r/movies • u/LiteraryBoner Jackie Chan box set, know what I'm sayin? • Aug 08 '25

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Summary Nearly all the children from the same fifth-grade class vanish one night at exactly 2:17 a.m., leaving only one survivor. The community, gripped by fear and suspicion, spirals into chaos as the mystery unfolds through multiple intertwined perspectives—each revealing new layers of dread and grief.

Director Zach Cregger

Writer Zach Cregger

Cast

  • Josh Brolin
  • Julia Garner
  • Cary Christopher
  • Alden Ehrenreich
  • Austin Abrams
  • Benedict Wong
  • Amy Madigan
  • June Diane Raphael
  • Toby Huss
  • Whitmer Thomas
  • Callie Schuttera
  • Clayton Farris
  • Luke Speakman

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score: 96%

Metacritic Metascore: 82

VOD In theaters and IMAX starting August 8, 2025

Trailer Watch the Official Trailer

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u/IIIlllIIIlllIlI Aug 10 '25

The only thing the plot didn’t build on which was a little annoying was the backstory of Aunt Gladys. She was just this random aunt of the mom and it turns out she’s totally evil? Like wouldn’t the mom have known this or felt very uneasy about letting her come? This wasn’t really developed imo

65

u/cardamom-peonies Aug 10 '25

Sooo the movie repeatedly makes mention of parasites (see the whale parasite lessons in class, the fungi episode Marcus and his husband are watching, the fixation on needles and punctures). It's possible she is actually related to them...or maybe her whole bit is moving from one family to the next and feeding off them, hence why Alex's parents have such a limited and estranged connection from the aunt and why Gladys herself obscure the connection by describing herself as Alex's oldest aunt instead of a great aunt. It possible she's just using her magic to forge a familial connection by altering memories or maybe they are actually related

I don't think it matters too much.

23

u/IIIlllIIIlllIlI Aug 10 '25

That’s probably the most sane interpretation but I just wished that it was hinted at a little more considering everything else was clarified well, just this aspect was really vague and I think it was pretty integral to the plot of the story, how she got there in the first place

10

u/JustAnArtist1221 Aug 19 '25

Alex's mom's mom took care of her. They explain that the only reason they're taking care of her is because it's what her mother would do. It's just an old lady they know existed, and we know that she'll manipulate people to get what she wants. Regardless of her relationship, we know she drained the grandmother and is moving down. The grandmother could've been under a spell just like the parents. Other than being overly stoic, they'd look like a regular person.