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Plot Summary

Touchy Feely (2013) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2013 · 89 min · English
JustWatch #8,649 24
Directed by
Lynn Shelton
Starring
Josh Pais, Elliot Page, Scoot McNairy, Rosemarie DeWitt

A dentist finds he has an unexpected ability to alleviate his patients’ discomfort. Simultaneously, his sister struggles with a profound aversion to touch, causing a growing distance between them as they grapple with their contrasting approaches to healing and connection. The situation creates a poignant exploration of human interaction and the complexities of empathy.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Touchy Feely
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Touchy Feely (2013)

Where can you watch Touchy Feely? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Philo and Hoopla: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Touchy Feely: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Touchy Feely (2013) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

As the bond between massage therapist Abby and her boyfriend Jesse begins to crumble, an unsettling aversion to human contact takes hold of Abby, forcing her to take a break from her job. This unexpected revulsion has significant consequences for her relationship with Jesse, as she finds it increasingly challenging to either touch him or be touched. In a desperate attempt to revive their connection, Abby suggests they try ecstasy pills, provided by Bronwyn, which ultimately results in the end of their cohabitation.

Meanwhile, Abby's brother Paul grapples with the challenges of running a struggling family dentistry practice, facing dwindling clientele and a reluctance to engage in marketing. When his daughter Jenny invites her friend Henry in for a routine teeth cleaning, Paul is initially unimpressed. However, he unexpectedly alleviates Henry's temporomandibular joint dysfunction, sparking a wave of new patients eager for his distinct healing methods. Encouraged by this newfound interest, Paul seeks out Bronwyn to learn Reiki, hoping to enhance his offerings to clients. His initial success is short-lived, however, as a disgruntled patient collapses in the waiting room, casting doubt on Paul's abilities and causing devastating fallout. Witnessing her father's struggles, Jenny runs from the office, tears streaming down her cheeks.

As Abby's relationship with Jesse reaches a critical juncture, she leaves him behind, penning a breakup note and moving in with Paul. Under the influence of ecstasy, she strolls through a park, where she serendipitously meets Adrian, who introduces her to a world where her aversion to physical touch dissipates. Meanwhile, Paul stumbles upon a leftover ecstasy tablet and, driven by intrigue, consumes it, leading him to Bronwyn's abode. There, their mutual chemistry ignites, culminating in a passionate kiss.

As Abby distances herself emotionally from Jesse, Jenny seeks solace in her ex-boyfriend, coaxing him to attend Henry's music concert. The night wraps up with Jesse gently refusing her request to kiss, reiterating his lingering affection for Abby. Later, after Jenny falls asleep at Jesse's home, she is roused by a knock at the door, finding Abby there, now free to embrace Jesse without hesitation.

Last updated: November 22, 2024 at 15:12

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Plot questions answered

Touchy Feely Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Touchy Feely (2013): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Abby suddenly develop an aversion to touch?

Abby's aversion to touch emerges mysteriously, coinciding with the growing strain in her relationship with Jesse. The story doesn't explicitly explain the cause, but it manifests as she begins losing her ability to connect physically with others, including her boyfriend. This condition forces her to leave her job as a massage therapist and ultimately leads to their breakup. The aversion represents her deeper emotional barriers to intimacy and connection.

  • abby touch aversion
  • massage therapist
  • physical contact
  • relationship problems
Q2

How does Paul suddenly develop healing abilities?

Paul discovers his healing touch accidentally while treating his daughter Jenny's friend Henry for temporomandibular joint dysfunction. After successfully alleviating Henry's jaw pain, news spreads and new patients begin seeking Paul specifically for his unique healing methods. This unexpected ability gives his struggling dental practice a much-needed boost, though the source of this talent remains unexplained.

  • paul healing abilities
  • dentist
  • temporomandibular joint
  • reiki
  • new patients
Q3

Why do Abby and Jesse break up after taking ecstasy?

Abby suggests trying ecstasy pills (obtained from Bronwyn) as a desperate attempt to revive their failing intimacy. However, the drugs don't restore their connection, instead, they deepen the gap between them. The experience leaves Abby even more emotionally distant, leading her to write a breakup note and move out, ending their cohabitation despite Jesse's continued feelings for her.

  • breakup
  • ecstasy
  • bronwyn
  • relationship ending
  • Jesse
Q4

Who is Adrian and how does he help Abby?

