The film begins with Cyrus Kriticos (played by F. Murray Abraham), a wealthy and eccentric collector of supernatural artifacts, who is killed in a mysterious fire at his mansion. Upon his death, Cyrus leaves his mansion and all its contents to his nephew, Arthur Kriticos (played by Tony Shalhoub), and his family.
Arthur, a widower struggling to make ends meet, sees the inheritance as an opportunity to provide a better life for his two children, Kathy (played by Shannon Elizabeth) and Bobby (played by Alec Roberts). Along with their nanny, Maggie (played by Rah Digga), and a psychic named Dennis Rafkin (played by Matthew Lillard), the family moves into the mansion.
Upon arriving at the mansion, Arthur and his family discover that it is a bizarre and labyrinthine structure made entirely of glass. As they explore the mansion, they soon realize that it is haunted by the ghosts of the twelve people Cyrus had captured and imprisoned in the house using special containment spells.
Each ghost is a malevolent entity with its own unique backstory and method of death. Among the ghosts are the Torso, the Bound Woman, the Angry Princess, the Withered Lover, and the Jackal. These spirits are unleashed from their containment cells when the family activates a machine called the Ocularis Infernum, which allows them to see the ghosts.
As the ghosts begin to wreak havoc on the family, Arthur and his allies must find a way to stop them before they become the ghosts’ next victims. They learn that the only way to do so is to find the thirteenth ghost, a powerful entity that can control the other spirits and bring them under its command.
As they race against time to find the thirteenth ghost, Arthur and his family face numerous obstacles and challenges. They must navigate through the treacherous corridors of the mansion, evade the vengeful ghosts, and unravel the mysteries of Cyrus’s dark past.
In a climactic showdown, Arthur confronts the thirteenth ghost and learns the shocking truth about its identity. With the help of Dennis and Maggie, Arthur is able to banish the thirteenth ghost and send the other spirits back to the afterlife, restoring peace to the mansion.
In the end, Arthur and his family escape from the mansion unharmed, but not before learning valuable lessons about the consequences of greed, hubris, and the power of redemption. They leave the mansion behind, hoping to start a new life free from the terrors of the past.
“Thir13en Ghosts” is a thrilling and atmospheric horror film that delivers scares, suspense, and supernatural intrigue. Through its inventive premise, chilling visuals, and engaging storyline, the film offers a unique and memorable cinematic experience for fans of the horror genre.