尖叫的头骨

　　Thefilmopenswithanarrateddisclaimeroverfootageofanopeningcoffin.Thenarratorexplainsthatthefilm&#39sclimaxissoterrifyingthatitmaykilltheviewer,andreassurestheaudiencethatiftheydieoffrightwhilewatchingthefilm,theywillreceiveafreeburialservice,anditclosesonthecasketwhichhasacardinsidereading&quotReservedforYou.&quot[1]　　NewlywedsJenni(PeggyWebber)andEric(JohnHudson)moveintoEric&#39spalatialcountryhome.JenniisEric&#39ssecondwifehisfirstwifeMariondiedwhensheaccidentallyslippedandhitherheadontheedgeofadecorativepondontheestate.AtthehometheymeetEric&#39sfriends,theReverendSnow(RussConway)andhiswife(ToniJohnson),aswellasMickey(AlexNicol),thedevelopmentallydisabledgardener.EricprivatelymentionstotheSnowsthatJennispenttimeinanasylumfollowingthesuddendeathofbothherparents,andMrs.SnowrevealsthatJenniisverywealthy.　　JenniisdisturbedbothbyMickey&#39sbeliefthatMarion&#39sghostwanderstheestateandbyMarion&#39sself-portraitinsidethehouse,whichJennibelievesresembleshermother.Whenshebeginstohearunexplainedscreamingnoisesandseeskullsaroundherhouse,shebelievesthatMarionishauntingher.ThoughEricspeculatestoJennithatMickey,whowasachildhoodfriendofMarionandthusdislikesJenni,maybebehindthetrickery,Jenniworriesthatsheisgoinginsane.EricthensuggeststoremoveMarion&#39sself-portraitfromthehome.EricandJennitakethepaintingoutsideandburnit.Whiletheycleanuptheremainsofthepainting,askullemergesfromtheashes.WhileJennipanicsatthesightoftheskull,Ericdeniesthattheskullisthere.JennifaintsandEricwithdrawstheskullandhidesit,revealingthathewasresponsibleforthetrickeryallalonginanefforttogetholdofherwealth.　　Believingshehasfinallylosthersanity,Jenniresolvestobecommitted.ShetellsEricthattheentirepropertywillbemeticulouslysearchedfortheskullasalastresort.BeforeEriccanretrieveit,MickeysecretlystealstheskullandbringsittotheReverend,revealingEric&#39splans.Thatnight,EricpreparestomurderJenniandstageitasasuicide.JenniseesMarion&#39sghostinMickey&#39sgreenhouseandfleesbacktothehouse.Whensheenters,Ericbeginsthrottlingher.TheghostthenappearsandchasesEricoutsideandaboutthepropertyitfinallycornersandattackshim,drowninghiminthedecorativepond.　　AfterJenniregainsconsciousness,theSnowsarrive.Mrs.SnowcomfortsahystericalJenniandtheReverenddiscoversEric&#39sbodyinthepond.Someundisclosedtimelater,JenniandtheSnowsdepartfromthehouse.ReverendSnowdeclareswhetherornotMarion&#39sdeathwasanaccidentwillremainamystery.