux-1 10 years ago



I imagine they did call an ambulance, but I don't know what info was available to whom back in the '70s.
Good point about the funeral, but I had the impression they just had a local private service.
They were so overwhelmed from being suppressed from the evil house, I imagine they were not thinking clearly & may have just 'winged' it.

The Rolfes may have used cash, its possible. Because the Allerdyces were 'unorthodox' to begin with & would want to leave a smaller paper trail.

Lastly, its always possible that the Rolfes used everything you mentioned: credit cards etc.
Because the Allerdyces could always tell the police that Yes, the Rolfes rented our home for the summer. But then, they just up, packed & left.
The Allerdyces AND the *evil* would likely eliminate any incriminating evidence.
There was also no DNA detection tools then.

I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus.
Didn't he discover America?
Penfold, shush.

[–] ZolotoyRetriever 10 years ago

Good points, good points...

I guess we are left to assume that since so many people had been "consumed" by the evil house over the centuries, and no investigation ever came about, that between the evil house and the Allardyces there was ample ability to cover their tracks and eliminate all evidence.

And you're right, they didn't have certain detection tools that we take for granted nowadays. Of course, when you've seen a few of these modern day "CSI"-type shows, you get the feeling that modern forensics investigators would somehow be able to solve the mystery. Well, maybe - that is until the house eats them up, too... 

[–] yeoffthecat 10 years ago

I believe that this couldn't have occurred in this day and age with the forensics and technology we have now. The police would have the Allardices locked up within a week.

[–] nullaqua 9 years ago

Unlikely.What would be the charge? Maintaining an House of Evil? Possession of an Eldritch Abombination?

"I have an appointment with eternity and I don't want to be late"

[–] fiatlux-1 9 years ago

And the house/evil would surely make sure there was NO evidence left!

I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus.
Didn't he discover America?
Penfold, shush.

[–] markedjuan 9 years ago

I read the novel years ago and I remember Ben having called their doctor to attend to the ailing Aunt Elizabeth. The doctor never came but he did manage to call to tell Ben that he couldn't find the house with the address Ben had given him. He even asked, "Where in the hell are you guys?"

That line of the doctor ended that particular chapter in the book.

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