Control Freak 2025

Horror

Runtime

1 h 44 m

Language

English

Directed by

Shal Ngo

Made by

WorthenBrooks

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Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Control Freak (2025). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Valerie “Val” Nguyen is a prominent motivational speaker who harbors a deep-seated struggle with a compulsive urge to scratch the back of her head. This troubling behavior intensifies significantly after the tragic loss of her mother, Chi, in a devastating boating accident during Val’s childhood.

As Val gears up for an international motivational speaking tour, she encounters an unexpected obstacle—she needs her birth certificate. This requirement prompts her to reconnect with her estranged family, leading her to her Aunt Thuy, who directs her towards her father, Sang. Once a soldier, Sang has now become a monk and is the keeper of the important family documents that Val seeks. However, the relationship between Val and Sang is strained, weighed down by the ghosts of their past, including Chi’s untimely death and Sang’s former battles with addiction.

During her emotional visit, Sang shares with Val a Vietnamese folk tale that centers around the Sanshi, a parasitic spirit known to prey on human hosts, spurring them into destructive behaviors. Val initially dismisses this tale as mere folklore until she stumbles upon old photographs depicting her mother with peculiar rashes, which sparks the unsettling possibility of a familial curse haunting them.

As Val’s compulsions escalate, she inadvertently inflicts harm upon herself by scratching a wound on her scalp. This alarming revelation leads to conflict with her husband, Robbie, who discovers that Val has secretly been taking birth control pills, undermining their shared dream of starting a family. Seeking answers, Val confronts Sang, who divulges a dark secret—he inadvertently summoned the Sanshi during the Vietnam War, passing its curse onto Chi. In a shocking revelation, Sang reveals that Chi, in a desperate act to prevent the curse from spreading, nearly drowned Val as a child, forcing Sang to make a heartbreaking choice to save his daughter.

As Val’s mental state spirals downward, she suffers a public breakdown during one of her speaking engagements and is subsequently hospitalized. Doctors alarmingly discover that she has scratched a hole into her skull, resulting in distressing hallucinations. Although Robbie brings Val home in hopes of a recovery, she remains tormented by the notion that the Sanshi is still lurking, refusing to let go.

In a gripping climax, Val attempts a perilous exorcism of the Sanshi by inflicting pain upon herself, believing that such suffering will draw the entity out. This act leads her into a fierce battle with a monstrous embodiment of the Sanshi. The struggle culminates in an intense moment where Val drags this spirit into a swimming pool, reminiscent of the fate Sang once tried to prevent. Robbie’s timely intervention saves her, leading to a tense moment where Val emerges clutching a smaller, fetal-like manifestation of the Sanshi, symbolizing her confrontation with her own inner demons.

The film wraps up with Val revealing her pregnancy to Robbie, a moment filled with hope. Yet, the closing scene leaves the audience with a sense of unease—a small bug crawling on her baby introduces an unsettling possibility that the influence of the Sanshi may still linger, thus casting an ambiguous shadow over their future.

Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Control Freak (2025) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Val's Early Years

Valerie ‘Val’ Nguyen experiences a traumatic childhood marked by the death of her mother, Chi, during a boating accident. This event profoundly affects her psyche and instills a compulsive urge to scratch the back of her head.

Preparing for the Tour

As Val gears up for an international speaking tour, she realizes she needs her birth certificate to proceed. This revelation prompts her to reach out to her estranged family, setting off a series of events aimed at reconnecting with her roots.

Reconnect with Family

Val seeks the help of her Aunt Thuy, who directs her to her father, Sang. Their relationship is fraught with tension, shaped by the trauma of Chi's death and Sang's struggles with addiction.

The Tale of the Sanshi

During her visit, Sang shares a Vietnamese folk tale about the Sanshi, a parasitic ghost that preys on its hosts and incites harmful compulsions. Val brushes off the story as mere superstition, not realizing its implication for her own life.

Discovery of Family Curse

While exploring her family's past, Val stumbles upon old photographs depicting her mother with unusual rashes. This discovery leads her to suspect that her family may be cursed by the Sanshi, linking her compulsions to a deeper, sinister lineage.

Deterioration of Val's Condition

As Val's compulsion intensifies, she further injures herself by scratching an open wound on her scalp. This physical manifestation of her mental turmoil drives a wedge between her and her husband, Robbie.

Conflict with Robbie

Robbie discovers Val's secret: she has been taking birth control pills despite their hopes to conceive a child. This revelation leads to an argument, highlighting the growing disconnect in their marriage.

