The Righteous

The Righteous

Year: 2022

Runtime: 97 min

Language: English

Echo Score: 82

Budget: $1.2M

DramaMysteryThrillerHorror

After a tragic loss, Frederic finds his beliefs challenged when a mysterious man named Aaron Smith unexpectedly appears at his home. As Frederic and his wife offer Aaron shelter, unsettling questions arise about his identity and motives. Aaron's unsettling request plunges Frederic into a terrifying ordeal, forcing him to confront a darkness that threatens to destroy everything he holds dear and test the limits of his faith.

The Righteous (2022) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at The Righteous (2022) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a quiet, isolated countryside home shadowed by grief, Frederic Mason, a former priest, and his wife Ethel try to stitch their lives back together after the sudden loss of their young daughter. Their once‑steady faith is already trembling, and the house itself feels like a sanctuary caught between prayer and lingering doubt. The surrounding woods, draped in mist and the echo of forgotten prayers, set a tone that is both serene and unsettling, hinting at forces that linger just beyond the ordinary.

One night, a stranger emerges from the trees with a broken foot and a name that carries no history—Aaron Smith. Despite the couple’s natural wariness, they invite him inside, guided by a mixture of compassion and the lingering duty that once defined Frederic’s priesthood. Aaron’s presence brings with it a quiet intensity; his cryptic stories of adoption and a haunted past linger in the rooms like unspoken prayers, and his plea for something beyond hospitality stirs a deep, uneasy curiosity.

As the days unfold, the household becomes a delicate balance of familiar routines and the growing unease prompted by Aaron’s mysterious motives. Father Graham, an old colleague, watches from a distance, concerned that Frederic’s already fragile faith may be slipping further into shadow. Meanwhile, Doris, a close family friend, arrives with her own quiet burdens, adding layers to the already complex emotional tapestry. The film swirls around themes of belief, redemption, and the darkness that can seep into even the most steadfast hearts.

Against this backdrop of rural stillness and mounting tension, the story asks how far one will go when faith is tested by the unknown. The atmosphere is ripe with quiet dread, inviting viewers to wonder what hidden truths lie beneath the surface of grief and what sacrifices might be demanded when the line between mercy and terror blurs.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 16:51

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically begins with a character already in a vulnerable state, often due to grief or trauma, within an isolated setting. The arrival of an external force—a person, a memory, or a supernatural element—acts as a catalyst, systematically breaking down the character's defenses. The story unfolds as a battle for sanity and survival within a confined space, where the real enemy may be internal.

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Narrative Summary

The journey follows a devout or spiritually-seeking individual who encounters an event that defies their understanding of the divine. This forces them to question whether they are facing a test from God, a punishment for sin, or a malevolent demonic force. The narrative arc is one of deconstruction, where faith unravels under the pressure of horrific, inexplicable events, typically culminating in a bleak or ambiguous resolution.

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These films are connected by their central theme of religious crisis precipitated by horror. They share a high emotional weight, a dark and intense tone, and a focus on profound philosophical questions. The supernatural element is used not just for scares, but as a direct challenge to the protagonist's worldview.

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The Righteous Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Righteous

The Righteous Ending Explained

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