| Director | Matthew Holness |
|---|---|
| Budget | $1.1 million |
| Box office | $33,271 |
Philip Connell, a disgraced children's puppeteer, is forced to return to his childhood home in Norfolk. The home, in disrepair due to a past fire, is shared by his decrepit uncle Maurice.
Philip is haunted by a spider-like marionette called "Possum." Throughout his time in Norfolk, he repeatedly attempts to dispose of the puppet, but it inexplicably returns to him each time. Philip recovers a picture book he made as a young boy. The book depicts Possum's origins and how it creeps upon unsuspecting, orphaned children, intent on devouring them in their beds. He is also plagued by strange visions and dreams of Possum creeping up on him in bed. Philip continues trying - and failing - to dispose of Possum.
During their interactions, Maurice frequently torments Philip by mentioning the circumstances that cost him his job and forcing Philip to recount traumatic experiences of childhood bullying. He laments Philip's attempts to dispose of Possum, reminding him that puppetry runs in their family. Philip frequently approaches a closed room in the house. Each time, Maurice asks if he plans to go in, to which he always replies no.
News reports mention a missing local boy, Michael, whom Philip encountered on the train ride to Norfolk. Authorities indicate that a man fitting Philip's description is a person of interest. Philip revisits his childhood school, though he is discouraged from lingering by the school's staff and treated with suspicion by the local residents. Maurice remarks to Philip that there was once a similar case of a boy being assaulted by a masked man. When Philip breaks down in tears, Maurice comforts him. As the search continues to mount, Maurice informs Philip that he will be spending some time away and warns Philip to not bring attention to himself, or trouble back to the house.
In a period of distress, Philip enters the school and requests to speak to his old form teacher, Mr. Grant. He tells the secretary that Mr. Grant "knew all about what had happened" and promised to go to the police with him. The confused secretary has him wait outside, but Philip overhears her speaking with the headmaster about calling the police and he flees. As he runs, Philip finds himself chased by Possum, until he is seemingly overwhelmed by it, and passes out. Awakening, he returns home to find Maurice gone, but now has horrifying visions of becoming Possum himself.
Philip enters the closed room, which is revealed to be badly charred from the fire. As he examines the items within, he is attacked by a masked man, who reveals himself to be Maurice. He lewdly taunts Philip about the deaths of his parents, which left him orphaned and in Maurice's care. He muses about how Philip always knew Maurice was the masked man who physically and sexually abused him throughout his childhood, but still never told anyone.
Maurice gleefully beats and molests a sobbing and mentally-regressed Philip. Suddenly, Philip hears a whimper from a locked chest in the corner. He overpowers Maurice and breaks his neck. Philip unlocks the chest, releasing a terrified Michael who scrambles away.
Sitting outside his house, Philip stares blankly ahead, with Possum's severed head in his lap.