Bad Things

Bad Things

Year: 2023

Runtime: 83 min

Language: English

Director: Stewart Thorndike

Echo Score: 42
Horror

Inheriting her grandmother's abandoned hotel, Ruthie Nodd finds herself confronting a haunted past that jeopardizes her relationships. During a weekend getaway with friends, long-held secrets are revealed, and the boundaries between reality and desire become increasingly blurred. The group's escape quickly spirals into a disturbing exploration of darkness and depravity as they uncover the hotel’s eerie history and its impact on their lives.

Bad Things (2023) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Bad Things (2023) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

Inheriting her grandmother’s long‑abandoned hotel, Ruthie finds herself drawn into a place that feels alive with memory. The faded corridors and silent rooms whisper of a history that never quite let go, casting a lingering chill over the sprawling property. The hotel itself becomes a character—its creaking floors and lingering shadows suggest that the past is more than just décor, and that the walls may still be listening.

Back in the present, Ruthie arrives with her girlfriend Cal, hoping the weekend will serve as a chance to mend their frayed bond and perhaps lay the groundwork for a new venture. Their relationship is already threaded with quiet anxieties, and the weight of the inheritance forces Ruthie to balance the pull of family legacy with the desire to forge a fresh start. As she navigates the space, she is haunted not only by the building’s atmosphere but also by lingering questions about the woman who raised her.

Joining them are Maddie and Fran, two close friends whose presence adds layers of complexity to the retreat. Old secrets linger beneath polite conversation, and the easy camaraderie of a weekend getaway gradually gives way to unspoken tensions. Each character carries their own baggage—past affairs, unfulfilled ambitions, and the urge to uncover what lies beneath the hotel’s polished veneer. Their interactions flicker between intimacy and rivalry, hinting at deeper wounds that the setting seems to magnify.

The tone of the story is suffused with an unsettling mix of yearning and dread. Reality begins to blur with desire, and the group’s exploration of the hotel’s eerie past mirrors their own internal journeys. As night settles over the decaying grandeur, the characters discover that the true darkness may not be confined to the building itself, but rather in the hidden corners of their own histories and the fragile connections that bind them together.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 16:50

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Claustrophobic horror movies of psychological breakdown like Bad Things

Trapped characters unravel as their minds and reality become a prison.If you liked the suffocating atmosphere and unraveling sanity in Bad Things, explore more movies like it. This collection features similar horror stories where characters are trapped and tormented, leading to a dark exploration of psychological collapse and terrifying revelations in isolated settings.

claustrophobicparanoidunsettlingoppressivepsychologicalhauntinganxious

Narrative Summary

Stories typically begin with characters entering a confined or isolated location, often one with a troubled past. Internal conflicts and group tensions are slowly exacerbated by the environment, leading to a blurring of reality, the exposure of dark secrets, and a descent into madness or violence from which there is no easy escape.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared use of a confined setting to create intense psychological pressure. They share a slow-burn pacing that prioritizes atmospheric dread over action, a dark and bleak tone, and a focus on the horror of the mind collapsing under the weight of isolation and paranoia.

Horror movies about inherited trauma and haunted pasts like Bad Things

A dark legacy from the past violently disrupts the present.For viewers who enjoyed the theme of a cursed inheritance in Bad Things, this list recommends similar movies. Discover other horror films where characters grapple with a dark family legacy, a haunted property, or a supernatural curse that brings a slow, bleak, and psychologically heavy terror into their lives.

hauntingmelancholicdarkunsettlingslow burnoppressivetragic

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern revolves around a protagonist discovering they are the heir to something ominous. Their investigation into this inheritance reveals a disturbing past that mirrors or directly causes their present-day suffering. The story is a slow revelation of intertwined fates, where escaping the past proves impossible, and the ending is often bleak.

Why These Movies?

These films share a core thematic focus on generational trauma and inescapable fate. They are united by a melancholic, heavy mood, a slow-burn structure that builds dread through discovery, and a premise where the horror is deeply personal, rooted in family history and the sins of the past.

Unlock the Full Story of Bad Things

Don't stop at just watching — explore Bad Things in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Bad Things is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Bad Things Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Bad Things, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Bad Things Summary

Bad Things Timeline

Track the full timeline of Bad Things with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Bad Things Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Bad Things

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Bad Things. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Bad Things

Bad Things Ending Explained

What really happened at the end of Bad Things? This detailed ending explained page breaks down final scenes, hidden clues, and alternate interpretations with expert analysis and viewer theories.

Bad Things Ending Explained

More About Bad Things

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Bad Things: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Bad Things

Similar Movies to Bad Things

Discover movies like Bad Things that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.