Dear David

Year: 2023

Runtime: 1 h 34 m

Language: English

Director: John McPhail

HorrorThriller

A comic artist finds his life spiraling out of control as he’s relentlessly targeted by online trolls. His sense of reality fractures when a disturbing rocking chair mysteriously appears in his apartment, coinciding with episodes of sleep paralysis. As the unsettling occurrences escalate, his increasingly frantic social media posts become a desperate plea for assistance. He begins to believe he's being haunted by the vengeful spirit of Dear David, who seems determined to exact a dark and personal revenge.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Dear David (2023) – Ending Explained & Final Scene Breakdown

Still thinking about how Dear David (2023) ended? Here’s a full breakdown of the ending, key final moments, major twists, and the deeper meaning behind the film’s conclusion.

Laras, a teenage girl who writes fantasy stories inspired by her crush on a boy named David, ends up with her secrets getting exposed when her stories go viral online. Though she tries to keep her identity hidden, the school suspects Dilla, her former best friend, and wrongly blames her. David, who figures out Laras is the writer, confronts her, and they strike a deal: he keeps her secret, and she helps him pursue Dilla. As their relationships unfold, Dilla begins to suspect Laras’ feelings for David, and her own feelings develop in response. During a school event, Laras’ feelings for David lead her to kiss him, attempting to take control of her narrative, but this causes Dilla to feel betrayed and upset. Meanwhile, David, realizing his true feelings, tells Dilla he does not want a relationship, and Laras confesses her love to him during a church retreat, which he understands and reciprocates. However, the truth begins to unravel when David forgets his phone, revealing messages from Laras confessing her love and admitting she is the author of the stories, which Dilla discovers. This leads to chaos, with Laras being publicly exposed, causing her to be suspended from school. Feeling accused and hurt, Laras confronts Dilla and admits she regrets hurting her. Dilla then confesses she has been in love with Laras for a long time, and they reconcile. Laras, overwhelmed by guilt and the desire to make amends, climbs over Dilla’s wall to apologize, even injuring herself in the process. She admits she is sorry for hurting her, and Dilla reveals her love, reassuring Laras that their friendship can survive. The school penalizes Laras for her story writings, criticizing the hypocrisy and sexism in how boys and girls are treated, and Laras boldly refuses to apologize for her honesty. Despite the consequences, she is cheered by those supporting her bravery. The film ends with Laras and David starting a relationship, Dilla embracing her sexuality by approaching a girl she liked, and life moving forward with acceptance and confidence. The ending emphasizes that being true to oneself and accepting who you are can lead to genuine happiness, even amid societal pressures.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:44

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Digital hauntings and psychological collapse like in Dear David

Horror that weaponizes technology to fracture a character's grip on reality.Find movies like Dear David where supernatural horror is intricately linked with modern technology. If you enjoyed the theme of an online presence turning into a real-world nightmare, these stories explore similar ideas of digital identity, cyberbullying, and the terrifying erosion of reality through a screen.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern typically follows a protagonist, often an artist or someone with a significant online footprint, who becomes the target of a malevolent force that uses technology as its conduit. The story unfolds through escalating, inexplicable events that challenge objective reality, forcing the character to question their own mind while their public and private lives collapse simultaneously.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here because they share a core premise: a supernatural threat that is intrinsically tied to the digital age. They create a unique sense of dread by making the familiar tools of modern life—computers, phones, social media—into sources of unimaginable terror, focusing on psychological unravelling in a hyper-connected world.

Unreliable narrators in supernatural terror like in Dear David

Stories where the threat could be a ghost or a breaking mind.If you liked the ambiguous tension in Dear David, where sleep paralysis and mental deterioration make the haunting questionable, these movies deliver a similar experience. They feature protagonists on the edge, leaving you to wonder if the horror is supernatural or a severe psychological breakdown.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative journey is one of escalating doubt, both for the protagonist and the audience. The story presents events that could be interpreted as paranormal or as symptoms of trauma, stress, or mental illness. Key supporting characters often serve as voices of skepticism, deepening the protagonist's isolation. The plot structure meticulously balances evidence for both possibilities until a climax that may or may not provide a definitive answer.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped together because they prioritize psychological ambiguity over clear-cut supernatural explanations. They share a specific mood of profound uncertainty and paranoia, making the viewing experience intensely subjective and mentally engaging. The similarity lies in the constant questioning of reality itself.

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Dear David Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Dear David

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