Control Freak

Valerie ‘Val’ Nguyen experiences a traumatic childhood marked by the death of her mother, Chi, during a boating accident. This event profoundly affects her psyche and instills a compulsive urge to scratch the back of her head.

As Val gears up for an international speaking tour, she realizes she needs her birth certificate to proceed. This revelation prompts her to reach out to her estranged family, setting off a series of events aimed at reconnecting with her roots.

Val seeks the help of her Aunt Thuy, who directs her to her father, Sang. Their relationship is fraught with tension, shaped by the trauma of Chi's death and Sang's struggles with addiction.

During her visit, Sang shares a Vietnamese folk tale about the Sanshi, a parasitic ghost that preys on its hosts and incites harmful compulsions. Val brushes off the story as mere superstition, not realizing its implication for her own life.

While exploring her family's past, Val stumbles upon old photographs depicting her mother with unusual rashes. This discovery leads her to suspect that her family may be cursed by the Sanshi, linking her compulsions to a deeper, sinister lineage.

As Val's compulsion intensifies, she further injures herself by scratching an open wound on her scalp. This physical manifestation of her mental turmoil drives a wedge between her and her husband, Robbie.

Robbie discovers Val's secret: she has been taking birth control pills despite their hopes to conceive a child. This revelation leads to an argument, highlighting the growing disconnect in their marriage.

In a heated confrontation, Sang reveals the dark truth behind the Sanshi he summoned during the Vietnam War. He confesses that he was forced to kill Chi to save Val from the curse, unveiling a tragic history that haunts the family.

Val suffers a breakdown during a speaking engagement when her mental state unravels. She is subsequently hospitalized, and doctors find that she has dangerously scratched a hole into her skull, leading to episodes of hallucination.

After being discharged from the hospital, Robbie brings Val home to begin her recovery. However, Val remains obsessed with the idea of the Sanshi, convinced that it still has a grip on her.

In a dramatic climax, Val attempts to exorcise the Sanshi by self-harm, hoping it will draw out the entity. This leads to a chilling confrontation with a monstrous version of the Sanshi, representing her inner struggles.

Val tries to drown the Sanshi in a swimming pool, mirroring the traumatic events of her childhood. Ultimately, Robbie intervenes, saving Val and culminating in a poignant struggle between her and her inner demons.

Val emerges from the pool holding a fetal-like version of the Sanshi, indicating her internal battle may not be over. This pivotal moment symbolizes her acknowledgment of her trauma and the ongoing fight against her compulsions.

In the film's closing moments, Val tells Robbie about her pregnancy, representing a new beginning for their relationship. However, a subtle hint of a bug crawling on their baby suggests that the influence of the Sanshi may still linger.

The film concludes on an ambiguous note, raising questions about whether Val has truly escaped the curse of the Sanshi. This leaves the audience pondering the lasting impacts of trauma and the complexities of healing.