In 1930s England, a reverend and his family settle into a new home, unaware of the dark secrets it holds. As unsettling events unfold, the reverend, Linus, finds his faith challenged and must seek help from an occult specialist. Together, they investigate the escalating disturbances and work to protect his daughter from a powerful, malevolent presence. Their investigation reveals a terrifying history connected to the manor and the sinister events plaguing the family.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen The Banishing 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 The Banishing (2021), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
In the charming English countryside during the year 1935, a tragic event unfolded within the imposing confines of Morley Hall. The local vicar, overcome by jealousy and driven into madness, brutally ended the life of his wife before taking his own. In the wake of this horrific act, Bishop Malachi colluded with the town’s physician to cover up the incident, silencing the whispers that erupted among the townsfolk.
Years later, a new vicar, Linus Forster, arrived at Morley Hall with his young bride, Marianne, and her mysterious daughter, Adelaide. Unbeknownst to Linus, Adelaide was shrouded in secrecy as she pretended to be her niece, all while concealing her own hidden truths. As the newlyweds started their life together, their relationship experienced strain, largely due to Linus’s internal battle with intimacy, which he perceived as a sinful indulgence.
As they began acclimating to their new surroundings, ominous and strange occurrences plagued Morley Hall. Adelaide became embroiled in a series of supernatural events, engaging with invisible presences and playing with eerie dolls fashioned after monks. The mirrors of the estate played tricks on their reflections, while Marianne began experiencing unsettling visions of shadowy figures and precognition that hinted at a violent end for their deaf housekeeper, Betsy.
During this turmoil, the occultist Harry Reed, who was well-acquainted with the sinister history of Morley Hall, approached Linus with a foreboding warning. He revealed that the estate once served as a home for the Minassian Order, where members carried out cruel rituals and unrelenting punishments for those they deemed sinners. Bishop Malachi, however, vehemently opposed Harry’s meddling, openly threatening him and displaying dubious affiliations.
As tensions escalated, Marianne became increasingly captivated by Harry, who, despite his own wounds, remained undeterred in his pursuit of the truth. He warned her that Morley Hall would ultimately turn its inhabitants against one another and urged her family to escape for their own safety. However, Linus became consumed with unraveling the mystery surrounding his predecessor’s death, only to unearth Bishop Malachi’s web of deceit: that the former vicar and his family had supposedly moved to Australia.
This shocking revelation ignited a fierce argument between Linus and Marianne, exacerbated by his discovery of her secret meetings with Harry. The following day, an unsettling visit from Bishop Malachi ensued, as he revealed himself as Adelaide’s true guardian, having orchestrated Marianne’s introduction to Linus and their appointment at Morley Hall. He threatened to reclaim Adelaide if Marianne ever considered leaving the estate.
As the dynamic between Marianne and Adelaide grew increasingly tumultuous, the young girl’s interactions with an unseen force she claimed as her real mother took a menacing turn. Adelaide’s sudden disappearance after wandering into a mirror left Marianne desperately seeking answers, only to be dismissed by Linus, who was inebriated. At this juncture, Harry agreed to assist Marianne in her urgent search, leading them back to the ominous house where they stumbled upon a grotesque revelation: Betsy’s bloody corpse, viciously slain by Linus, who appeared entranced, eerily mirroring the harrowing visions that had plagued Marianne.
This grim discovery triggered a plea for help from Harry, who explained that Adelaide had been abducted by the vengeful spirit of a slain pregnant woman, a victim of the Minassian monks’ brutal efforts to erase the unborn child. As Marianne intensified her mission to recover her ward, she found herself confronting the dark forces that haunted the estate through a disturbing series of visions that unearthed long-buried secrets from her own flawed past.
Amid the chaos, Marianne discovered comfort in Linus’ support as he employed ancient rituals and mystical texts to help her retrieve Adelaide and face the wrathful spirits. As the stakes heightened, Marianne’s resolve surged, culminating in a heart-wrenching promise to the murdered woman: that she and the unborn child would receive a proper burial.
In a chilling climax, Bishop Malachi was seen exhuming bodies and delivering them to Nazi officials in Stuttgart, leaving Marianne and the audience with an overwhelming sense of dread as the full extent of the estate’s sinister history was finally revealed.
Last Updated: November 17, 2024 at 22:37
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.
Stories where a haunted past violently intrudes upon the present.If you liked the way The Banishing wove a dark history into its supernatural terror, you'll find similar chills here. This collection groups movies where a gothic manor or estate holds sinister secrets from the past, and characters must uncover a legacy of evil to understand the haunting they face.
The narrative pattern revolves around a new arrival at an old, imposing location who experiences escalating supernatural events. The story becomes a mystery, peeling back layers of a hidden, often violent history connected to the place. The climax typically involves a confrontation with the residual evil, revealing a conspiracy or cover-up that leaves a lasting sense of dread.
These movies are grouped by their shared setting—the gothic manor as a character—and their plot driver: a historical evil that permeates the present. They blend supernatural horror with a detective-like investigation into a dark past, creating a specific type of intellectual and atmospheric dread.
Stories where belief systems are shattered by confronting undeniable evil.For viewers who appreciated the psychological torment and挑战 to faith in The Banishing, this list features similar stories. These films focus on characters whose sanity and belief systems are pushed to the brink by confronting a malevolent force, resulting in a heavy, emotionally draining experience.
The narrative follows a steadfast believer or rationalist who is confronted with phenomena that defy their worldview. The story charts their descent into doubt, fear, and psychological fragmentation as they are forced to accept a terrifying new reality. The conflict is internal as much as external, with the climax often resolving the physical threat but leaving the character's spirit broken or fundamentally altered.
These films are united by their central theme of psychological and spiritual collapse. The similarity lies in the intense focus on a character's internal battle against an external force that targets their identity and beliefs, creating a deeply heavy and unsettling viewing experience.
Don't stop at just watching — explore The Banishing 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 The Banishing is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of The Banishing 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 The Banishing. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Banishing 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.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Banishing: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like The Banishing 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.
The Banishing (2021) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
The Banishing (2021) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
The Banishing (2021) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow
Movies Like The Banishing – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
The Innocents (1961) Movie Recap & Themes
The Cursed (2022) Detailed Story Recap
The Witch (2016) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Men (2022) Complete Plot Breakdown
The Haunting (1963) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
The Haunting (1999) Detailed Story Recap
The House That Dripped Blood (1971) Complete Plot Breakdown
The Accursed (2022) Complete Plot Breakdown
The Haunting of Hill House (1000) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Witchcraft (1988) Ending Explained & Film Insights
The Ghosts of Borley Rectory (2021) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Cry of the Banshee (1970) Full Summary & Key Details
The Haunting of Julia (1977) Movie Recap & Themes
The Black Torment (1964) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
The Witches (1966) Full Movie Breakdown