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Plot Summary

Under Her Control (2022) Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Release, runtime and language
2022 · 109 min · Spanish
Echo score 38
Directed by
Fran Torres
Starring
Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Adán Redondo, Alex Pastrana, Cumelen Sanz, María Fernández Prat, Mariela Martinez Campos

A determined young woman risks everything when she becomes involved with a charismatic and influential mentor. Driven by ambition, she finds herself increasingly drawn into a complex relationship, blurring professional boundaries. As she climbs the ladder of success, she must face the troubling repercussions of her choices and question the price she has paid for her career advancement.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 How it ends
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like Under Her Control
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Under Her Control (2022)

Where can you watch Under Her Control? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Netflix and Netflix Standard: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Under Her Control: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Under Her Control (2022) 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.

Beatriz, portrayed by Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, is a woman who has achieved professional success, yet finds herself yearning for the one thing she does not have—a baby. In contrast, her new assistant, Sofía, played by Cumelen Sanz, is navigating the complications of an unplanned pregnancy while desiring to terminate it, all while trying to build her own career in Madrid, where she has just completed her master's degree and an MBA.

The narrative begins as Sofía interviews for a job with Beatriz, who is impressed by her confidence and talents, offering her a role on the spot. Their dynamic is complicated by the fact that Sofía is hiding her pregnancy, which she has yet to reveal to her boyfriend, Nacho—depicted by Alex Pastrana. While Nacho dreams of moving in together and taking the next steps in their relationship, Sofía grapples with her ambitions as well as her complicated emotions over her pregnancy.

When Beatriz discovers Sofía’s condition through a bout of sickness at work, her initial annoyance transforms into a manipulative opportunity. Shortly thereafter, she proposes an illegal surrogacy arrangement, offering to care for all expenses while making clear that she wishes for the arrangement to remain a secret. As Sofía contemplates this drastic decision, she skillfully negotiates her terms, demanding a doubled financial offer along with yearly trips back to Argentina.

Moving into Beatriz’s home, which is equipped with surveillance cameras that leave her feeling exposed, Sofía becomes increasingly uncomfortable as Beatriz’s controlling nature reveals itself. Tensions build as Sofía finds a locked nursery and realizes this arrangement is not just about carrying a baby; it reveals a deeper extent of Beatriz's obsessive desires. Despite her growing unease with the situation, she maintains contact with Nacho under the guise of being in London for work.

Beatriz's paranoia intensifies, leading her to dictate every aspect of Sofía's life, from her diet to her physical activity. The matter further escalates when Beatriz's overbearing control drives her to dangerous measures, including intimidating Sofia into submission and ultimately drugging her to ensure her compliance.

Sofia's emotional turmoil peaks when she learns that Beatriz is willing to go to extreme lengths—including murder—to ensure her ownership of the baby. In a shocking turn of events, it is revealed that Beatriz has even killed Nacho to prevent complications from arising that could jeopardize her plans. Faced with the horrifying realization that her life is in jeopardy, Sofia confronts Beatriz, culminating in a terrifying struggle for survival.

As tensions boil, the climax erupts in a fight that leaves Beatriz gravely injured, with Sofia escaping just as her water breaks. The film leaves viewers on the edge of their seats, questioning whether Sofia can reach safety and ensure the survival of herself and her child amidst the chaos of abandonment and betrayal.

Last updated: November 15, 2024 at 17:08

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Plot questions answered

Under Her Control Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Under Her Control (2022): 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 Beatriz want Sofía to be a surrogate?

Beatriz is a successful professional who has achieved everything in her career except having a child. She cannot have a baby herself, which creates a deep void in her life. When she discovers Sofía is pregnant, she sees an opportunity to fulfill her desire by hiring her as an illegal surrogate, offering to pay all expenses in exchange for the baby.

Foreshadowing: Early in the film, Beatriz mentions her professional success but hints at feeling incomplete, setting up her desperation for a child.

  • beatriz
  • surrogacy
  • baby
  • pregnancy
  • motivation
Q2

Why does Sofía agree to become Beatriz's surrogate?

Sofía faces an unplanned pregnancy while trying to establish her career in Madrid after completing her master's and MBA. She desires to terminate the pregnancy but lacks the financial resources. Beatriz offers to cover all medical expenses and provide substantial compensation, which convinces Sofía to accept despite the illegal and morally complicated nature of the arrangement.

Foreshadowing: Sofía's struggle with her unplanned pregnancy and career ambitions is established in the job interview scene.

  • sofia
  • surrogacy
  • agreement
  • money
  • career
Q3

How does Beatriz discover Sofía's pregnancy?

Beatriz discovers Sofía's pregnancy when Sofía becomes sick at work, showing visible signs of pregnancy. Instead of reacting with sympathy, Beatriz immediately sees this as an opportunity to propose her surrogacy plan, revealing her manipulative and opportunistic nature.

Foreshadowing: Sofía's隐藏 pregnancy is mentioned early as she hides it from her boyfriend Nacho.

  • beatriz
  • discovers
  • pregnancy
  • sickness
  • work
Q4

What does the locked nursery reveal about Beatriz?

When Sofía discovers a locked nursery in Beatriz's home, she realizes the surrogacy arrangement is far more sinister than she initially understood. The nursery reveals Beatriz has been planning this obsession for years, showing the depth of her psychological fixation on having a child to the point of kidnapping and control.

Foreshadowing: Beatriz's controlling behavior escalates progressively throughout the film, from dictating diet to drugging Sofía.

