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Horror film

Bad Things (2023): Cast, Ratings & Ending

Bad Things (2023) movie poster

Bad Things is a 2023 horror film directed by Stewart Thorndike, starring Gayle Rankin as Ruthie Nodd, Hari Nef and Rad Pereira. It runs 1 hour 23 minutes. Critics gave it 53% on Rotten Tomatoes and 53 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 3.8/10.

IMDb rating
3.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes
53%
Echo Score
42
Metascore
53
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Bad Things (2023) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 23m (83 min)
Genre
Horror
Original language
English
Studio
Shudder
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Bad Things About?

The premise of Bad Things without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Inheriting her grandmother's abandoned hotel, Ruthie Nodd finds herself confronting a haunted past that jeopardizes her relationships. During a weekend getaway with friends, long-held secrets are revealed, and the boundaries between reality and desire become increasingly blurred. The group's escape quickly spirals into a disturbing exploration of darkness and depravity as they uncover the hotel’s eerie history and its impact on their lives.

Bad Things Themes & Keywords

· 12 tags
  • unlikeable character
  • hotel
  • group of four
  • abandoned hotel
  • slow paced
  • friend
  • women
  • group
  • f rated
  • triple f rated
  • inherited hotel
  • inherited property
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Cast & crew

Bad Things Cast & Characters

Gayle Rankin leads the cast as Ruthie Nodd, with Hari Nef as Cal and Rad Pereira as Maddie. Directed by Stewart Thorndike; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Bad Things

· 6 more
From the director

More from Stewart Thorndike

One more film directed by Stewart Thorndike: Lyle.

Full filmography
Ratings

Bad Things Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Bad Things 53% on Rotten Tomatoes and 53 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 3.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 42/100, strongest in sensory experience (55) and weakest in story & flow (35).

42 /100

Bad Things Echo Score Breakdown

Bad Things struggles to unify its ambitions, resulting in a film that feels uneven and under‑cooked. Critics note sharp cinematography but fault the erratic direction and inconsistent editing, while audience members repeatedly cite cheap visual and audio production. The combination of weak narrative cohesion and limited craft polish diminishes its impact, leading to a largely unsatisfying viewing experience. Consequently, the film fails to leave a lasting impression and earns minimal rewatch potential.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 48

    In terms of art and craft, the film showcases moments of visual flair, particularly its sharply composed cinematography that evokes a tonal tableau. However, reviewers criticize uneven direction and choppy editing that undermine narrative flow. The production design oscillates between effective set pieces and cheap‑looking sequences, yielding an overall craft assessment that feels more flawed than polished.

  • Character & Emotion 40

    When evaluating character and emotion, critics repeatedly point to flimsy connections and a lack of chemistry among the quartet, describing performances as dead‑air and unconvincing. A few positive notes highlight Gayle Rankin’s terrifying presence and occasional credible portrayals. Overall, the ensemble fails to deliver depth or emotional resonance, leaving audiences disengaged from the protagonists.

  • Story & Flow 35

    The story and flow receive the harshest criticism, with reviewers labeling the plot as clotted, incoherent, and lacking a satisfying payoff. Narrative pacing is described as meandering, offering random ideas without clear resolution. While some note a later strange groove that hints at potential, the overall execution leaves the film feeling disjointed and unengaging.

  • Sensory Experience 55

    Sensory experience is a mixed bag; the cinematography receives praise for its tone‑setting tableaux, and the piano score is described as beautiful by some reviewers. Conversely, audiences criticize cheap visual quality and unremarkable sound design, calling the overall audio‑visual presentation subpar. These divergent views place the sensory component in a lukewarm position.

  • Rewatch Factor 45

    Rewatch factor appears limited; most viewers express little desire to revisit the film, citing its disjointed narrative and uninspired execution. A minority mention an odd captivation that could prompt a second viewing with friends, but this sentiment is outweighed by pervasive boredom and frustration. Consequently, the film offers minimal replay appeal.

Plot

Bad Things Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Bad Things from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Ruthie Gayle Rankin has recently inherited her grandmother’s abandoned hotel and returns with her girlfriend Cal Hari Nef, their friend Maddie Rad Pereira, and Fran Annabelle Dexter-Jones to spend a few days there, hoping to mend a strained relationship with Cal and maybe try running the place. The old halls feel unsettled, and Ruthie moves hesitantly through the space, balancing the pull of family history with a desire to start anew. She keeps watching hotel-management videos on her phone, among them those featuring Ms. Auerbach Molly Ringwald, a figure who seems to echo guidance and warning at the same time as the place creaks with memory.

Full summary

The whole story of Bad Things, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Videos

Bad Things Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Bad Things.

Official Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Bad Things?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the name of the woman who appears in the hotel management videos Ruthie watches?

Cars

Cars in Bad Things

3 cars on screen, including the 2000 SAAB 9-5 and the 2002 Mitsubishi L-200.

  • 2000 SAAB 9-5 in Bad Things 2000 SAAB 9-5 Main role
  • 2002 Mitsubishi L-200 in Bad Things 2002 Mitsubishi L-200 Minor role
  • 2007 Peugeot Boxer in Bad Things 2007 Peugeot Boxer Minor role

Seen Bad Things?

FAQ

Bad Things FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of Bad Things, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Bad Things?

Bad Things runs 1 hour 23 minutes (83 minutes).

When was Bad Things released?

Bad Things was released on August 18, 2023.

Who directed Bad Things?

Bad Things was directed by Stewart Thorndike.

More films by Stewart Thorndike

Who is in the cast of Bad Things?

Bad Things stars Gayle Rankin as Ruthie Nodd, Hari Nef as Cal and Rad Pereira as Maddie, among 10 credited actors.

How is Bad Things rated?

Bad Things has 3.8/10 on IMDb, 53% on Rotten Tomatoes, 53 on Metacritic and 43% on TMDB.

Does Bad Things have a post-credit scene?

No. Bad Things has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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