The Acid House 1999
Made by
Zeitgeist Films
Plot Summary
Discover the intricate plot of The Acid House (1999). From unexpected twists to emotional highs and lows, this detailed summary breaks down every moment to give you a deeper understanding of the film’s story.
The film presents a captivating tapestry of three narratives drawn from the book:
In “The Granton Star Cause,” we meet Boab, an aimless slacker enduring a horrendous day. Thrown out of his home by his parents—who wish to indulge in sado-masochism—he finds himself jobless, heartbroken, and benched from his football team. While sulking at a bar, he encounters a vulgar stranger who boldly claims to be God. This deity scolds Boab for his squandered potential and punishes him by transforming him into a housefly. Now in this new form, Boab buzzes through his old haunts, sometimes recognized, as he seeks vengeance on those he believes have wronged him. This segment echoes the themes found in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis.
“A Soft Touch” follows Johnny, who finds himself in a hastily arranged marriage with Catriona, a disorderly part-time prostitute. As their daughter Chantal is born, a brash man named Larry moves into the flat above them, complicating Johnny’s life further. With Johnny left to care for Chantal, Catriona begins an affair with Larry, leaving Johnny feeling increasingly exploited and mistreated by both Catriona and Larry. Despite his gentle nature, he struggles to assert himself and escape this cycle of manipulation.
Finally, in “The Acid House,” surrealism weaves a bizarre tale around the themes of marriage, parenthood, and the perils of substance abuse. One fateful night, Coco Brice, a raver, ingests an exceptionally potent dose of acid. His hallucinatory journey coincides with a dramatic bolt of lightning, leading to an unbelievable occurrence where Coco swaps bodies with the newborn child of a middle-class couple, Rory and Jenny. This segment explores the chaotic intersection of altered states and the innocence of infancy, painting a vivid, surreal picture of life’s unpredictability.
Timeline
Track the key events of The Acid House (1999) with a comprehensive timeline. Perfect for understanding the sequence of major plot points, this feature offers clarity on how the story unfolds.
Boab's Day of Misfortune
The story begins with Boab, an aimless individual facing a horrendous day. After being thrown out of his home by his parents, who prefer sado-masochism over family, he feels lost and abandoned.
Job Loss and Heartbreak
Struggling with his joblessness and heartbreak, Boab is forced to confront his failures. He becomes benched from his football team, which further exacerbates his sense of worthlessness.
The Encounter with God
While sulking at a bar, Boab meets a vulgar stranger who shockingly claims to be God. This encounter becomes a pivotal moment as God scolds Boab for his squandered potential and initiates his bizarre punishment.
Transformation into a Housefly
As punishment for his lack of ambition, God transforms Boab into a housefly. In this new form, he experiences life from a drastically different perspective, gaining the ability to see the world around him as he seeks vengeance.
Buzzing Through Old Haunts
As a housefly, Boab buzzes through places he once knew, occasionally being recognized by others. His old connections become a haunting reminder of his lost life and failures.
Johnny's Hasty Marriage
In a parallel narrative, Johnny enters into a hastily arranged marriage with Catriona, a disorganized part-time prostitute. Their union is unstable from the start, setting off a sequence of events that will change their lives.
Birth of Chantal
The couple welcomes their daughter, Chantal, into the world. However, the joy of parenthood is quickly overshadowed by growing tensions and complications in their relationship.
Larry Moves In
The dynamics shift when Larry, a brash and imposing man, moves into the flat above Johnny and Catriona. His presence introduces an unwanted complexity to an already tumultuous family situation.
Catriona's Affair
As Johnny struggles to support his family, Catriona begins an affair with Larry. This betrayal leaves Johnny feeling increasingly exploited and marginalized, caught in a cycle of emotional abuse.
Coco's Acid Experience
In the final narrative, Coco Brice experiences a night of wild partying as he takes an incredibly potent dose of acid. This decision leads him into a surreal and chaotic journey that challenges his perceptions of reality.
The Body Swap
In an unexpected twist, a bolt of lightning during his trip results in Coco swapping bodies with a newborn baby belonging to Rory and Jenny. This bizarre event illustrates the unpredictable intersection of life experiences.
Chaos of Altered States
Coco's hallucinatory journey reveals the chaotic nature of altered states influenced by substances. In his new body, he experiences the innocence of infancy juxtaposed against the turmoil of adult life.
Vivid Reflection on Life's Unpredictability
The film culminates in a surreal exploration of life’s unpredictability, merging themes of parenthood, addiction, and existential crises. Each character navigates their own struggles as they seek meaning in chaotic circumstances.
Characters
Meet the characters that bring The Acid House (1999) to life. Dive into detailed profiles of the cast and their roles, exploring their motivations, relationships, and arcs within the story.
Boab
Boab is depicted as an aimless slacker, navigating a horrendous day marked by personal failures and domestic strife. His inability to cope with rejection leads to his surreal transformation, reflecting themes of wasted potential. Throughout his journey, Boab embodies the consequences of disillusionment and serves as a vehicle for exploring deeper existential questions.
Johnny
Johnny is characterized by his gentle demeanor juxtaposed with the chaos in his life. He faces emotional turmoil as he struggles to manage his responsibilities, while feeling exploited by those closest to him. His character represents the challenges of asserting oneself amidst manipulation and serves as a commentary on the complexities of modern relationships.
Coco Brice
Coco is a raver who encounters an extreme and surreal transformation through his drug use. His experience reflects the unpredictable consequences of substance abuse, leading to an exploration of identity and innocence. Coco's journey intertwines with themes of chaos and surrealism, making him a pivotal character in understanding the film's deeper messages.
Setting
Uncover the settings of The Acid House (1999), from iconic locations to the time period that shapes its world. See how these elements add depth and context to the movie’s narrative.
Time period
The film operates within a modern timeframe but does not specifically denote a particular era. It reflects contemporary issues and the societal challenges of the present day, exploring themes of disillusionment and personal crisis. The treatment of relationships and identity is distinctly influenced by the current cultural climate.
Location
Granton, a flat, middle-class household
Granton serves as the backdrop for the first segment of the film, representing the struggles of a contemporary urban environment. The flat symbolizes the mundane reality of life, highlighting the domestic difficulties faced by the characters. As a setting, it also reflects the chaotic and often unpredictable nature of modern living.
Themes
Explore the core themes of The Acid House (1999). From its commentary on social issues to its emotional undertones, delve into the deeper messages woven into the film’s story.
💔
Heartbreak
Heartbreak is a central theme explored through the lives of various characters. Boab's rejection and loss resonate with the feelings of despair and emptiness that stem from broken relationships. This theme extends into Johnny's struggles, showcasing the emotional toll of manipulation and betrayal.
🪱
Transformation
The motif of transformation is vividly illustrated in Boab's metamorphosis into a housefly, symbolizing his loss of agency and potential. This theme permeates Coco's surreal experience, emphasizing shifts in identity and perspective. Through these transformations, the film delves into the inherent struggles of self-discovery and existential questioning.
🎭
Surrealism
Surrealism plays a significant role in 'The Acid House,' particularly in Coco's hallucinatory experiences. This theme highlights the bizarre interplay between reality and imagination, challenging the viewer’s perceptions of life. The absurdity of his body-swapping incident further illustrates the unpredictable nature of existence, accentuating the film's dreamlike quality.
Featured on this page
What's After the Movie?
Not sure whether to stay after the credits? Find out!
Check out our other apps:
Actors
Companies
Latest Movies
© 2025 What's After the Movie?. All rights reserved.