Pet 2016

Socially awkward animal shelter employee Seth Donaldson recognizes his former classmate Holly Garling while riding the same Metro bus. Their brief conversation sparks something in Seth, who then becomes obsessed with Holly. He dives deep into her social media, memorizing her likes and dislikes, all in a bid to win her over.

In an effort to connect, Seth stages a chance encounter at the restaurant where Holly works as a waitress. However, their meeting takes a awkward turn when Holly feels uneasy about Seth’s knowledge of her personal life and dismisses him. Despite this setback, Seth sends Holly roses, though she misinterprets the gesture as a sign of reconciliation from her ex-boyfriend, Eric.

Determined to get closer to Holly, Seth follows her to a bar where Eric works. Unfortunately, his attempt to reach out to her ends in violence as Eric beats him. In the aftermath, Seth finds Holly’s dropped journal, filling him with dark insights about her troubled past.

Driven by his obsession, Seth constructs a cage in the basement of the animal shelter and devises a plan to abduct Holly. He successfully sneaks into her apartment by impersonating a delivery person and manages to imprison her. In her captivity, Holly copes by conversing with her imaginary former roommate, Claire, leading to chilling revelations about her past, including a confession of murder.

As the narrative unfolds, Seth learns from Holly’s journal about her descent into brutality. He believes he is helping her. Their twisted dynamic takes a dark turn when Holly manipulates Seth into killing the security guard, Nate, who stumbles upon their secret. Under Holly’s influence, Seth believes that their shared involvement in such atrocities solidifies their bond.

Detective Meara begins to investigate Nate’s disappearance, leading to the looming threat of exposure for Seth. In a shocking act of devotion, Seth cuts off his own finger to prove his love for Holly. In a tragic turn, Holly seizes control of the situation by threatening to take her own life if Seth does not release her from her cage. He complies, mistakenly thinking they can build a life together.

However, the relationship culminates in betrayal when Holly, after professing her love for Seth, brutally slashes his throat. Fast forward to the future, Holly resumes her life, now published as an author, reigniting her tumultuous romance with Eric. Upon discovering Eric’s infidelity, Holly contemplates revenge but ultimately chooses to visit Seth instead, who has now become a mute captive in a cage, a grim reminder of their harrowing connection.