Directed by
Braden R. Duemmler
Made by
Vertical Entertainment
A sixteen-year-old named Liberty Wells, often called Libby, makes her way back to her family’s lakeside home after attending summer camp. Throughout their drive, her mother, Michelle Wells, a romance author, offers Libby the chance to practice her driving skills. Upon their arrival, Libby is introduced to her mother’s new partner, John, an aquatic geneticist who gifts her a bracelet adorned with symbols representing a fertility goddess. During their dinner, John elaborates on his work, indicating his focus on helping creatures adapt to evolving habitats.
However, the evening takes a strange turn when Libby stumbles upon some unsettling sounds while wandering into the kitchen, leading her to quickly retreat to her bedroom. There, she finds John lingering at her doorway, causing her to feign sleep. The following morning, the duo engages in an emotionally charged dig where they unearth time capsules buried in the yard, leading to a dispute about Libby’s belief that her mother is indifferent towards her grandparents. This heartfelt conversation takes an introspective turn when Michelle reveals her feelings of unworthiness from her father’s side.
Libby’s exploration of the lake leads to an unsettling incident where she’s bitten by a substantial insect. Fortunately, John is on hand to offer his assistance. Upon returning to the house, she discovers that Michelle is feeling unwell and learns that John has proposed marriage, to which her mother has agreed. Driven by curiosity, Libby seeks John out in the basement, where she becomes privy to his work involving parasites.
As Libby enters puberty, she experiences her first menstruation, which leads to an awkward moment with John when he attempts to clean up the blood with his own shirt. Afterward, while Libby showers, John crosses the boundary of privacy, sneaking into the bathroom to sniff her through the curtain—an invasion that deeply unsettles her. Removing the bracelet John gifted her, Libby notices a troubling red mark on her wrist.
Reaching out to her friend Marley, Libby requests her to visit the house. Later that night, she has a disconcerting vision of John walking into the lake, which is strangely illuminated with red lights. He then reappears dry and explains away his bizarre behavior as sleepwalking. The next day, Michelle sends Libby to town for medication and a pregnancy test. While there, Libby follows a man resembling John with another woman, heightening her concern over his intentions.
Returning to the house, Libby confides in Marley about John’s inappropriate behavior, prompting Marley to consider informing Michelle. When Libby eventually catches up with her mother, she learns Michelle is expecting; this news disappoints Libby, who feels ignored as Michelle dismisses her claims regarding John. Upon noticing John’s nictitating membrane, Libby tries to warn her mother, but is met with hostility instead.
Not long after, Libby investigates the basement again, only to find the same symbols on her own wrist where the bracelet once was. Further exploration reveals a horrifying sight: Michelle restrained in a tank, connected to an IV, with similar symbols etched onto her wrists and the surrounding walls. Hidden from view, Libby watches as John assists Michelle in giving birth to a moribund creature.
In a flurry of events, Libby contacts the police, only to stumble upon Marley’s lifeless body in a water tank, infested with parasites. This revelation sends John chasing after Libby as she attempts to rescue Michelle, but soon she finds herself captured, tied up in the basement. A group of men, all identical to John, begins peeling away the walls to unveil a shocking scene of unconscious women suspended in water tanks. In a grotesque twist, John forces Libby to ingest a bioluminescent substance that he regurgitates.
Libby eventually awakens in a line of water tanks filled with other women, seemingly in a pupae state. As the water levels rise, she starts to panic, banging on the glass, but a smile spreads across her face as she realizes she can breathe underwater. The surreal horrors of her surroundings unfold as she navigates this chilling new reality.
Libby Returns Home
Sixteen-year-old Liberty Wells, known as Libby, comes back to her family's lakeside home after a summer camp. Accompanied by her mother, Michelle, they embark on a drive where Michelle encourages Libby to practice her driving skills.
Meeting John's Introduction
Upon reaching home, Libby is introduced to her mother’s new partner, John, an aquatic geneticist. He presents her with a bracelet featuring symbols of a fertility goddess, hinting at his unorthodox outlook on life.
Dinner Conversations
During dinner, John discusses his work with creatures adapting to changing habitats. The conversation between Libby and her mother takes a strange turn as Libby starts to question her mother's emotions towards her deceased grandparents.
The Unsettling Discovery
Later that evening, Libby hears disturbing sounds coming from the kitchen, prompting her to retreat to her bedroom. There, she encounters John at her doorway, causing her to pretend to be asleep out of fear.