Adrian is a man Abby encounters while under the influence of ecstasy in a park. He introduces her to a new lifestyle that somehow allows her aversion to physical touch to dissipate. This encounter represents a turning point for Abby, as the experience helps her overcome her psychological barriers to touch, ultimately enabling her to return to Jesse without hesitation.

  • adrian
  • park
  • new lifestyle
  • recovery
  • touch aversion healed
Q5

What causes the patient to collapse at Paul's dental office?

A disgruntled patient collapses in Paul's waiting room, creating a major crisis that damages Paul's reputation and raises doubts about his abilities. The incident has devastating consequences for his practice and deeply affects his daughter Jenny, who witnesses the chaos and runs out of the office in tears. This event marks a significant turning point that halts Paul's sudden success.

  • patient collapse
  • dental office
  • paul reputation
  • jenny upset
Q6

Why does Abby return to Jesse at the end of the movie?

After overcoming her aversion to touch through her experience with Adrian and the lifestyle change she underwent, Abby returns to Jesse's home late at night. Now emotionally free from her previous barriers, she can embrace him without hesitation. This resolution shows her complete transformation, she has worked through whatever psychological issues were preventing physical connection.

  • abby returns
  • jesse reunion
  • happy ending
  • overcoming aversion
Q7

Why does Paul take ecstasy and kiss Bronwyn?

Paul discovers a leftover ecstasy tablet and, driven by curiosity after seeing the changes it brought in Abby, decides to try it. The drug leads him to Bronwyn's home, where their mutual chemistry ignites into a passionate kiss. This moment marks a turning point for Paul, revealing new possibilities for romantic connection after his professional struggles.

  • paul ecstasy
  • bronwyn kiss
  • new relationship
  • chemistry
Q8

Why does Jenny run out of the dental office crying?

Jenny becomes emotionally overwhelmed after witnessing her father Paul's struggles, the collapse of his sudden success, the doubt cast on his abilities, and the chaos surrounding his practice. The pressure and disappointment of seeing her family's situation deteriorate proves too much, causing her to flee the office in tears.

  • jenny emotional
  • dental office
  • pauls struggles
  • family disappointment
Q9

What does the title Touchy Feely mean in relation to the story?

The title "Touchy Feely" directly references the story's central themes of physical touch and emotional connection. Abby's aversion to being touched contrasts with Paul's newfound ability to heal through touch. The film explores how these contrasting relationships with physical contact affect the characters' ability to connect emotionally with others.

  • title meaning
  • touch
  • connection
  • healing
  • themes

Movie threads

More Movies Like Touchy Feely, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Touchy Feely tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about personal healing like Touchy Feely

Stories of quiet transformation where overcoming a crisis leads to hope. If you enjoyed the quiet, character-driven journey of healing in Touchy Feely, you'll appreciate these other movies. They feature protagonists overcoming internal struggles in a bittersweet, hopeful manner, focusing on personal transformation and the delicate process of reconnecting with life and others.

  • introspective
  • hopeful
  • melancholic
  • yearning
  • intimate
  • serene
  • Tone: bittersweet, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically begin with a character experiencing a sudden or deep-seated personal disruption. The story follows their internal struggle and gradual steps toward healing, often aided by unexpected circumstances or relationships. The resolution is not about a complete victory but a meaningful, hard-won change that allows for a happier, more integrated life.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share a specific emotional arc: starting from a place of personal crisis and moving toward a hopeful, but realistically earned, resolution. They prioritize character depth over plot mechanics and maintain a consistent, bittersweet tone that feels authentic to the healing process.

Movies about family dynamics like Touchy Feely

Explorations of how small, personal changes ripple through family relationships. For viewers who liked the exploration of brother-sister relationships and intimate family dynamics in Touchy Feely, this list features similar films. These dramas center on how personal growth and transformation affect family bonds, offering quiet, thoughtful stories about connection and understanding.

  • intimate
  • serene
  • contemplative
  • introspective
  • yearning
  • hopeful
  • Tone: intimate, contemplative
  • Pacing: steady, serene
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves parallel character arcs within a family unit. One person's struggle or breakthrough inadvertently impacts the others, creating a web of interconnected growth. The story unfolds through quiet conversations and shared moments, building towards a resolution that strengthens or redefines the family ties.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their central theme of family as a microcosm for change. They share a low-key intensity, an intimate scope, and a contemplative pace that allows the audience to sit with the characters and feel the nuanced evolution of their relationships.

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Every angle

Touchy Feely (2013) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Touchy Feely in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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