Alice, Darling 2022

Simon grants Alice a rare night out at a bar alongside her two closest friends, Tess and Sophie. As the evening unfolds, it becomes apparent that Alice is preoccupied; she flinches at every ping from her phone and continuously fidgets with her hair. It’s hinted that her connection to Simon originates from Tess’ social circle, yet despite this link, Simon appears intent on isolating Alice from her friends. To shake off Simon’s suspicions, Sophie suggests a birthday celebration for Tess at her parents’ cottage up north—a plan Alice eagerly supports. To avoid conflict, she fabricates a story, saying she is heading to Minneapolis for work.

During their drive to the cottage, the trio makes a brief stop at a convenience store, where Alice spots a flyer for a missing girl named Andrea. This case seems to captivate her attention throughout their trip. As the women enjoy their time at the cottage, they explore the serene surroundings, but an unexpected call from Simon disrupts the peace. He learns of their whereabouts through Alice’s emails and insists she return home. However, Tess takes matters into her own hands by concealing Alice’s phone and wallet, while Sophie cleverly heads to the store, enabling Tess and Alice to bond further.

Tess attempts to teach Alice how to paddle board on the lake but playfully tips the board, causing Alice to fall and lose an earring given to her by Simon. In a frenzy, Alice dives underwater to recover it but returns empty-handed, overwhelmed by panic and repeating that she “can’t do another thing wrong.” A confrontation ensues between her and Tess, leading to Alice revealing that she concealed their getaway from Simon. Concerned for Alice’s well-being, Tess presses her for the truth. After much reflection, Alice opts to stay, fully immersing herself in the search for Andrea the following morning, which leads her to discover lipstick near an abandoned cottage—something she suspects may belong to the missing girl.

Back at the cottage, the three women begin to mend their friendship and enjoy each other’s company. Alice finds the courage to share her struggles, revealing that Simon, while never physically abusive, subjected her to a cycle of emotional manipulation. Her disappearing act on text messages finally triggers Simon to show up unannounced with grocery bags in tow. During a tense dinner, he reveals a newspaper stating that the body of the missing girl has been discovered. When Alice mentions the lipstick she found, Simon condescendingly attempts to brush her off.

The next day, Alice takes her friends by surprise as she packs to leave the cottage. As they drive to the main road, Simon halts at a junction for a procession of cyclists, which gives Sophie the opportunity to catch up. In a moment of defiance, she smashes the back windshield of Simon’s car with a maul. As Alice steps out and locks eyes with Sophie, she silently conveys her unwillingness to return to Simon. He impatiently demands she re-enters the vehicle, but Alice stands her ground. Tess intervenes, creating a barrier between Alice and Simon, forcing him to retreat. In a final act of fury, he throws Alice’s belongings out of the car before speeding away.

The narrative comes to a poignant close with Alice confidently paddling on the lake and taking a plunge into the water, symbolizing her newfound strength and freedom.