Digging Up the Past
The next morning, John and Libby engage in an emotional excavating session in the yard where they unearth buried time capsules. This shared moment leads to deeper discussions about family and emotional wounds from their past.
Insect Incident
While exploring the lake, Libby suffers a bite from a large insect, which adds to her distress. John swiftly comes to her assistance, revealing their complicated relationship dynamics.
John's Proposal
Libby returns home to find her mother feeling unwell, and learns that John has proposed to Michelle, who has accepted. This revelation stirs mixed emotions in Libby as she feels her mother prioritizing John over her.
Invasion of Privacy
Libby experiences her first menstruation, leading to an awkward and invasive moment with John. He attempts to help with the cleanup, and later crosses boundaries by intruding upon her privacy while she showers.
The Vision
That night, Libby has a vivid vision of John walking into the lake, eerily illuminated with red lights. His nonchalant explanation of sleepwalking afterward raises serious doubts about his true nature.
Suspicion Grows
Libby's concern escalates when she follows a man resembling John during a trip to town. This encounter with another woman increases her suspicions towards John and his intentions with her mother.
The Pregnancy Revelation
After confiding in Marley about her fears regarding John, Libby finds out that her mother is pregnant. This important news disappoints Libby and makes her feel invisible in the family dynamic.
The Basement Discovery
Driven by curiosity, Libby investigates the basement again and discovers symbols on her wrist identical to those on the bracelet. The find leads her deeper into a sinister mystery related to John's true intentions.
A Horrific Scene
Libby stumbles upon a horrifying sight: her mother restrained in a tank, connected to an IV. She is frozen in shock as John assists Michelle in giving birth to a grotesque creature, revealing a chilling truth.
Desperate Measures
Realizing the danger, Libby contacts the police but soon finds Marley dead in a water tank infested with parasites. This shocking revelation marks a turning point, intensifying the urgency of her escape.
Awakening in Captivity
Libby regains consciousness submerged in a tank alongside other women in a state of pupae. As the water rises, she panics until she discovers the unsettling ability to breathe underwater, revealing a nightmarish reality.
Liberty Wells (Libby)
Liberty, often called Libby, is a sixteen-year-old who grapples with familial tensions and unsettling changes in her life. She's curious yet cautious, showcasing bravery as she confronts the bizarre and terrifying realities around her. Libby's journey is a poignant exploration of adolescence intertwined with horror.
Michelle Wells
Michelle is a romance author and Libby's mother who struggles with feelings of unworthiness and the complexities of motherhood. She is portrayed as a loving yet flawed character, whose decisions set off a chain of chilling events. Her relationship with Libby reflects the challenges of communication and understanding in family dynamics.
John Smith
John Smith is introduced as Michelle's new partner, an aquatic geneticist whose strange behaviors raise alarming red flags. He embodies the theme of secrecy and manipulation while exhibiting both charm and a menacing nature. His obsession with the grotesque ultimately reveals his true, disturbing intentions.
Marley
Marley is Libby's friend, who represents a tether to normalcy amidst the chaos. She offers Libby support during her distressing experiences and becomes a crucial ally when confronting John's sinister behavior. Her character highlights the importance of friendship and trust.
Time period
The story unfolds in contemporary times, where themes of family dynamics, modern relationships, and personal awakening play a significant role. This period reflects current societal challenges, particularly around notions of privacy and trust.
Location
Lakeside Home, Kitchen, Basement
The movie is primarily set in a serene lakeside home, which offers a picturesque yet eerie backdrop for the unfolding events. The kitchen serves as a central point for family interactions, where unsettling events begin to transpire. The basement, shrouded in mystery, hosts disturbing revelations that challenge the characters' relationships.
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Body Horror
The film delves into body horror, highlighting the terrifying aspects of physical transformation and invasion. It explores themes of autonomy and the violation of personal boundaries, particularly as Libby grapples with John's invasive behavior and the horrors lurking in the basement.
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Secrets and Lies
Secrets and lies permeate the narrative, with Libby uncovering disturbing truths about John's intentions and her mother's circumstances. The theme examines the consequences of hiding the truth and the impact it has on familial relationships.
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Coming of Age
As Libby navigates her turbulent adolescence, the film portrays her coming-of-age journey marred by confusion and terror. This theme is central to her development as she confronts her fears and the disturbing realities surrounding her identity and family.
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