Year: 2012
Runtime: 94 min
Language: English
Director: Guy Maddin
Ulysses Pick, a ruthless gangster and devoted father, returns to his family's mansion after years of absence, accompanied by a teenage corpse and a bound captive. His loyal gang awaits, still reeling from a recent violent confrontation with the police. As Ulysses confronts the mansion's unsettling secrets and navigates a maze of painful memories, he embarks on a deeper journey, seeking to uncover the truth about his family's dark past and the events that led to his exile.
Get a spoiler-free look at Keyhole (2012) 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 a remote, decaying estate that has watched generations rise and fall, a storm‑laden night brings a sudden, unsettling return. A weather‑worn mansion, its walls heavy with forgotten celebrations and quiet grief, stands as the only sanctuary left for a man who has spent years on the opposite side of the law. The house itself feels alive, its long corridors whispering of a past that refuses to stay buried, and the atmosphere crackles with a blend of dread and melancholy that hints at secrets ready to surface.
Ulysses Pick arrives at the threshold—a feared gangster known for his ruthless reputation, yet also a father whose devotion to his family still flickers beneath the surface. He is not alone; a bound captive walks beside him, and a grim, silent burden clings to his side, underscoring the weight of his long‑absent legacy. Alongside his loyal crew, who are still raw from recent clashes with the authorities, he steps into a home that has become a maze of memory and mystery, each room promising a fragment of a story long left unfinished.
The film drifts between stark realism and a dream‑like eeriness, allowing the mansion to act as both setting and character. Shadows shift, faint echoes of laughter and sorrow linger, and an unseen narrator hints at a deeper, almost supernatural tether that links the present to the family’s tangled history. The tone is deliberately unsettling, marrying gritty underworld grit with an almost gothic reverence for place, inviting the audience to wonder how far a man’s quest for truth can stretch before it dissolves into the very walls that surround him.
As the night deepens, Ulysses must navigate a delicate dance between the aggression that defines his world and the fragile bonds that still tug at his heart. The audience is left with a palpable sense of tension, curiosity about the house’s hidden layers, and the lingering question of whether redemption or ruin lies just beyond the next locked door.
Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 13:30
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.
Psychological journeys where a building reflects and distorts its inhabitants' inner trauma.Explore movies like Keyhole where a home is a vessel for memory and trauma. These films use supernatural or surreal elements to explore family secrets, grief, and the inescapable past. If you enjoyed Keyhole's atmospheric, psychological journey, you'll find similar themes of distorted reality in these haunting stories.
The narrative in these films is often non-linear, unfolding through fragmented memories and symbolic encounters within a confined space. Characters are forced to confront their personal demons, which are externalized through the supernatural nature of the setting. The journey is inward, focusing on emotional and psychological resolution rather than a traditional external plot.
These movies are grouped by their shared use of a setting as a psychological mirror. They blend genres like drama, thriller, and horror, prioritizing a melancholic, dreamlike mood. The pacing is often deliberate, building a pervasive sense of unease and claustrophobia as characters unravel deep-seated trauma within the walls that confine them.
Deliberate, atmospheric films where characters piece together painful pasts.Find movies similar to Keyhole that explore a character's painful past through a slow, layered narrative. If you were captivated by Keyhole's melancholic unraveling of family secrets, these films offer comparable journeys through memory and regret, often with a dark tone and a complex, non-linear structure.
The plot follows a character, often an anti-hero, as they are drawn back to a place or situation that forces a confrontation with their history. The story unfolds not through action, but through revelation, with the past bleeding into the present. The climax is typically a psychological and emotional reckoning rather than a physical confrontation.
They share a specific mood and narrative approach: a somber, oppressive atmosphere combined with a non-linear, complex plot structure. The pacing is intentionally slow to emphasize the weight of the past and the difficulty of the protagonist's introspective journey. The endings are often bittersweet, offering melancholy closure rather than simple resolution.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Keyhole 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 Keyhole is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of Keyhole, 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.
Track the full timeline of Keyhole with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Keyhole. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Keyhole: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like Keyhole 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.
Keyhole (2012) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
Keyhole (2012) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
Keyhole (2012) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow
Movies Like Keyhole – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
Trouble Every Day (2001) Full Movie Breakdown
Headhunters (2012) Movie Recap & Themes
Breaking and Entering (2006) Story Summary & Characters
Knock Knock (2015) Complete Plot Breakdown
Discreet (2018) Full Summary & Key Details
Deep Murder (2019) Story Summary & Characters
The Hole (2001) Full Movie Breakdown
The Key (2007) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Vicious and Nude (1980) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Murder Obsession (1981) Detailed Story Recap
The Key (1983) Full Summary & Key Details
Introspectum Motel (2021) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Keys to Tulsa (1997) Movie Recap & Themes
The Keyhole (1933) Detailed Story Recap
In the Folds of the Flesh (1970) Full Movie Breakdown