Swallowed

Swallowed

Year: 2023

Runtime: 94 min

Language: English

Director: Carter Smith

Echo Score: 59
ThrillerHorror

After a failed drug deal, two friends find themselves in a terrifying fight for survival. They are trapped in a bizarre and nightmarish situation filled with disturbing hallucinations and gruesome encounters. As they struggle to escape, the boundary between what’s real and what’s imagined becomes increasingly unclear, testing their sanity and their friendship.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Swallowed (2023) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Swallowed (2023), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Two friends, Benjamin and Dom, are gearing up for an emotional farewell in a quaint Maine town, as Benjamin prepares to embark on a new life in Los Angeles as a gay porn star. Filled with both excitement and trepidation, Dom, harboring secret feelings for Benjamin, takes it upon himself to express his unwavering support by orchestrating a special going-away gift. In a twist of fate, Dom has agreed to undertake a risky drug run into Canada, intending to make quick cash to help Benjamin settle into his new life.

Their contact, Alice, presents them with a troubling package: five condoms filled with a mysterious substance. She insists that Dom must ingest the first four, and Benjamin the last one. In a startling moment of aggression, she pulls a gun on Dom, forcing him to comply, and instructs them to text her once the packages have exited their systems.

Crossing the border, the pair stops at a rest area where Dom attempts to retrieve the packages. However, he faces complications, and when a homophobic character named Randy, played by [Michael Shawn Curtis], confronts them, things take a violent turn. As tensions rise, Dom attempts to defend Benjamin but ends up getting punched, leading to a series of unfortunate events, including slashed tires.

While Dom appears initially unscathed, he quickly starts to exhibit severe stomach pain and discomfort. Refusing to alert the authorities about their precarious situation, he tries to expel one of the packages himself. In a frightening twist, the package contains something that is unnaturally moving. As Benjamin assists him back to the truck, they realize that Dom’s condition is deteriorating rapidly.

Just as Benjamin decides to call for medical help, Alice arrives, having been alerted by a text from Dom. She intervenes and takes the boys to a remote cabin owned by Rich, Alice’s boss, with the intention of collecting the packages they had swallowed. However, when Rich unexpectedly decides to visit, chaos ensues; Alice panics and insists that Benjamin help retrieve the packages from Dom.

As Benjamin works desperately to extract the packages, Rich arrives and immediately expresses an unwanted fascination towards Benjamin. Tensions escalate when Dom, in pain, demands the money they were promised. Rich, refusing to cooperate, threatens Dom, leading to an unnerving standoff. Dom’s health declines as he convulses from the venom within him, and despite efforts to save him, they discover that one of the packages is broken, increasing the risk of fatal consequences.

As events reach a breaking point, Alice, spurred by guilt from hearing Dom’s cries of agony, tries to intervene, but Rich stubbornly opposes any medical assistance for Dom. After a fleeting moment of intimacy between Dom and Benjamin, tragedy strikes: Dom dies, leaving Benjamin distraught. In a fit of rage, Rich reveals that Alice has been fatally harmed, and he spirals into emotional turmoil, demanding agreement from Benjamin that he is not a bad person.

Amidst the rising tension, Benjamin seizes the moment to outsmart Rich. He cleverly distracts Rich, ultimately stabbing him and escaping into the forest. However, he finds himself stranded without the necessary keys to leave. In a last-ditch effort, he heads toward a waterfall to eliminate the remnants of the drugs from his system.

As Benjamin returns to the cabin, he witnesses Rich disposing of Alice’s remains, which propels him to take drastic action. He confronts Rich, using the poker as a weapon and subsequently allows one of the larvae to bite him, confronting the very source of his turmoil.

In a poignant conclusion, Benjamin tenderly washes Dom’s body in a nearby river, honoring their bond. The emotional finale showcases Benjamin’s quest for survival coupled with the weight of loss, as he ultimately exacts revenge on Rich by discarding him down the very outhouse used for disposal.

Over the closing credits, viewers see Benjamin on the red carpet of the fictional Squirty pornography awards, where he humorously yet emotionally acknowledges, “I thank all the people who believed in me.” This journey from friendship to betrayal culminates in a stark exploration of loyalty, desire, and the darker aspects of ambition.

Last Updated: May 12, 2025 at 07:03

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This thread groups movies based on the powerful combination of a crime-gone-wrong plot and a heavy emotional focus on a central relationship. The shared elements are a fast-paced descent into violence, themes of loyalty and betrayal, and an ending defined by tragic loss.

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Swallowed Timeline

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Swallowed

Swallowed Spoiler-Free Summary

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