Bed Rest

Bed Rest

Year: 2022

Runtime: 90 min

Language: English

Director: Lori Evans Taylor

DramaMysteryHorror

While awaiting the arrival of her first child, Julie Rivers is instructed by her doctor to remain in bed. Isolated and increasingly anxious, she begins to suspect that her new home is haunted by a sinister presence, blurring the lines between pregnancy-induced paranoia and a terrifying reality. Strange occurrences and unsettling visions lead her to question her sanity as she desperately seeks to uncover the truth behind the unsettling events.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Bed Rest (2022) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Bed Rest (2022), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

A university professor, Daniel Rivers, and his wife Julie are preparing to welcome their first child as they move into a charming yet worn lakeside house in upstate New York. During renovations, a worker presents Julie with an old bracelet he discovered while fixing the drain, mistakenly thinking it belongs to her. Though it isn’t hers, Julie decides to keep it. As they settle into their new home, their feline companion, a Seal Point Ragdoll named Lou, explores the surroundings, while Daniel feels the weight of the renovation on his shoulders, yet finds joy in his growing family with Julie, who is seven months pregnant.

On a seemingly ordinary night, Julie sets the bracelet on her wrist while unpacking but is soon distracted by a mysterious child’s whisper echoing from down the hall. Lou becomes agitated, hissing at a tarp-covered door, prompting Julie’s curiosity. Just then, Daniel appears, eager to showcase the nursery, including a state-of-the-art crib and baby monitor. Later that evening, amidst an academic gala hosted by Dean Whittier and his wife, Julie engages in conversation, only for Daniel to interject before she can share that this pregnancy is not their first. This triggers a tense argument back home, revealing the painful truth: years prior, they lost a son, a stillborn named Andrew. Upset by Daniel’s omission of this heartbreak, Julie’s distress peaks, leading to a fateful trip upstairs where she encounters the spectral image of a boy and falls, injuring herself.

In the aftermath, Julie awakens in a hospital bed, greeted by Dr. Meadows, who informs her that both she and the baby are stable despite her fall, but she must adhere to strict bed rest to avoid complications. Manifesting concern, Dr. Meadows recommends halting all house renovations. Back home, Daniel tries to lift Julie’s spirits, filling the bedroom with helpful gadgets, yet her discontent lingers as she grapples with the sudden restrictions placed upon her.

As days of bed rest progress, eerie occurrences unfold: echoes of a child’s laughter and glimpses of something inexplicable in the nursery heighten Julie’s anxiety. After witnessing more ghostly disturbances, including an unsettling reflection, Julie feels the mounting need to protect her unborn daughter. However, Daniel’s skepticism leads to further arguments, and he enlists a babysitter, Delmy Walker, to keep watch over her. Despite Delmy’s well-meaning intentions, overwhelming emotions drive Julie to confront the loss of Andrew, and mysterious phenomena escalate as Julie seeks solace but finds herself increasingly isolated.

The tension reaches a turning point when Delmy shares chilling lore about previous residents, a family shattered by tragedy, feeding into Julie’s growing paranoia about Melandra Kinsey—a woman whose fate intertwined disturbingly with her own. After piecing together the haunting history of her home, Julie’s fears multiply, especially as she believes that Melandra desires her baby to replace the children she lost.

As supernatural events spiral out of control, Julie’s bed rest comes to an unexpected, chaotic climax. The spiritual battles become both frantic and desperate, revealing Julie’s determination to protect her daughter at all costs. Confronted by the malevolent spirit of Melandra, Julie fights with a profound will to safeguard her family while uncovering the truth of the past.

The climax explodes into a struggle for survival as Julie gives birth in the chaos. Despite severe injuries, her relentless spirit triumphs against the darkness, embracing the paradox of life and death as she confronts her fate.

In an emotionally charged finale, as Julie relinquishes her hold on this world, she finds solace, holding both her lost son Andrew and her newborn baby in spirit. She makes a poignant promise to care for her family from beyond, culminating in a bittersweet conclusion that celebrates love’s endurance through the most trying moments. A year later, in a heartwarming scene, Daniel plays with their daughter, and the family embodies hope amid the shadows of the past.

Last Updated: November 03, 2024 at 22:38

Ending Explained – What Happens at the End of Bed Rest?

Still wondering what the ending of Bed Rest (2022) really means? Here’s a spoiler-heavy breakdown of the final scene, major twists, and the deeper themes that shape the film’s conclusion.

The ending of “Bed Rest” leaves viewers questioning whether what Julie experienced was supernatural or a manifestation of her mind. Throughout the film, she clearly grapples with intense trauma from losing her first child, which she never fully processed. Her hallucinations of the ghostly children, including her stillborn son Andrew, seem to be rooted in her grief and mental health struggles, especially since she stops taking her medication and begins experiencing increasingly surreal events. However, the movie also introduces the possibility that the house’s dark history—its previous owner drowning her children and herself—may be haunting Julie through supernatural means. As tension rises, Julie digs into the house’s past and uncovers the tragic story of the previous owner, which overlaps with her own visions. In her final moments, she gives birth inside the house, and her hallucinations become more vivid; she sees the spirits of Delmy and her child and even hands her newborn to Delmy before experiencing what appears to be her death. Yet, when she is rescued, the film suggests that her visions—the spirits and supernatural occurrences—were likely manifestations of her fractured mind, symbolizing her struggle to accept her grief and trauma. The ambiguous ending leaves it open whether the spirits were real or a product of her psyche, emphasizing the film’s exploration of trauma, mental health, and grief, making us wonder if Julie’s ghosts are truly there or simply a reflection of her pain.

The ending of “Bed Rest” is intentionally ambiguous, prompting viewers to question whether the supernatural elements are real or manifestations of Julie’s fractured mind. Throughout the film, it becomes clear that Julie’s mental health has been compromised by her unresolved grief over the loss of her first child. Her hallucinations of ghostly children and the mysterious woman are intertwined with her trauma, especially as she stops her medication and begins experiencing increasingly surreal events. The house’s dark history—its previous owner drowning her children and herself—adds a layer of possible supernatural hauntings. As Julie digs into the house’s past, her visions become more intense, blurring the line between reality and hallucination. In her final moments, after giving birth and seemingly encountering the spirits of her lost son and Delmy, she hands her newborn to the ghost of Delmy, symbolizing her desire to let go of her pain. When she is rescued, the film leaves it open whether these spirits were truly present or just hallucinations born from her grief and mental illness. The ambiguous ending encourages us to reflect on the power of trauma and whether her ghosts are real or simply a haunting of her own mind.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:59

Unlock the Full Story of Bed Rest

Don't stop at just watching — explore Bed Rest 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 Bed Rest is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Bed Rest Timeline

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

Bed Rest Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Bed Rest

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

Characters, Settings & Themes in Bed Rest

Bed Rest Ending Explained

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

Bed Rest Ending Explained

More About Bed Rest

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Bed Rest: 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 Bed Rest

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