Confrontation with Sang

In a heated confrontation, Sang reveals the dark truth behind the Sanshi he summoned during the Vietnam War. He confesses that he was forced to kill Chi to save Val from the curse, unveiling a tragic history that haunts the family.

Val's Breakdown

Val suffers a breakdown during a speaking engagement when her mental state unravels. She is subsequently hospitalized, and doctors find that she has dangerously scratched a hole into her skull, leading to episodes of hallucination.

Hospital

Return Home

After being discharged from the hospital, Robbie brings Val home to begin her recovery. However, Val remains obsessed with the idea of the Sanshi, convinced that it still has a grip on her.

Climactic Confrontation

In a dramatic climax, Val attempts to exorcise the Sanshi by self-harm, hoping it will draw out the entity. This leads to a chilling confrontation with a monstrous version of the Sanshi, representing her inner struggles.

Swimming Pool

Symbolic Drowning

Val tries to drown the Sanshi in a swimming pool, mirroring the traumatic events of her childhood. Ultimately, Robbie intervenes, saving Val and culminating in a poignant struggle between her and her inner demons.

Swimming Pool

Confrontation's Aftermath

Val emerges from the pool holding a fetal-like version of the Sanshi, indicating her internal battle may not be over. This pivotal moment symbolizes her acknowledgment of her trauma and the ongoing fight against her compulsions.

Revelation of Pregnancy

In the film's closing moments, Val tells Robbie about her pregnancy, representing a new beginning for their relationship. However, a subtle hint of a bug crawling on their baby suggests that the influence of the Sanshi may still linger.

Ambiguous Ending

The film concludes on an ambiguous note, raising questions about whether Val has truly escaped the curse of the Sanshi. This leaves the audience pondering the lasting impacts of trauma and the complexities of healing.

Characters

Explore all characters from Control Freak (2025). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Valerie 'Val' Nguyen (Kelly Marie Tran)

Val is a successful motivational speaker grappling with deep-seated psychological issues stemming from childhood trauma. Her struggle with her compulsive behavior reveals her vulnerability and highlights her journey toward self-acceptance. Despite her outward success, Val's inner turmoil drives the narrative and prompts her to seek resolution with her family's past.

🎤 Motivational Speaker 🔍 Introspection

Sang (Toan Le)

Sang is Val's estranged father, a former soldier turned monk whose past decisions have profoundly affected Val's life. His struggles with addiction and the burden of family secrets contribute to the film’s central conflict. Through their interactions, Sang represents the complexities of forgiveness and the impact of generational trauma.

🧘‍♂️ Monk 👨‍👧 Family

Robbie (Miles Robbins)

Robbie is Val's supportive yet troubled husband, caught in the turmoil of Val's mental health crisis. His discovery of Val's secret adds tension to their relationship, revealing the strains placed on their marriage by external challenges. Robbie's character embodies the themes of love, sacrifice, and the difficulty of navigating a partner's struggles.

❤️ Husband 🛡️ Protector

Setting

Learn where and when Control Freak (2025) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

The narrative unfolds in contemporary times, reflecting modern challenges faced by the protagonist, such as mental health struggles and familial relationships. Flashbacks to Val's childhood and past traumas influenced by historical events offer a deeper understanding of her character and the roots of her compulsions.

Location

Vietnam, International Tour Locations

The movie takes place in Vietnam, where the protagonist reconnects with her estranged father and learns about her family's past. Key themes emerge from the cultural context, including Vietnamese folklore surrounding the Sanshi, a parasitic ghost. The international tour represents Val's journey of self-discovery, juxtaposing her past with her present struggles.

🌏 Vietnam 🌍 Travel

Themes

Discover the main themes in Control Freak (2025). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🧠

Mental Health

The film explores the complexities of mental health through Val's compulsive behavior and the psychological impact of her mother's death. As Val battles her inner demons, the narrative highlights the importance of seeking help and confronting one's past. The interplay between inherited trauma and personal responsibility is a central concern.

👻

Folklore

Vietnamese folklore plays a crucial role in the story, particularly through the tale of the Sanshi. This theme illustrates how cultural beliefs can influence personal experiences and societal norms. Val's struggle against the Sanshi symbolizes her fight against inherited trauma and the burdens of family history.

❤️

Family Dynamics

Val's strained relationships with her father, Sang, and her husband, Robbie, emphasize the complexities of family dynamics. The film portrays the impact of past traumas on present relationships, showcasing the struggle for understanding and reconciliation. Ultimately, it suggests that healing can come through confronting family histories and personal challenges.