LFO

LFO

Year: 2013

Runtime: 94 mins

Language: Swedish

Director: Antonio Tublén

Drama

A man discovers he possesses the ability to hypnotize people through sound. He begins experimenting with his neighbors, but the intoxicating effects of power lead him down a dangerous path. As he pushes the boundaries of his abilities, the consequences escalate, threatening severe repercussions for all of humanity. This dark comedy/drama/sci-fi explores the corrupting influence of unchecked power.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen LFO 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!

LFO (2013) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of LFO (2013), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Robert Nord, an awkward man, spends most of his time in his basement tinkering with synthesizers. After a heated argument with his wife Clara, whom he suspects of cheating, he retreats to the basement again, to her annoyance. There, over the Internet, he discusses with several of his friends his belief that he has what he calls a sound allergy to the music his wife enjoys, and he proposes that a certain frequency could act as the opposite of this allergy and grant him the peace he desires. With the help of Sinus-San, one of his friends from the Internet, he makes a breakthrough, though he hides the extent of his success. When Simon and Linn move next door to him, he resolves to experiment on them over the objections of his wife.

Robert invites over his new neighbors. Before he leaves to fetch coffee, he casually mentions that his family was killed in a car crash. Uncomfortable with the awkwardness of the conversation, Simon tells Clara that he intends to leave. However, when Robert returns, he plays a hypnotic frequency that compels them to obey his commands. He orders Simon to perform menial tasks and Linn to have sex with him. When Clara calls him pathetic, he defends his actions as being necessary to test the extent of his control. Eventually, it is revealed that Clara and his son, Sebastian, died when Robert sabotaged the family car. Clara chides him to take his antipsychotic medicine, pointing out that she is a hallucination, but Robert refuses. Instead, he forces Simon and Linn to take the place of his dead family members.

After several weeks of servitude at his house, his neighbors are reported missing, and the police show up at Robert’s house to ask if he has seen them. Robert panics and hypnotizes the police into leaving his house. Unsatisfied with his fake family, he releases Simon and Linn, though he monitors their life using security devices. When Linn accidentally discovers through the security device that Simon has been cheating on her, Robert hypnotizes them into accepting him as their marriage counselor. Robert again forces Linn to have sex with him, and he forces Simon to passively watch as punishment for cheating on her. When he tires of this, he again releases them from his control and amuses himself with mean-spirited pranks on his other neighbors. Clara urges him to find a more meaningful life.

Over time, the car manufacturer and police become interested in Robert’s involvement in the deaths of his wife and son. Sinus-San, who has been investigating Robert, threatens to go to the police unless Robert shares his invention. Robert hypnotizes Sinus-San and a representative of the car manufacturer, but the case against him continues. Frustrated with both the state of the world and his inability to be left in peace, Robert decides to broaden his experiment. He first compels Simon and Linn to form a rock band with him, but abandons that idea when their songs turn out amateurish. Robert then asks Simon and Linn for advice, and they describe their vision of a utopian society. Intrigued by their protestations that he should not play God, Robert asks them to define God.

Armed with their conception of a benevolent deity, Robert hypnotizes himself to emulate those qualities. Robert practices learning various foreign languages, and a series of voice-overs report that he has attained increasingly more prestigious positions in society, ultimately rising to the position of ruler of a unified Earth. At first, he forces through sweeping changes to society, but his message becomes increasingly pessimistic and antihumanist until he commands the entire human race to commit mass suicide.

The narrative tracks a perilous ascent of power and the erosion of humanity under a man who can bend others to his will, leaving viewers to ponder the fragility of individual sanity and the costs of unchecked control.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:27

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

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 the corruption of power like LFO

Stories where acquiring absolute power leads to disastrous moral decay.If you were fascinated by the moral collapse in LFO, this collection features similar movies about characters who gain dangerous abilities or authority. These stories delve into the psychological toll of unchecked power, exploring themes of control, obsession, and the devastating fallout when one person plays god.

unsettlingmanipulativeobsessivedystopianominousanxiousclaustrophobic

Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow a linear, inevitable descent. A protagonist discovers a new form of power—be it technological, supernatural, or social—and begins with small, often selfish experiments. As their control expands, so does their arrogance and detachment from morality, leading to increasingly severe consequences that ultimately spiral beyond their control, resulting in a bleak or tragic conclusion.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here based on their shared focus on the 'power corrupts' archetype. They possess a dark, intense tone and heavy emotional weight, centering on a character's psychological unraveling as they succumb to the intoxication of control, making the viewing experience unsettling and morally complex.

Claustrophobic psychological thrillers like LFO

Intense psychological thrillers about isolation and fractured realities.For viewers who appreciated the unsettling, paranoid vibe of LFO, this section gathers movies that feature a similar descent into madness. These films often focus on isolated characters, blurred realities, and a slow-burn sense of dread that builds to a devastating conclusion.

claustrophobicparanoidunsettlingpsychologicalanxiousominousisolated

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist, usually isolated or socially detached, whose perception of reality becomes increasingly unreliable. Hallucinations, paranoia, and obsessive behaviors escalate in a steady rhythm, often within a confined setting. The story methodically dismantles the character's psyche, leading the audience to question what is real and building towards an emotionally heavy, often bleak resolution.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their ability to generate a palpable sense of psychological claustrophobia and unease. They share a dark tone, high intensity, and a steady pacing that meticulously crafts a feeling of impending doom, making the viewer a captive witness to a mental unraveling.

Unlock the Full Story of LFO

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

LFO Timeline

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

LFO Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in LFO

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

Characters, Settings & Themes in LFO

LFO Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of LFO 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.

LFO Spoiler-Free Summary

More About LFO

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