Trash Fire 2016

As Owen Roberts navigates the turbulent waters of his relationship with Isabel Sullivan, he is perpetually haunted by the echoes of his traumatic past. The devastating fire that consumed his childhood home not only claimed the lives of his parents but also left his younger sister, Pearl, with scars that serve as constant reminders of that fateful night. Owen’s mental health is plagued by depression and guilt, exacerbated by relentless flashbacks and seizures that often bring him back to the horrors of his youth.

Despite his attempts to forge ahead, Owen becomes ensnared in a cycle of self-destructive behavior, alienating those around him, including Isabel’s devoutly religious brother Caleb and her friends Sheldon and Amiee. The strain in their relationship intensifies when Isabel reveals her pregnancy, but Owen’s reaction is one of cold indifference, pushing for an abortion without a second thought. It seems the burden of his past has become an unbearable weight.

Unexpectedly, Owen experiences a transformation, showing an earnest desire to start a family and atone for his past misdeeds. However, Isabel insists that reconciliation will require him to confront Violet, their estranged grandmother, and Pearl, both of whom he abandoned after the catastrophic fire.

As Owen agrees to take this pivotal step towards healing, he cautions Isabel about Violet’s abrasive temperament. Violet’s frosty reception is just the beginning; she demands they sleep separately and belittles Isabel with insults, referring to her as merely a “whore.” Meanwhile, Pearl remains a shadow, refusing to acknowledge Owen.

Isabel’s urge to escape this toxic atmosphere is entirely valid, yet Owen’s determination to reconnect with Pearl keeps them anchored in their present turmoil. During these moments fraught with desperation, Isabel finds an unexpected relationship blossoming with Pearl, leading her down a path of understanding and compassion.

Violet’s malevolent nature begins to surface as she starts tampering with Owen’s medication, orchestrating a series of events meant to push him deeper into despair. Her madness is further evidenced during a confessional visit to Pastor Sterling, where she claims to hear a voice urging her to commit horrific actions. The pastor, appalled by Violet’s admissions, tries to intervene, but she leverages a dark secret from his past about an affair with Owen’s mother when she was only fifteen.

Armed with this explosive information, Violet resorts to stealing a rattlesnake from the pastor’s office aquarium before slipping away into the night, leaving chaos and uncertainty in her wake. As darkness envelops their troubled lives, Violet retreats to her home, where she harbors the serpent and engages in eerie rituals, all while fervently listening to an evangelical minister on television. In the meantime, Owen takes a heart-wrenching trip to the site of his former family home, where the void serves as a poignant reminder of the fallout from his abandonment.

The atmosphere thickens when Isabel discovers an unexpected visitor in her grandmother’s bathroom, triggering a frantic rush from Pearl, who confronts the reptile with her bare hands. The tension mounts as Violet coerces Owen into the cramped crawlspace beneath her house, citing repairs for a pipe from which the serpent had previously emerged. However, her true intentions are far from innocent, as she plans to ignite a fatal fire while Owen is trapped, though she finds herself unable to strike the match.

As nighttime deepens, Pearl finally shares her pain with Owen, revealing the resentment she harbors over his abandonment. Their conversation hangs heavily in the air, just as Violet storms into Pearl’s room, gun raised, only to be faced with Pearl’s fierce resistance, shotgun in hand.

In a tragic turn of events, Owen succumbs to the compromised medication, collapsing in the kitchen. Violet reemerges, her gaze fixed maliciously on Isabel, who is left in distraught disbelief over Owen’s condition. In a last act of defiance, Pearl steps in, resolutely ending both Violet’s and Owen’s lives, solidifying her determination to protect the fragile future Isabel carries.

As Isabel sits stunned against the wall, Pearl approaches and gently rests her head on the swell of Isabel’s pregnant belly, a bittersweet smile illuminating her face as she looks toward the promise of new life.