Little Otik

Little Otik

Year: 2001

Runtime: 132 min

Language: Czech

Director: Jan Svankmajer

DramaThrillerFantasyHorrorComedyAnimation

A childless couple adopts a sentient tree stump, named Otik, as a substitute child in this darkly humorous Czech fantasy. As Otik grows, he becomes a ravenous monster, consuming the family cat and even postal deliveries. Simultaneously, a remarkably mature young girl finds comfort in her unusual "baby," while dealing with the challenges of growing up and uncovering unsettling truths about her family and community.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Little Otik 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!

Little Otik (2001) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Little Otik (2001), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Karel Horák, played by Jan Hartl, and his wife Božena Horáková, portrayed by Veronika Zilková, face the heart-wrenching reality of being childless due to medical issues. While vacationing in a serene countryside house with their neighbors, the Stadlers, Karel takes the initiative to purchase the property after a suggestion from Mr. Stadler. During the renovation, he uncovers a mysterious tree stump that oddly resembles a baby, which he cleans up and presents to Božena as a gift. Captivated by the stump, she names it Otík and begins to nurture it as if it were their own child.

As time goes on, Božena concocts an elaborate scheme to fake her pregnancy, driven by her longing for motherhood. With mounting impatience, she accelerates her plan and pretends to ‘give birth’ to Otík a month earlier than expected. To everyone’s shock, Otík springs to life with an insatiable appetite. Alžbětka, the Stadlers’ daughter, grows increasingly suspicious of the peculiar situation. After reading the fairy tale of Otesánek, the truth about Otík’s nature becomes evident. Meanwhile, the creature’s voracious hunger leads it to consume odd items, including some of Božena’s hair and, eventually, even their pet cat.

Tensions rise between Karel and Božena as Karel advocates for eliminating the creature, while Božena fiercely defends Otík as their beloved child. The situation escalates when Otík devours a postal worker, played by Gustav Vondráček, followed by a social worker, portrayed by Jitka Smutná. With the deaths stacking up, Karel makes the drastic decision to confine Otík in the basement, leaving it to starve. However, Alžbětka takes matters into her own hands, attempting to care for Otík with regular human food. When her attempts are thwarted, she resorts to a haunting method of drawing straws to determine a victim to feed to Otík.

The sinister choice falls on the old man and pedophile, Mr. Žlábek, played by Zdeněk Kozák, who has been harassing her. Alžbětka lures him to the basement, where Otík ensnares him with its vines and devours him. In a tragic twist, Karel himself becomes another victim when he confronts Otík with a chainsaw but falters, calling the creature “son” before relinquishing the weapon. Following this, Božena ventures into the basement only to be heard screaming, implying that she too has succumbed to Otík’s hunger. Ultimately, the chaos concludes when Otík disregards Alžbětka’s warnings, voraciously devouring all of Mrs. Správcová’s cabbage patch, leading the determined old woman to take matters into her own hands against the creature.

Last Updated: November 15, 2024 at 19:00

Unlock the Full Story of Little Otik

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

Little Otik Timeline

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

Little Otik Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Little Otik

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

Characters, Settings & Themes in Little Otik

Little Otik Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Little Otik 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.

Little Otik Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Little Otik

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

Similar Movies to Little Otik

Discover movies like Little Otik 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.