Spoonful of Sugar

She decides to take time away from college to focus on her thesis and participate in a program that uses microdoses of LSD. The program is part of her attempt to cope with the trauma from years in foster care. This decision sets the stage for her to encounter troubling family dynamics.

She begins a babysitting job for Johnny, a nonverbal boy whose severe allergies require him to wear an astronaut-style suit. The assignment places her inside Johnny's home, where she will supervise him and manage his daily needs. The arrangement foreshadows the power she will wield within the family.

Millicent quickly learns that Johnny's home life is not as orderly as it seems. She discovers Jacob's philandering and Rebecca's obsession with maintaining a flawless image. The toxic dynamic hints at the vulnerabilities Millicent will exploit.

Feeling unsettled by the existing mother figure, Millicent resolves to take Rebecca's place and become the perfect caregiver for Johnny. She works to insert herself into the family routine and reshape Johnny's loyalties. Her plan marks a deliberate shift from caregiver to controlling matriarch.

To bond with Johnny, Millicent teaches him how to skin animals he had killed and buried in the yard, deepening the unsettling dynamic of the home. She also begins dosing him with LSD as part of the treatment, intensifying their bond and altering Johnny's perception. The combination deepens Johnny's dependence on her.

Johnny's first spoken word is mommy, a moment that marks a turning point in their relationship. Rebecca's anger grows as Millicent's influence over Johnny becomes more intimate and dangerous. The household atmosphere grows increasingly volatile.

Rebecca uncovers the affair when Johnny reveals drawings depicting the sexual interlude between Millicent and Jacob. She confronts Millicent about the sketches, exposing the depth of deceit. The discovery destabilizes the family and Millicent's plans.

After the confrontation, Millicent attacks Rebecca and then leaves to find Jacob. The violent outburst marks Millicent's abrupt decision to pursue her own agenda. The retreat sets the stage for the next move in her sequence of actions.

Millicent locates Jacob and pleads for him to end his marriage, arguing that she would be a better partner for him and for Johnny. Jacob refuses, choosing to stay with Rebecca. The moment deepens Millicent's desperation and resistance.

While Millicent is away, Johnny acts on Millicent's earlier instructions and attacks his mother. The assault escalates the household's violence and shows how far Johnny has been drawn into Millicent's plans. The event demonstrates the dangerous consequences of Millicent's manipulation.

Millicent returns to find Rebecca and Johnny turning on her, and Johnny fatally stabs Millicent. The violence completes the collapse of Millicent's scheme and seals her fate within the house. The scene underscores the deadly power dynamics at play.

The film ends with a chilling reveal that Johnny's murders were not isolated and that his parents have concealed prior deaths to protect him. They intend to continue the cover-up, implying a cycle of violence enabled by parental complicity. The revelation reframes the entire story as a critique of the adults' complicity.