Synopsis

Following his wife's suicide, psychologist David Callaway moves with his young daughter, Emily, to an isolated house in upstate New York. As Emily withdraws into an unsettling relationship with her imaginary friend, "Charlie," David becomes increasingly alarmed by strange incidents around the property. His efforts to understand what is happening expose buried trauma, fractured perceptions, and a threat that may be closer than he realizes.

Factoids & Trivia

• 20th Century Fox used unusual security measures to protect the film's ending. The final reel was shipped separately from the rest of the print, with security guards delivering it to theaters and individually numbered reels used as an additional precaution.

• The film had different theatrical endings for domestic and international markets. Home-video releases also included several alternate conclusions, allowing viewers to compare different interpretations of Emily's future.

• Dakota Fanning wore a brown wig for the role rather than having her own hair dyed.

• Auditions were held widely for Emily, with the production reportedly seeking a performer who could match Fanning's ability to carry the psychological material at a very young age.