  • locked nursery
  • beatriz
  • obsession
  • control
  • house
Q5

How does Beatriz control Sofía in the house?

Once Sofía moves in, Beatriz installs surveillance cameras throughout the home, leaving Sofía feeling exposed and monitored. She controls every aspect of Sofía's life, including her diet, physical activity, and daily routine. When Sofía resists, Beatriz resorts to intimidation and ultimately drugs her to ensure compliance with the surrogacy arrangement.

Foreshadowing: The surveillance cameras are introduced early after Sofía moves in, establishing Beatriz's need for total control.

  • beatriz
  • control
  • surveillance
  • drugs
  • house
Q6

Why does Beatriz kill Nacho?

Beatriz kills Nacho because she views him as a potential complication to her surrogacy plans. If Nacho discovers the arrangement or learns about the baby, he could interfere with Beatriz's goal of taking ownership of the child. She eliminates him to ensure no one can disrupt her plans or reveal the illegal scheme.

Foreshadowing: Nacho's desire to move in with Sofía and take their relationship to the next level creates tension with Sofía's secret arrangement.

  • nacho
  • murder
  • beatriz
  • death
  • complication
Q7

How does Sofía escape from Beatriz?

After learning about Nacho's murder and realizing her life is in danger, Sofía confronts Beatriz directly. A violent struggle ensues during which Sofía manages to overpower and seriously injure Beatriz. Seizing the moment as her water breaks signaling labor is beginning, Sofía escapes from the house while Beatriz lies gravely injured.

Foreshadowing: Sofía's growing resistance throughout the film builds toward this final confrontation.

  • sofia
  • escape
  • fight
  • labor
  • beatrix
Q8

Does Sofía survive at the end of the movie?

The film ends with Sofía escaping Beatriz's home while in labor, but her ultimate survival and the fate of her child remain uncertain. Viewers see her in a dangerous state of chaos and abandonment, leaving the outcome ambiguous and contributing to the film's bleak atmosphere.

Foreshadowing: The film's tension builds steadily toward this climactic escape, with the unresolved ending reflecting the moral ambiguity established throughout.

  • ending
  • survival
  • baby
  • labor
  • ambiguous

Ending explained

What Happens at the End of Under Her Control?

How Under Her Control (2022) ends, in short: the final scene, the last twist and what it means for the characters. The full ending explained, with every spoiler, lives on its own page.

Read the full ending explained

"Under Her Control" ends with Sofia, who has been manipulated and pushed to her limits, managing to kill Beatriz in a desperate act of self-defense. The film reveals that both women are deeply opportunistic and driven by their own selfish desires—Beatriz seeking motherhood and control, and Sofia fighting her circumstances and her autonomy. After many tense and ominous scenes where Sofia realizes she is being monitored, isolated, and increasingly threatened, she eventually escapes the house, only to find her water breaking as she walks along the dirt road. The final moments imply that Sofia is about to deliver her baby alone in her vulnerable state, symbolizing her extreme transformation from a victim to someone who takes control of her own fate—albeit through violence. The ending underscores the dangerous and toxic nature of their relationship, built on manipulation and distrust, leading both women down a dark path where the lines between victim and perpetrator blur. In the end, neither woman emerges entirely innocent, and their stories are intertwined in a destructive struggle for power and survival.**'s final act of violence signifies her ultimate assertion of control, even in a world that has tried to strip her of her agency.

Under Her Control ending explained in full

Movie threads

More Movies Like Under Her Control, by Mood & Story

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

Movies with Manipulative Relationships like Under Her Control

Stories where mentorship or partnership becomes a suffocating trap of control. If the tense, controlling dynamic in Under Her Control captivated you, explore more movies like it. These films feature complex power struggles, often starting as mentorship, that descend into psychological manipulation and claustrophobic entrapment, perfect for fans of dark, character-driven dramas.

  • manipulative
  • claustrophobic
  • tense
  • oppressive
  • unsettling
  • psychological
  • Tone: dark, tense, oppressive
  • Pacing: steady, escalating dread
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically begin with a protagonist seeking guidance or opportunity from a charismatic figure. This relationship becomes increasingly controlling and invasive, escalating from subtle manipulation to overt coercion. The story follows the protagonist's struggle to reclaim their identity and freedom against a backdrop of oppressive psychological pressure.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared exploration of toxic power imbalances, their consistently high-tension and dark tone, and their ability to create a sense of claustrophobia even in open spaces, focusing on the psychological unraveling caused by a manipulative relationship.

Slow Burn Psychological Thrillers like Under Her Control

Films where tension builds methodically towards an ambiguous, unsettling conclusion. Fans of the steady, oppressive tension in Under Her Control will find more movies like it here. These slow burn thrillers and dramas prioritize psychological depth over action, methodically building a sense of dread and leading to morally complex or ambiguous endings that stick with you long after the credits roll.

  • slow burn
  • tense
  • unsettling
  • dread
  • psychological
  • anxious
  • Tone: dark, unsettling, tense
  • Pacing: steady, slow burn
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a linear but steadily escalating series of events that increase psychological pressure on the main character. There are few relief valves; the focus is on a constant, growing threat—often emotional or psychological—that culminates in a climax reflecting the heavy cost of the journey, frequently leaving key questions unresolved.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their masterful control of pacing and mood. They share a steady rhythm that deliberately fosters anxiety, a dark or tense tone, heavy emotional weight, and a preference for endings that are ambiguous or bleak, prioritizing a powerful, lingering emotional impact over tidy resolutions.

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Movies Like Under Her Control

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Every angle

Under Her Control (2022) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

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

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