Year: 2021
Runtime: 119 min
Language: English
Directors: Robert Pulcini, Shari Springer Berman
Seeking a fresh start, Catherine Clare leaves 1980s Manhattan with her husband George and young daughter Franny, relocating to a historic farmhouse in the Hudson Valley. Hoping for a tranquil life, Catherine soon finds herself increasingly disturbed by unsettling events and the house's mysterious past. As she grapples with the isolation of rural living and hidden truths about her marriage, Catherine’s growing sense of dread leads her to question everything she thought she knew.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen Things Heard & Seen yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!
Read the complete plot breakdown of Things Heard & Seen (2021), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
In 1980, art restorer Catherine Claire finds herself navigating life’s challenges in Manhattan alongside her husband, George Claire, and their daughter, Franny. When George secures a teaching position in art history at a college, the family relocates to an expansive farmhouse in upstate New York. Struggling with her battle against bulimia, Catherine feels increasingly isolated in their new surroundings.
It’s there that she discovers an old Bible containing a detailed family tree of the previous owners, the Smits, with several names ominously tagged as “Damned.” Haunted by the feeling that a spirit resides in the house, she sees peculiar lights guiding her to a vintage ring that she decides to wear. Franny, sensing unusual presences, experiences visions of a female spirit and asks to sleep with her parents for comfort.
To ease the household demands, Catherine hires brothers Eddie and Cole Vayle as handyman and babysitter, inadvertently allowing Justine Sokolov, a colleague of George, into her life. Meanwhile, George begins a flirtation with Eddie’s cousin, Willis.
During a visit from Floyd DeBeers, the head of the art history department, he recognizes a spirit’s presence but reassures Catherine of its benign nature, suggesting they hold a séance. At a party they host, shocking revelations about the farmhouse emerge—specifically that the previous inhabitants met a tragic end in a murder-suicide and that Catherine’s antique ring is tied to their mother, Ella.
Tensions rise when Catherine confronts George with the unsettling history of the house. When George leaves for a trip to see his parents, Catherine and Floyd conduct a séance that brings Ella’s ghost into their midst. The situation escalates as Floyd warns Catherine of another, potentially dangerous spiritual presence in the house just as she uncovers George’s infidelity with Willis.
On a school outing, Justine overhears troubling conversations casting doubt on George’s qualifications for his teaching role. Further betrayal comes to light when Catherine learns that the artwork George had claimed as his own was the work of his deceased cousin, eroding her trust. In retaliation, Catherine starts an affair with Eddie, spiraling her into deeper conflicts.
Things take a dark turn when George, desperate to cover up the escalating chaos, murders Catherine in cold blood, presenting it as a sudden tragedy when Cole comes by to babysit Franny. Although the police suspect foul play in George’s demeanor, they lack sufficient evidence to arrest him.
As Catherine’s spirit joins forces with Ella’s, they awaken Justine, compelling her to reveal the horrific truth of George’s actions to the authorities. Trying to escape arrest, George embarks on a frantic flight on his cousin’s boat, but as a fierce storm rises, his vessel meets a fiery demise—mirroring a foreboding painting that had been projected in his class. The cross depicted in the artwork is notably inverted, suggesting George’s ultimate damnation for his heinous deeds.
Last Updated: November 15, 2024 at 17:26
Still wondering what the ending of Things Heard & Seen (2021) 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 Things Heard & Seen reveals a haunting intertwining of the supernatural and moral consequences of the characters’ choices. Throughout the film, Catherine’s suspicion that their house is haunted and her belief in spirits—supported by Floyd—stand in contrast to the film’s deeper philosophical undertones. According to Swedenborg’s ideas, spirits exist in an intermediate realm, reflecting our true selves rather than being inherently evil or good. This philosophical thread suggests that the supernatural elements are more about revealing inner truths than actual malevolent spirits.
In the climax, George’s moral downfall becomes undeniable. We see him alone on a boat called Lost Horizon, which symbolizes his complete mental disconnection and moral decay. The inscription hints at George’s lost state of mind—he is sinking into a metaphorical hell he has chosen through his actions. His killing of Floyd, who denied his affair and stood in moral opposition, aligns with the idea that George’s evil acts are self-inflicted, not caused by spirits. His row closer to the “gates of hell” signifies that he is willingly marching toward his moral and spiritual destruction, accepting the consequences of his own choices.
The film’s key message, reinforced by Swedenborg’s philosophy, is that evil is a consequence of personal decisions rather than external malevolence. George’s destruction is entirely his own, and the supernatural elements merely serve as a backdrop to his moral decline. In the end, Things Heard & Seen leaves us contemplating the nature of evil—how it manifests from within, shaped by our actions, and how individuals are responsible for their own damnation. George’s fate is a stark reminder that only those about to enter hell can truly see its gates, underscoring that our destiny is ultimately shaped by what we choose to be.
Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:58
Don't stop at just watching — explore Things Heard & Seen 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 Things Heard & Seen is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Things Heard & Seen with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Things Heard & Seen. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Discover movies like Things Heard & Seen that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
Things Heard & Seen (2021) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
Things Heard & Seen (2021) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
Things Heard & Seen (2021) Ending Explained & Theories
Movies Like Things Heard & Seen – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
All Good Things (2010) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Cold Creek Manor (2003) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
A House on the Bayou (2021) Complete Plot Breakdown
Incident In a Ghostland (2018) Ending Explained & Film Insights
The Haunting (1963) Full Summary & Key Details
Hide and Seek (2005) Film Overview & Timeline
Things Will Be Different (2024) Story Summary & Characters
i'm thinking of ending things (2020) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
House at the End of the Street (2012) Story Summary & Characters
The New Daughter (2009) Detailed Story Recap
Mid-Century (2022) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Stir of Echoes (1999) Full Summary & Key Details
What Josiah Saw (2022) Film Overview & Timeline
The Amityville Horror (2005) Film Overview & Timeline
The Canal (2014) Detailed Story Recap