The Unholy (2021)

In 1845, in Banfield, Massachusetts, Mary Elnor, a woman accused of witchcraft, is hanged from a tree and burned. After her death, her ashes are sealed inside a kern doll and bound with a chain, allowing her spirit to possess it.

In the present day, disgraced journalist Gerry Fenn, who was exposed for fabricating stories, earns a living reporting hoaxes. An assignment takes him to Boston, where he discovers that a reported supernatural disturbance is merely a teenage prank. Before leaving, he finds Mary's doll in the hollow base of the long-decayed tree and crushes it, unknowingly freeing her spirit. While driving away, he nearly hits Alice Pagett, a young girl who runs across the road. He follows her to the tree, hears her speak, and watches her collapse. After taking her to a church, he learns that Alice is deaf and mute. Believing he may have encountered a genuine supernatural phenomenon, Gerry stays to investigate.

The next day, Alice astonishes the community by speaking, claiming that the Virgin Mary has cured her. The ensuing media frenzy intensifies as other people experience apparent miraculous healings. During one such event, a statue of the Virgin near the chancel begins weeping blood. The Catholic Church dispatches Monsignor Delgarde to investigate, accompanied by Bishop Gyles. Alice tells Gerry that she has been communicating with an entity named Mary but merely assumed it was the Virgin. After experiencing visions of Mary as a monstrous creature, Gerry suspects a sinister explanation. He joins forces with Father William Hagan, Alice's maternal uncle, whom she has healed but who also questions the miracles.

Hagan discovers a book describing Mary Elnor, who performed miracles in the service of Satan. Before he can warn anyone, Elnor attacks him, and his body is found hanging in the church. Gyles persuades Gerry to conceal Hagan's apparent suicide to avoid undermining the reported miracles, and the death is officially ruled an accident.

Gerry befriends local physician Natalie Gates, and together they uncover the information Hagan found. Elnor had sold her soul to Satan in exchange for supernatural power. Satan enabled her and her descendants, including Alice, to perform apparent miracles that would persuade people to pledge themselves to her and, ultimately, to Satan. Gerry and Delgarde discover that Gyles knew about Elnor's history but had not connected it to the recent events. Gyles warns Gerry that his discredited reputation will prevent anyone from believing his accusations. When Elnor attempts to kill Gerry, Delgarde drives her away with prayer and a crucifix.

Unaware of Mary's true identity, Alice proposes holding a church service at a shrine built around the tree and broadcasting it to a mass audience. Delgarde warns that anyone pledging allegiance to Elnor will strengthen her power and condemn their soul to Hell. Gerry, Natalie, and Delgarde attempt a ritual in the church to stop the ceremony, but Elnor appears and crushes Delgarde with a burning cross.

During the service, officiated by Gyles, Alice urges the congregation to pledge themselves three times to "Mary of Banfield." Gerry intervenes, claiming that the miracles are fraudulent hoaxes of his own making and attributing the healings to the placebo effect. Meanwhile, Natalie uses sign language to urge Alice to stop the ceremony. Mary threatens Alice, promising that she will never speak again if she refuses to continue. Recognizing Mary's true nature, Alice declares that the miracles did not come from God.

The tree erupts in flames, sending the congregation fleeing as an enraged Mary emerges. She incinerates Gyles and attacks Gerry, but Alice sacrifices herself to save him. Because Alice is Mary's link to the living world, her death causes Mary to disintegrate into dust. Moved by Alice's sacrifice, Gerry begs God to restore her life. Alice returns to life but is deaf and mute once more, and everyone she healed reverts to their previous condition.