Review Detail

Sylvie Stroud lives in an old industrial building in Soho in New York City in 1977. Her parents have created a loft to live in, as well as a studio, in an old button factory, even though the surrounding neighborhood isn't great. Her older brother Gray is at college, and Sylvie spends a lot of time at an Irish step dancing studio with her friends Marz and Mary Beth. The unusual things about Sylvie is that ever since she was young, she has seen visions of the past when she touches things. She's seen an analyst about it, but after she is besieged by visions of a young girl who has been shot, she tries to research this particularly invasive vision. She finds a name, and uncovers a lot of information about a particular house that has been derelict and rumored to be haunted. Sylvie starts to wonder if perhaps her psychic abilities were genetic, and asks her birth mother, Marilyn, about them. Marilyn has no clue, but does offer some interesting information; the girl that Sylvie is seeing, Rynn, used to babysit Marilyn. Things get stranger and stranger as the hot summer wears on. Gary comes home from college, as does his best friend, Ilan. Sylvie has long has a crush on Ilan, even though that's kind of awkward, and as he helps Sylvie with her research, the two become close. Before long, though, Ilan and Gary start to freak out. They don't want to be anywhere near Ilan's apartment, and the Stroud's dog barks and whines at both of them. Since New York City of the time has lots of issues like drugs and crime, Sylvie's parents don't want her out alone at night. After Sylvie and Ilan kiss on the rooftop, she's happy with their budding romance, but when he wants to have a romantic interlude at the creepy haunted house, she declines. When she returns home, her parents are worried, and ask why she put handprints all over the studio. She didn't, and know that this has something to do with the visions she has had of Rynn, as well as a black dog, and knows that this is also why Gary and Ilan seem to be having mental breakdowns. Gary eventually is hospitalized. After seeing a lot of horrible visions at the house, Sylvie consults a psychic, Delilah Marie, who tells her that early Dutch settlers had a violent history at the site, and in 1965, the city tried to tear the house down but were not able to. Since this is the year that Sylvie got her powers, she feels that this is all connected. When Sylvie tries to take the subway and finally deal with the house, a blackout descends on the city. Both Gary and Ilan are at the house, but a horrific battle with the forces of evil ensues and ends in tragedy. Sylvie manages to burn down the tree, and in 1978, the city bulldozes the house. Luckily, Sylvie's visions stop, and she and Gary are able to try to get on with their lives.