Braid

Braid

Year: 2019

Runtime: 82 min

Language: English

Director: Mitzi Peirone

Echo Score: 64
MysteryThrillerHorror

Two fugitives find themselves trapped in a sinister estate, where a wealthy and unstable acquaintance lures them into a dangerous and elaborate game. As the lines between reality and illusion blur, they are forced to confront the consequences of their past actions. The escalating tension and deceit lead to a terrifying ordeal where survival depends on unraveling the truth and escaping the deadly trap they've been caught in.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Braid yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Braid (2019)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Braid (2019). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The events occur in a contemporary setting, reflecting current societal issues such as drug use and mental health. The characters' struggles mirror real-life challenges faced by many young artists, navigating the harsh realities of their lifestyles while grappling with their pasts. The combination of modern themes with a retro narrative of childhood games creates an unsettling atmosphere.

Location

New York, rural mansion

The movie takes place in the bustling city of New York, known for its vibrant arts scene and diverse culture. However, much of the action unfolds in a remote rural mansion, which serves as a haunting backdrop for the characters' twisted game. This mansion is isolated and filled with hidden secrets, amplifying the tension and the emotional turmoil experienced by the characters.

🏙️ City 🏰 Mansion

Last Updated: May 04, 2025 at 18:44

Main Characters – Braid (2019)

Meet the key characters of Braid (2019), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Daphne Peters (Madeline Brewer)

Daphne is portrayed as a wealthy but deeply unstable character, whose childhood trauma shapes her adult interactions. In the movie, she oscillates between a maternal figure and a manipulative captor, embodying the complexities of mental illness. Her actions, driven by delusion, create a distorted reality for those around her.

👩‍👧‍👧 Motherhood 🥴 Instability 🔒 Manipulation

Petula Thames (Imogen Waterhouse)

Petula is one of the protagonists, a young artist caught in a dangerous web of her own making. Throughout the film, her resourcefulness is tested as she navigates the surreal and perilous circumstances initiated by Daphne. Her character showcases resilience amidst chaos, even as she grapples with fear and power dynamics.

🎨 Artistry 🚨 Survival 🧠 Resilience

Tilda Darlings (Sarah Hay)

Tilda is portrayed as a dependent character who experiences the dark transformations initiated by Daphne. She represents vulnerability, especially during the game's increasingly disturbing scenarios. Her arc reveals a blend of loyalty and fear, culminating in her complicity during the climactic moments of violence.

💔 Vulnerability 🌪️ Chaos 🔗 Loyalty

Detective Siegel (Scott Cohen)

Detective Siegel serves as a link to the outside world, representing authority amidst the chaos of the girls' lives. He embodies the struggle between suspicion and inaction, as his visits to Daphne's mansion are marked by a growing sense of urgency. His character amplifies the tension and foreshadows the tragic consequences of the events.

🚔 Authority ⚖️ Justice 👁️ Observation

Last Updated: May 04, 2025 at 18:44

Major Themes – Braid (2019)

Explore the central themes of Braid (2019), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🌀 Psychological Manipulation

The theme of psychological manipulation permeates the film as Daphne subverts the dynamic of their childhood game to assert control over Petula and Tilda. This manipulation is vividly manifested through bizarre scenarios and coerced acts that challenge the boundaries of reality. The film explores how trauma and past relationships can distort perceptions and lead to dangerous power plays.

🌪️ Descent into Madness

The descent into madness is a critical theme as Daphne's unstable mental state escalates through the course of the movie. Initially portrayed as a wealthy friend, her behaviors reveal deep-seated psychological issues stemming from childhood trauma. This transformation culminates in a chilling portrayal of how delusion can blur the lines between game and reality, leading to tragic outcomes.

Last Updated: May 04, 2025 at 18:44

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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 thrillers with deadly games like Braid

Characters are lured into confined spaces where reality is the first victim.Movies like Braid where characters are trapped in a confined, often luxurious, setting and forced to participate in a psychologically damaging game. These films share a high-stakes, oppressive atmosphere, blending survival horror with intricate mind games that challenge perception.

claustrophobicmind-bendingunsettlinghigh-stakesconfinementpsychological torturedeceptivetrapped

Narrative Summary

The narrative typically begins with a deceptive invitation or escape to a secluded location. The environment itself becomes a character—a gilded cage where the rules of a 'game' are established by an unstable host. The plot escalates as the characters realize the game is a veneer for deeper psychological manipulation, often rooted in past trauma, leading to a violent struggle for sanity and survival.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared core premise: a contained, high-pressure setting used to stage an elaborate psychological ordeal. They prioritize atmosphere over action, building dread through unreliable perspectives and the slow dismantling of the protagonists' sense of reality.

Movies with fractured realities and bleak endings like Braid

Stories where trauma fractures perception, trapping characters in a loop of delusion.If you liked the mind-bending narrative and bleak ending of Braid, this list features similar psychological horror and thriller movies. These films use complex storytelling to explore trauma, memory, and delusion, often concluding with a devastating revelation of an inescapable cycle.

unreliable narratorpsychologicalbleaknon-lineartraumadelusionalfateinescapable

Narrative Summary

The journey is defined by a gradual or sudden disruption of a coherent timeline. Flashbacks, dreams, and psychotic breaks are woven into the narrative, making it difficult to distinguish truth from fabrication. The climax typically reveals that the protagonist is trapped in a cycle of their own making—a重复的噩梦, a persistent delusion, or a karmic loop—from which there is no true awakening or escape.

Why These Movies?

These movies are united by their complex approach to narrative and theme. They prioritize psychological disorientation over straightforward plotting, using cinematic techniques to mirror a character's fractured mental state. The shared experience is one of unsettling ambiguity and a heavy, often hopeless, emotional weight.

Unlock the Full Story of Braid

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

Braid Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Braid, 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.

Braid Summary

Braid Timeline

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

Braid Timeline

Braid Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Braid that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Braid Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Braid

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

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