Year: 2017
Runtime: 90 min
Language: English
Director: Mauro Borrelli
During a peaceful lakeside vacation, a couple’s retreat is shattered when extraterrestrial forces abduct several people. Determined to rescue the missing, they team up with a skilled tracker and venture into a dangerous search. They must confront the alien invaders and uncover the reasons behind this terrifying abduction.
Warning: spoilers below!
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Read the complete plot breakdown of The Recall (2017), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
As a series of unexplained atmospheric anomalies wreak havoc across the globe, a group of unsuspecting teenagers embarks on a vacation getaway to a secluded woodland cottage. Yet, their serene retreat is abruptly interrupted by an unsettling encounter with a mysterious figure known only as The Hunter at a rural gas station. The young travelers then venture into the surrounding woods, where they stumble upon an abandoned cabin that reveals a shocking truth: it belongs to The Hunter, a former astronaut whose life was shattered by cosmic experiences.
As darkness envelops the landscape, tensions rise among the teenagers as The Hunter reappears, leading them to suspect he has sinister intentions. One member of the group, Rob (Niko Pepaj), decides to take matters into his own hands by retrieving a firearm from the car, only to encounter a chilling extraterrestrial presence lurking beneath the porch. Though he chooses to keep this alarming information to himself, Rob’s anxiety escalates as they are soon besieged by a series of inexplicable occurrences.
During one particularly harrowing moment, the teens are confronted by an eerie glowing light that seems to appear from nowhere. Only Kara appears to grasp its significance as her fear deepens, realizing the threat it signals. In a chaotic moment, when an alien makes its horrifying entrance into their world, Rob’s panic spirals out of control, leading him to accidentally shoot Kara amidst the chaos. As his friends grapple with the unfolding horror, Charlie intervenes, knocking Rob unconscious, allowing the group to make a desperate escape towards their car.
In the ensuing chaos, they narrowly evade the clutches of the alien assailant, but their ordeal is far from over. In a shocking turn of events, Brendan, another member of their group, falls victim to a bear trap set by The Hunter, suffering a gruesome injury that isolates him from his friends. However, The Hunter appears again, this time rescuing the teenagers from their extraterrestrial pursuer and guiding them back to the sanctuary of his cabin.
Within the rustic confines of his hideaway, The Hunter divulges the traumatic experiences he has endured at the hands of alien visitors. He recounts harrowing tales of experimentation and manipulation, along with the physical scars that mark his body. Through astonishing demonstrations, he showcases his newfound telekinetic powers, hinting at a profound connection established through his time as an astronaut.
As The Hunter’s true nature gradually unfolds, it becomes evident that he has dedicated his life to preparing for the return of these otherworldly beings. With an intimate understanding of their motives and capabilities, he has honed his abilities over the years, bent on halting their malevolent reign once and for all.
The extraterrestrial invasion quickly escalates into terror as aliens lay siege to the isolated cabin, ensnaring the unsuspecting teenagers in their clutches. They soon find themselves among thousands of humans aboard a massive spaceship, subjected to unfathomable experiments. To their astonishment, they are eventually cast back to Earth, their memories wiped clean of the chilling experience. Kara, previously considered dead, reemerges looking remarkably vibrant, defying all logic.
As they return to their modest home, a military blockade looms on the horizon, heralding the government’s swift response to the peculiar alien incursions. Although the extraterrestrial vessels seem to have vanished as mysteriously as they arrived, authorities are quick to contain the situation by quarantining anyone displaying signs of abduction, sending a subtle yet ominous warning to those marked by alien experimentation.
While navigating this perilous landscape, the teenagers’ lives are flipped once again by the sudden appearance of The Hunter, a cryptic figure deeply entwined in the unknown. Empowered by their newfound “enhancements” granted by the aliens, the teenagers retaliate against military forces with a devastating assault, toppling soldiers in a furious tempest of violence. In this apocalyptic battleground, where the lines between human and alien blur into obscurity, surviving the chaos hangs perilously in the balance.
Last Updated: November 19, 2024 at 12:43
Still wondering what the ending of The Recall (2017) 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 Recalled reveals that what appeared to be Soo Jin’s hallucinations were actually her memories of the past coming back to her. Throughout the film, we are led to believe that Soo Jin is experiencing delusions or visions of the future due to her head injury, but in reality, she is recalling traumatic events from her life. Her mental revelations include glimpses of her childhood, the abusive father she thought she had escaped, and her brother who secretly protected her. These memories explain her complex past—a life marred by abuse and violence, which she had suppressed.
Her brother, Kim Sun Woo, was not only her protector but also the one who killed their abusive father to free her from that nightmare. This act of sacrifice was revealed in her memories, showing that he was the real hero who took the blame to save her. When her abusive husband, Ji-hoon, got into financial trouble and threatened her, she fought back physically. In the chaos that ensued, her brother appeared once again, this time to help her escape from danger and to finish off her husband, who later survived the initial attack. In the climactic moments, her husband attempts to kill her again, but her brother sacrifices himself to ensure she can start a new life.
In the final scenes, Soo Jin is shown to have been saved and given an opportunity to begin again in Canada, as her brother had arranged. The complicated memories and violent past, which she had repressed, are finally brought to light, clarifying that her hallucinations were actually memories that she needed to confront and accept. The title change to Memories of Tomorrow emphasizes the theme of facing one’s past to shape a new future. Ultimately, the film underscores the importance of confronting traumatic memories and the selfless acts of those who sacrifice to protect loved ones, allowing Soo Jin to move forward with hope and a clean slate.
Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 09:00
Don't stop at just watching — explore The Recall 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 Recall is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of The Recall with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
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