The Dark and the Wicked

The Dark and the Wicked

Year: 2020

Runtime: 94 min

Language: English

Director: Bryan Bertino

Horror

In a bleak and isolated rural setting, a family faces a deepening crisis as their father’s health deteriorates and their mother descends into despair. Siblings Louise and Michael return to their family home, only to find a disturbing atmosphere and an ominous presence. Their mother's mental state has manifested into something malevolent, threatening to overwhelm them and unravel the family's fragile existence.

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The Dark and the Wicked (2020) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of The Dark and the Wicked (2020), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Louise and Michael, siblings bound by family ties, return to their ancestral farm in Texas due to their father’s declining health. Bedridden and unable to communicate, he is under the care of his devoted wife and a nurse. However, their mother’s behavior begins to raise concerns as she seems unsettled and encourages the children to leave. The tragic climax comes when she takes her own life in the barn, after distressing acts of self-mutilation in the kitchen.

As they grapple with their mother’s sudden death, Louise and Michael slowly uncover unsettling truths. The nurse reveals that she heard their mother whispering to their father, as if communicating with a darker, unseen entity rather than him. Michael discovers a diary left by their mother, filled with accounts of her growing fears about a nameless and potentially malevolent presence that seemed to prey upon her husband.

During their mother’s funeral, the siblings meet Xander Berkeley, a priest claiming familiarity with their mother. That very night, Father Thorne’s spectral form beckons them from outside but vanishes as mysteriously as he appeared. In a tragic twist, Charlie, a nearby ranch hand, suffers a hallucination involving Louise, leading him to take his own life in a disturbing act of self-destruction.

Unaware of her friend’s fate, Louise attempts to reach Charlie by phone but is met with a chilling revelation: the person on the line insists he has never visited Texas. Anxious for their father’s well-being, the siblings consult a doctor who determines that their father’s condition is critical; he cannot be moved without risk of fatality.

As dread continues to loom, Louise and Michael are horrified to discover their herd of goats has been violently slaughtered. They begin to incinerate the remains. That night, Michael experiences a shocking encounter in the barn when the apparition of their mother confronts him before fading away. Louise, while lying next to her father, finds herself trapped in a nightmare where a dark force attempts to possess her, culminating in a horrific vision of her father levitating.

The next day brings more despair when Charlie’s granddaughter arrives, informing Louise of his suicide. However, as the girl’s demeanor shifts to a sinister one, it becomes evident that it is the entity masquerading as her. In an alarming sequence of events, the nurse arrives, and in a terrifying turn, she becomes possessed and violently attacks herself, tragically succumbing to her injuries.

Meanwhile, Michael returns home, only to discover his wife and daughters dead in what appears to be a murder-suicide. Overwhelmed with grief, he too ends his life, only to realize, in the moments before his demise, that the entity has manipulated the situation, as his family unexpectedly reenters the home moments later.

Back at the farm, as night falls, Louise awakens to the horrific reality of her father’s death. In a harrowing conclusion, she is confronted by the demon that has tormented her family, leading to her ultimate downfall.

Last Updated: November 04, 2024 at 00:43

Ending Explained – What Happens at the End of The Dark and the Wicked?

Still wondering what the ending of The Dark and the Wicked (2020) 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 The Dark and the Wicked is a harrowing reflection of how deeply evil can infiltrate a family’s life and mind. As the story reaches its climax, Louise finally accepts the supernatural reality that the devil—an entity with no clear origin or name—has been tormenting them all along. Despite her initial denial, she comes to realize that her mother was right about the evil presence in their home. This evil is not just a tradition or darkness in a generic sense but a specific demonic force that feeds on death and despair.

When Louise tries to leave the farm, trying to escape the grasp of this dark entity, it is already too late. The final moments are haunting: she is attacked while attempting to say goodbye to her dying father and then, overwhelmed by the devil’s influence, she screams as she is dragged away. Her father’s death—her last attempt at resistance—becomes the tragic culmination of the film’s supernatural forces. His final breaths seem to signify that the evil has claimed him completely, emphasizing that the devil’s goal is to take as many souls as possible before death, and perhaps after.

The supernatural creature, which might not be Satan incarnate but more like a malevolent demon or poltergeist, appears to thrive on chaos, suffering, and death. It can manipulate appearances, control the living, and manifest as different figures—including the ghostly apparition of a family friend’s granddaughter or even alter its form. Its primary purpose seems to revolve around awaiting the father’s death to fully claim his soul, while simultaneously reveling in tormenting everyone else around it. The film doesn’t clarify the devil’s origin or name, leaving it shrouded in mystery, which emphasizes its role as an evil force rooted in chaos rather than religious mythology.

Ultimately, the film portrays this evil as an omnipresent force that preys on vulnerable families, especially during times of grief and death. The characters’ inability to escape signifies that once this darkness has taken hold, it’s nearly impossible to break free. The ending leaves viewers with a profound sense of tragedy and the unsettling realization that, in the face of such relentless evil, often our deepest fears and guilt are the greatest foes we confront. The story reminds us that some evil is unknowable, unexplainable, and beyond human control, making The Dark and the Wicked a haunting meditation on family, grief, and the pervasive nature of darkness.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:59

Unlock the Full Story of The Dark and the Wicked

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The Dark and the Wicked Timeline

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The Dark and the Wicked Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Dark and the Wicked

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Dark and the Wicked

The Dark and the Wicked Ending Explained

What really happened at the end of The Dark and the Wicked? This detailed ending explained page breaks down final scenes, hidden clues, and alternate interpretations with expert analysis and viewer theories.

The Dark and the Wicked Ending Explained

More About The Dark and the Wicked

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