The Woman

The film opens with a wild and untamed woman who, despite her rugged appearance, exhibits a tender care for a young child. Accompanied by a seemingly domesticated wolf, the atmosphere sets a disturbing tone that foreshadows the chilling narrative to come.

We are introduced to Chris Cleek, a seemingly charming country lawyer, enjoying a cheerful barbecue with his family. However, underlying tensions emerge, particularly with his troubled daughter Peggy, who sits apart from the festivities, hinting at deeper issues within the family dynamic.

During the barbecue, Chris's son, Brian, witnesses several boys bullying a girl but chooses to ignore the scene and instead focuses on shooting hoops. This moment highlights Brian's lack of moral courage and the disturbing environment that surrounds the Cleek family.

As night falls, Chris goes hunting and unexpectedly encounters the Woman bathing in a stream. He becomes intrigued by her wildness and, acting on impulse, captures her with a net, an action that sets off a chain of violent and disturbing events.

Chris takes the Woman home and locks her in a storm cellar, believing his family must 'civilize' her. This act of captivity reveals Chris's twisted ideology and the oppressive atmosphere he has created for his family.

The next day, at school, Brian's sadistic tendencies emerge as he maliciously pulls a girl's hair. Meanwhile, Peggy continues to display signs of her emotional distress, highlighting the depths of dysfunction within the Cleek family.

Chris's first encounter with the Woman takes a grotesque turn when she bites off his ring finger, symbolizing the violent tendencies he embodies. This shocking incident illustrates the physical and psychological damage inflicted by Chris on those around him.

Chris, dismissing his wife Belle's concerns, escalates the cruelty against the Woman. He bathes her in boiling water and later uses a power washer on her, acts that horrify Belle and escalate the family's descent into savagery.

Peggy starts to show her protective instincts towards the Woman, which incites Chris's wrath. As a result, Peggy is isolated in her attempts to help, while Chris dresses the Woman in a gown, a disturbing symbolic act that further emphasizes his control.

In a chilling moment, Chris brutally rapes the Woman while Brian watches with detached curiosity. This act not only erupts from Chris’s sadistic nature but also marks a significant turning point in the family's already horrifying narrative.

Peggy's desperate attempts to escape the horrors of her home lead to an unfortunate trap for her teacher, Ms. Raton. In a shocking turn, Chris and Brian imprison Ms. Raton in a dog cage, highlighting the family's grotesque disintegration of morality.

Amidst the chaos, Peggy manages to free the Woman, leading to a climactic confrontation with Chris and Brian. The tension peaks as the Woman unleashes her fury, ultimately seeking revenge on Chris for the atrocities he has inflicted.

In a poetic yet brutal moment, the Woman rips out Chris's heart, delivering a form of justice for the horrors he has perpetrated. This act marks a definitive turning point, as Peggy is confronted with the aftermath of her father's violent actions.

In the film's haunting conclusion, the Woman invites Peggy and her younger sister to join her, presenting an opportunity for a new life away from the trauma. This moment illustrates a shift from despair to potential hope, as they venture into the depths of the woods.

As Peggy transitions into this new realm, she grapples with her turbulent past and the possibility of forming a new familial bond with the Woman. The narrative concludes on an unsettling note, suggesting that the nature of family and survival transcends mere blood relations.