There Are Monsters (2013) Plot Summary Explained

The locals behave strangely because they are not actually human, they are doppelgängers that have replaced the real residents. Their movements are stiff and their speech is stilted because these replicas lack genuine human emotion and natural bodily rhythms. The film establishes early on that these duplicates are imperfect copies, revealing their true nature through subtle mechanical qualities in how they walk, talk, and interact.

Foreshadowing: The first signs of odd behavior appear during the initial filming attempts, when residents speak in unnaturally stilted patterns.

• doppelgangers
• locals
• strange behavior
• replacements
• invasion

The doppelgängers are sinister entities that have taken human form to infiltrate and replace real people. They are described as monstrous, soulless replicas designed to blend into ordinary society while replacing authentic individuals. The crew discovers these replacements have perfectly mimicked appearance but lack genuine human consciousness, making them hollow copies rather than actual people.

• doppelgangers
• monsters
• replicas
• invaders
• identity

The film suggests the replacements are part of a coordinated invasion rather than random occurrences. The doppelgängers infiltrate everyday spaces, workplaces, schools, shops, indicating a systematic effort to take over human society. Their purpose appears to be replacement and infiltration on a large scale, though the exact motivation remains mysterious, the invasion extends beyond this single town.

Foreshadowing: Early scenes show replacements appearing in multiple public spaces, suggesting organized infiltration.

• replacement
• invasion
• community
• takeover

The handheld cameras serve as the sole evidence because the doppelgängers are replacing people quietly and systematically, without documentation, no one would believe the truth. The found-footage format emphasizes that the crew is capturing something real that would otherwise go unnoticed. Their footage documents the transformation in real time, preserving proof of what is happening before reality is completely overwritten.

• cameras
• footage
• evidence
• documentary
• witnesses

Arm Eater, played by Samantha Power, is one of the graduate student filmmakers and serves as a central figure whose uneasy presence anchors the crew's investigation. Her character contributes to the group's dynamic as they document the small town and gradually uncover the terrifying truth. She represents one of the few authentic human perspectives navigating the unfolding horror.

• arm eater
• samantha power
• character
• filmmaker
• student

The film implies the invasion extends far beyond the single town. During their journey, the crew notices the same disturbing patterns spreading, and they discuss the possibility that the replacements have infiltrated other communities. The threat hints at a global scale, suggesting the doppelgängers are part of a worldwide infiltration rather than an isolated incident.

Foreshadowing: The crew's discussions about whether the threat extends beyond the town foreshadow the global implications.

• global invasion
• spread
• worldwide
• scale
• threat

The ending leaves the fate of the crew uncertain and unresolved. As they attempt to escape while being chased or observed by the replacements, the footage ends with unresolved tension. The film does not confirm whether they successfully flee or themselves become targets of replacement, leaving viewers uncertain about what remains human.

• ending
• fate
• escape
• crew
• death

The exact mechanics of replacement are not fully explained, but the film shows that real people are being swapped out for perfect copies. The crew gathers evidence through witness accounts, mismatched memories, and inconsistent backstories. The replacements happen silently and systematically, with the duplicates appearing in everyday situations while the originals vanish.

• replacement process
• how
• transformation
• swap

The Bank Toddler, played by Nadia Tonen, appears as a chilling reminder that danger can hide in the most unsuspecting places. This character adds to the film's theme that no one, especially the most vulnerable or innocent-looking individuals, can be trusted. It reinforces the paranoia that the invasion has infiltrated even childhood appearances.

• bank toddler
• nadia tonen
• character
• suspense
• warning

The film uses a slow-burn approach typical of psychological horror, building tension through atmosphere rather than explicit violence. The found-footage style emphasizes realism and claustrophobia, making the threat feel more invasive because it creeps in quietly rather than attacking openly. The focus on observation also serves the theme of identity under siege, the horror comes from not knowing who is real.

• slow burn
• horror style
• atmosphere
• psychological