Year: 2022
Runtime: 84 min
Language: English
Directors: Dan Berk, Robert Olsen
While backpacking through the remote Pacific Northwest, a young couple, Harry and Ruth, find their romantic getaway taking a disturbing turn. As they venture deeper into the wilderness, they begin to suspect they are not as isolated as they thought. A growing sense of unease and mystery surrounds them, leading them to confront a potentially unsettling presence in the woods.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen Significant Other 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!
Read the complete plot breakdown of Significant Other (2022), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
A mysterious red object crashes into a forest, where a deer is suddenly ensnared by a tentacle. In the heart of their six-year relationship, Ruth (Maika Monroe) and Harry (Jake Lacy), an unmarried couple, embark on a camping adventure. Their trek leads them to a picturesque overlook adorned with shimmering water, where Harry seizes the moment to propose marriage. However, Ruth, plagued by anxiety, panics and declines, citing their earlier discussions about avoiding marriage. This disagreement injects a strain into their relationship, creating an awkward tension that lingers.
The following day, as they meander through the woods, they stumble upon a deer enveloped in a strange black substance, which Harry assumes is due to some illness. Ruth’s curiosity drives her into a cave where she discovers a blue puddle. Emerging from the cave, she reveals to Harry that she has had a change of heart and wants him to propose once more. Yet, when they reach the scenic overlook again, the atmosphere takes a dark turn as Ruth unexpectedly pushes him off the cliff, leading him to a fatal fall onto the rocks below.
In her wandering through the forest afterward, Ruth encounters another couple who try to help her understand the disconnect she feels. Soon, a disguised alien version of Harry emerges, killing the couple. It’s unveiled that the blue puddle led Ruth to witness Harry’s dead body encased in a cocoon, making her realize he has been replaced by a malignant impostor. The alien, burdened by the love Harry had for Ruth, struggles with this unfamiliar emotion and finds itself unable to harm her.
Taking Ruth to a beach, the alien shows her its spacecraft, urging her to escape the impending Earth invasion by joining it on another planet. In a desperate attempt for freedom, Ruth stabs the alien and lures it into the water, attracting a shark that allows her to escape. However, the alien manages to slay the shark and pursues her, eventually overpowering and cocooning her as well. It then absorbs her personality, mimicking her appearance but finding itself troubled by her anxieties.
As the authentic Ruth breaks free from the cocoon, she confronts the creature, shattering its head with a rock. In her flight, the alien’s head begins to regenerate, indicating it’s far from finished. Ruth navigates her way back to her vehicle, and as she drives away, the alien ominously communicates with her through the car radio, while red objects begin to rain down from the sky, heralding the larger alien invasion that is yet to come.
Last Updated: October 28, 2024 at 17:51
Still wondering what the ending of Significant Other (2022) really means? Here’s a spoiler-heavy breakdown of the final scene, major twists, and the deeper themes that shape the film’s conclusion.
The ending of “Significant Other” reveals that the alien creature, which initially took the form of Harry after killing him and hiding his body, has been experimenting with human emotions—particularly love. Ruth’s discovery that Harry was actually an alien in disguise led her to realize that the creature was capable of experiencing human feelings, such as love, because it had taken on Harry’s memories and emotions during their interactions. This revelation explains why the alien couldn’t kill Ruth outright; unlike other predators, it developed a complex attachment to her, motivated by Harry’s love for her. The creature explained that it wanted to take Ruth to a distant planet where they could live together, free of Earth’s chaos, because it believed love was a unique and powerful emotion that made humans special. Ruth, however, saw the alien’s capacity for love as a weakness and a danger. She managed to trick the creature into the ocean, where a shark attacked it, but the alien’s regenerative powers allowed it to survive. Ruth then escaped the forest, leaving behind the creature, which was injured but still indestructible due to its alien nature. As she drives away, she turns on the radio and hears the creature’s voice warning her it will find her, illustrating its persistent threat. Meanwhile, the sky fills with falling red stars, symbolizing the invasion of Earth by many more aliens like the one Ruth encountered. The film ends on a bleak note, suggesting that humanity’s capacity for love has made them vulnerable to these alien beings. The ending leaves viewers questioning whether these aliens will also experience human emotions or if they will continue to manipulate their feelings for their own survival, hinting that Earth may soon fall under alien domination, with Ruth’s fight for freedom seeming almost hopeless in the face of this overwhelming invasion. The story implies that while love is a powerful human trait, it could also be the very thing that puts humanity at risk in a universe filled with emotion-capable alien predators.
Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:44
Don't stop at just watching — explore Significant Other 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 Significant Other is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Significant Other 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 Significant Other. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Discover movies like Significant Other 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.
Significant Other (2022) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
Significant Other (2022) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
Significant Other (2022) Ending Explained & Theories
Movies Like Significant Other – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
Signs (2002) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
No One Will Save You (2023) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Monsters (2010) Complete Plot Breakdown
The Gorge (2025) Complete Plot Breakdown
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Splinter (2008) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Alien Abduction (2014) Complete Plot Breakdown
The Strangers (2008) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
The Thing (1982) Movie Recap & Themes
Knock at the Cabin (2023) Full Movie Breakdown
Extraterrestrial (2014) Story Summary & Characters
Immanence (2022) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Dreamcatcher (2003) Full Movie Breakdown
Phantoms (1998) Movie Recap & Themes
I Think We're Alone Now (2018) Plot Summary & Ending Explained