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Ending Explained

My Best Friend's Exorcism (2022) Ending Explained – Final Scene & Meaning

Release, runtime and language
2022 · 97 min · English
Echo score 30
JustWatch #18,192 5
Directed by
Damon Thomas
Starring
Elsie Fisher, Cathy Ang, Nathan Anderson, Erin Ownbey, Amiah Miller, Chris Lowell

In 1988, the close friendship of Abby and Gretchen is challenged when Gretchen begins to exhibit disturbing behavior. As they grapple with the complexities of teenage life, love, and the trends of the era, Abby discovers a demonic force has taken hold of her best friend. Determined to save Gretchen, Abby seeks help from an unusual exorcist, embarking on a desperate fight against evil and struggling to maintain their bond amidst the escalating supernatural threat.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens at the end
  3. 3 Final events in order
  4. 4 Ending questions answered
  5. 5 The book behind the movie
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like My Best Friend's Exorcism
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch My Best Friend's Exorcism (2022)

Where can you watch My Best Friend's Exorcism? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video Free: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Ending explained · contains spoilers

What Happens at the End of My Best Friend's Exorcism?

How My Best Friend's Exorcism (2022) ends, what the final scene means, which earlier moments set it up and how to read the ending if the film leaves it open. The full ending explained, with every spoiler.

In the climax of the film, Abby manages to perform a makeshift exorcism on Gretchen, who has been possessed by the powerful demon Andras. This demon, which is one of the highest-ranking in Hell, has taken control of Gretchen and turned her against her friends, sabotaging their lives and causing chaos. Abby, with some improvisation involving perfume and alcohol to create a fiery burn, confronts the demon in a final showdown. Despite the chaotic and less-than-professional attempt, the exorcism succeeds in banishing the demon back to hell, freeing Gretchen from its grip. Afterwards, Gretchen begins a new chapter in her life, leaving the haunted memories behind and reconnecting with her friends. Although the film hints at some lingering doubts about the strength of their battle, ultimately, the demon is defeated through Abby’s brave but imperfect effort. Gretchen, now demon-free, can move forward, and her friendship with Abby remains strong, symbolizing the endurance of true friendship even through supernatural ordeals. The ending underscores that even in chaos and mistakes, courage and loyalty can triumph over darkness.}

Last updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:44

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The last 4 events

How My Best Friend's Exorcism Ends: The Final Events in Order

The last events of My Best Friend's Exorcism (2022) in chronological order, the run-up to the ending explained above. The complete timeline has all 15 events, scene by scene.

Open the full timeline
  1. Exorcism Plan

    Abby seeks help from Christian, who confirms that Gretchen is possessed. In a desperate bid to save her friend and others affected, he agrees to perform an exorcism at the lake house.

    Where
    Margaret's Lake House
  2. Climactic Confrontation

    At the lake house, the group initiates the exorcism, but as the demon reveals itself as Christian's mother, he panics and flees, leaving Abby to confront the evil alone.

    Where
    Margaret's Lake House
  3. Battle against the Demon

    In a desperate move to save her friend, Abby resorts to stabbing Gretchen in an effort to drive out the demon. This intense battle culminates in the defeat of the malevolent spirit.

    Where
    Margaret's Lake House
  4. Friendship Resumed

    Weeks after the harrowing events, Gretchen relocates but her friendship with Abby remains intact. They continue their annual trips to the lake house, honoring the bond they forged through their experiences.

    Where
    Lake House

Ending questions answered

My Best Friend's Exorcism Ending: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about the ending of My Best Friend's Exorcism (2022): what the final scene means, how the twist works, what happens to each character and how to read the ending. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

How does Abby perform the exorcism on Gretchen?

Abby performs a makeshift exorcism by improvising with perfume and alcohol. She creates a fiery burn to confront the demon Andras directly. Despite the chaotic and unprofessional approach, the method successfully banishes the powerful demon back to hell, freeing Gretchen from possession.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Abby and her friends had been researching demonology and supernatural methods to help Gretchen, though their knowledge was limited.

  • exorcism method
  • Abby
  • perfume
  • alcohol
  • demon Andras
  • homemade exorcism
Q2

Does the exorcism actually work in the end?

Yes, the exorcism succeeds in banishing the demon Andras from Gretchen's body. The demon is sent back to hell, and Gretchen is freed from its control. She regains her normal personality and can move forward with her life.

Foreshadowing: The demon's previous violent actions and escalating control over Gretchen had created doubt about whether any normal method could stop it.

  • exorcism success
  • demon banishment
  • Gretchen freed
  • Andras defeated
Q3

What happens to Gretchen after the exorcism?

After the demon is banished, Gretchen begins a new chapter in her life. She leaves her haunted memories behind and reconnects with her friends. Though she needed to relocate after the traumatic events, she is now demon-free and can move forward.

Foreshadowing: The possession had caused Gretchen to act violently against her friends, including a stabbing incident that made her relocation necessary.

