Joshua

Joshua

Year: 2007

Runtime: 106 min

Language: English

Director: George Ratliff

DramaThriller

Brad and Abby, a successful stockbroker and his wife, live a seemingly perfect life with their gifted son, Joshua. The arrival of a new baby daughter should bring even more joy, but unsettling events begin to occur. Their pets die mysteriously, the infant cries incessantly, and Joshua displays a disturbing obsession with mummification. As the family's idyllic existence unravels, they must confront a growing sense of dread and a darkness connected to their extraordinary child.

Joshua (2007) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Joshua (2007) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the pulse of modern New York, a high‑powered life seems perfectly in place. Brad is a successful stockbroker whose days are measured in market moves, and his wife Abby balances the relentless rhythm of a demanding career with the warmth of their upscale home. Their world appears polished and secure, anchored by the presence of their remarkably bright nine‑year‑old son, Joshua, whose quiet confidence and formal demeanor set him apart from his peers.

Joshua is more than just academically brilliant; he possesses an unsettlingly mature outlook that manifests in his piano playing, where he favors dissonant, haunting chords that echo through the family’s elegant rooms. His bond with his gay uncle—an enigmatic figure who offers Joshua a refuge from parental expectations—further sharpens the contrast between his inner world and the outward façade of normalcy. The arrival of a newborn daughter, Lily, promises new joy, yet the delicate balance of the household shifts as the infant’s incessant cries weave through the night.

As the family navigates the inevitable pressures of raising a child whose intellect borders on the uncanny, an atmosphere of quiet dread begins to settle. The once‑bright corridors of their home start to feel strained, the ordinary comforts of parenthood tinged with an inexplicable tension. Abby finds herself wrestling with the demands of motherhood while the subtle oddities around the family grow harder to ignore, and Brad is forced to confront the uneasy feeling that something is slipping beyond his control.

The film settles into a moody, psychological landscape where brilliance and unease coexist, inviting the audience to wonder how far a family’s love can stretch when confronted with a child whose extraordinary nature hints at darker undercurrents. The stage is set for a haunting exploration of innocence, ambition, and the shadows that linger behind a seemingly perfect life.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 09:36

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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.

Movies about domestic psychological warfare like Joshua

Stories where the home becomes a battleground of hidden manipulation and paranoia.If you were captivated by the chilling psychological warfare in Joshua, discover more movies where family dynamics turn sinister. These films feature manipulative characters, domestic paranoia, and a steady unraveling of sanity, perfect for fans of slow-burn, dread-filled thrillers.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically follow a linear but escalating structure, where small, unsettling events gradually reveal a profound threat from within the family. The central conflict is one of deception and psychological dominance, leading to the complete breakdown of trust and domestic order.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here based on their shared focus on the home as a setting for psychological horror, the presence of a manipulative intelligence as the antagonist, and the overwhelming mood of domestic paranoia and creeping dread.

Movies with unsettling genius children like Joshua

Tales of extraordinarily intelligent children whose gifts conceal a chilling darkness.Fans of the chilling brilliance of Joshua will find more movies about disturbingly gifted children. These stories explore the terror of a child's intellect used for manipulation, featuring bleak outcomes, heavy emotional weight, and a constant sense of ominous dread.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves the introduction of a child whose superior intelligence is immediately apparent but whose motives are ambiguous. The plot unfolds as the child's actions become increasingly disturbing, leading to a revelation of their true, sinister nature and often a bleak, victorious outcome for the young antagonist.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by the central archetype of the 'evil child' portrayed as a cold, intellectual force. They share a specific vibe of intellectual horror, a focus on deception, and a general feeling of powerlessness in the face of a child's unnerving genius.

Unlock the Full Story of Joshua

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

Joshua Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Joshua, 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.

Joshua Summary

Joshua Timeline

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

Joshua Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Joshua

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

Characters, Settings & Themes in Joshua

More About Joshua

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

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