  • Gretchen fate
  • after exorcism
  • new chapter
  • relocation
Q4

What happens to the demon Andras at the end?

The demon Andras, one of the highest-ranking demons in Hell, is defeated and banished back to hell through Abby's exorcism. While the film hints at some lingering doubts about whether the battle is truly over, the demon is successfully expelled from Gretchen.

Foreshadowing: Andras had been established as an extremely powerful demon whose influence corrupted Gretchen throughout the film.

  • Andras demon
  • demon defeat
  • hell
  • high ranking demon
Q5

Do Abby and Gretchen stay friends after the ending?

Yes, Abby and Gretchen's friendship remains strong after the exorcism. The ending emphasizes that their bond has endured even through the supernatural ordeal. Despite the trauma and chaos, their loyalty to each other triumphs over the darkness that tried to tear them apart.

Foreshadowing: Their friendship had been tested throughout the film as the demon systematically turned Gretchen against her friends.

  • friendship
  • Abby and Gretchen
  • loyal friends
  • friendship endures
Q6

What is the cost of defeating the demon?

The victory comes at a significant cost. Gretchen had been manipulated by the demon into stabbing one of her friends, and she ultimately needs to relocate to escape her haunted memories. The ending is bittersweet, relief that the demon is defeated but marked by lingering trauma and the practical consequence of moving away.

Foreshadowing: The demon had actively worked to sabotage and destroy the friendships in Gretchen's life as part of its possession.

  • cost of victory
  • Gretchen moves
  • trauma
  • stabbing
  • consequences
Q7

What does the ending mean thematically?

The ending delivers a message that courage and loyalty can triumph over darkness, even through chaos and imperfect methods. It suggests that true friendship endures even the most harrowing trials. The makeshift, imperfect exorcism proves that determination and love can overcome powerful evil.

Foreshadowing: The film consistently emphasized the power of friendship as a counterforce to the demonic threat.

  • theme
  • friendship triumph
  • courage
  • loyalty
  • darkness defeated
Q8

Why is the exorcism so chaotic and improvised?

The exorcism is chaotic because Abby is not a professional, she's a teenager using whatever materials she can find. She combines perfume and alcohol to create a makeshift weapon against the demon. The film emphasizes this imperfection to show that courage and determination can succeed even without proper training or resources.

Foreshadowing: Earlier attempts to help Gretchen through conventional channels had failed, leaving Abby to improvise.

  • improvised exorcism
  • chaotic
  • teenage exorcist
  • not professional
Q9

Does the film suggest the demon might return?

The film hints at some lingering doubts about the strength of their battle against the demon. While the exorcism succeeds in banishing Andras, the doubt suggests uncertainty about whether such a powerful demon could potentially return, leaving a subtle note of unease beneath the hopeful ending.

Foreshadowing: Andras was established as one of the highest-ranking demons in Hell, implying his power is formidable.

  • demon return
  • doubt
  • Andras
  • possibility of comeback

Movie threads

More Movies Like My Best Friend's Exorcism, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes My Best Friend's Exorcism tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about friendship battling evil like My Best Friend's Exorcism

Stories where the bond between friends is a weapon against a terrifying force. If you liked seeing Abby fight for Gretchen in My Best Friend's Exorcism, you'll find similar stories here. These movies feature loyal friends facing down demons, monsters, or supernatural threats, where the emotional core is the survival of their bond amidst the horror.

  • desperate
  • tense
  • loyal
  • frantic
  • anxious
  • traumatic
  • Tone: dark, desperate
  • Pacing: fast, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically begin with a strong, established friendship that is shattered by an external, often supernatural, incursion. The plot follows the protagonist's desperate journey to save their friend, encountering skepticism and danger, culminating in a high-stakes confrontation where love and loyalty are the ultimate weapons.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here because they share a specific emotional core: the theme of unconditional friendship as a source of strength in the face of overwhelming horror. They blend heavy emotional weight with high-intensity thrills, focusing on the characters' emotional journey as much as the supernatural plot.

Fast-paced 80s-style horror movies like My Best Friend's Exorcism

Fast-paced horror stories steeped in nostalgic settings but driven by relentless dread. Fans of the frantic, nostalgic horror in My Best Friend's Exorcism will enjoy this selection. These are high-tension thrillers and horror films that evoke a specific retro era, often the 80s, combining coming-of-age elements with a fast, desperate pace and disturbing themes.

  • frantic
  • anxious
  • nostalgic
  • disturbing
  • tense
  • gritty
  • Tone: dark, gritty, nostalgic
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a quick descent from normalcy into chaos, with little time for characters or the audience to breathe. The period setting provides a layer of recognizability and comfort that is systematically dismantled by a sudden, violent supernatural or psychological threat that accelerates towards a brutal climax.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their unique blend of a distinct nostalgic aesthetic and a consistently fast, high-anxiety pacing. They deliver a specific viewing experience: a comforting sense of familiarity quickly overwritten by frantic, gritty, and disturbing horror action.

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Every angle

My Best Friend's Exorcism (2022) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

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