Directed by
Robert Legato
Made by
Vertical Entertainment
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Eloise (2017). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
We begin our journey with a haunting portrayal of the real Eloise Asylum, featuring the chilling audio and imagery of the devastating fire that engulfed the building in 1982. The story unfolds with a woman named Pia, who finds herself at an asylum, undergoing an intense interrogation by a detective. The detective reveals to Pia dreadful news: her brother and friend’s bodies have been discovered, but her friend Jacob remains missing. As we delve deeper into the narrative, we learn that Jacob is in the midst of fixing a car when he receives a call from an attorney, informing him of his father’s passing. This prompts him to discover that he is set to inherit $1.2 million, contingent upon the confirmation of an unknown aunt’s death.
Despite struggling with the gravity of his father’s death, Jacob learns that his father, afflicted with terminal cancer, chose to take his own life rather than succumb to the illness. Visiting his father’s house, Jacob stumbles upon a peculiar box filled with mementos, including a drawing of an old Chevy. While rummaging through the box, he is startled by an unexpected intruder—Dell, his friend, who promptly swipes a pocket watch before they head to a bar. There, Pia, acting as the bartender, insists Jacob must buy a round for everyone, as it’s his birthday.
Meanwhile, Dell reveals a pressing need for $20,000, and Jacob agrees to assist him, provided that Dell helps him obtain his aunt’s records. Jacob’s quest leads him to the asylum, where he learns that the records have been moved to an annex building, and that retrieving the information could take months without a court order. Desperate for answers, Jacob bribes a clerk to expedite the process, inadvertently getting himself admitted to the asylum.
An unexpected confrontation occurs when Jacob collides with a shopping cart filled with trash bags, apologizing to a silent homeless man. Driven by their need for information, Jacob and Dell make the bold decision to break into the asylum’s annex building, despite being uncertain about the location of the relevant records. Their search leads them to Scott, a man who possesses the blueprints of the asylum and reveals that he is actually Pia’s brother.
After a tense and dangerous break-in, the trio encounters a police officer, who briefly scans the area before leaving. They finally discover the annex room teeming with countless filing cabinets, yet they find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information. As they navigate this labyrinth of records, Scott suddenly vanishes without a trace. An accidental drop of Dell’s pocket watch triggers a stark flashback of the asylum’s dark history, revealing moments of patients being subjected to violence by orderlies.
Pia experiences her own haunting memories while wandering past the maternity ward, where she strays into visions from the past. Utilizing an infrared camera, Scott identifies eerie human shapes lurking in the shadows. Moments of despair follow, with glimpses of patients undergoing traumatic treatments and Scott seeing himself on the walls among the horrors of the asylums’ past. As their situation becomes increasingly perilous, Dell inadvertently injures himself as he tries to retrieve stolen medication. Mistakenly, he pours LSD on his cut, leading him into a hallucinatory spiral that culminates in a terrifying gun encounter where he sees phantoms from his nightmares.
In a harrowing turn of events, Dell finds himself in a locked room filled with lifeless bodies, and as a water line breaks, he is pulled under, drowning in the rising water. Meanwhile, Jacob and Pia are on the frantic search for Scott, hearing ethereal music that leads them into visions of an art class from years gone by. Their path is illuminated by drawings that echo their own childhoods, revealing the brutal conflicts between patients and staff.
As the narrative twists, Jacob is strapped to a gurney, forced to face his overwhelming fear of claustrophobia. Pia’s anguish culminates in her being subjected to repeated injections by nurses. However, an opportunity arises as Pia seizes a moment of clarity, freeing herself and pursuing Jacob through the asylum. Their chase leads them to a pivotal encounter with Gertrude Martin, who is on the verge of giving birth on Jacob’s birthday. This shocking revelation unravels to reveal Gertrude as Jacob’s mother, who whispers to a nurse to ensure her baby is taken care of and kept from the asylum’s clutches.
In a chilling moment, the baby Jacob is placed in the same box that Jacob discovered earlier. The past collides with the present when young Pia is instructed to deliver the infant Jacob, and amid this chaos, the truth of the fire that destroyed the asylum becomes evident. In a desperate bid to erase the horrors of his family’s history, Jacob ignites a fire within the asylum, intending to reshape destiny. As smoke fills the air and chaos unfolds, we return to the present, where Pia mourns the loss of her brother and friends, staring at photographs from her past, signifying elusive memories of pain and loss.
The tale culminates in a heartwrenching reflection, connecting the past and present, with echoes of life, death, and the enduring impact of the choices made amid the haunting walls of Eloise Asylum.
Follow the complete movie timeline of Eloise (2017) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
The Eloise Asylum Fire
In 1982, the notorious Eloise asylum catches fire, leading to widespread destruction. This catastrophic event sets the stage for the tumultuous stories that unfold following its tragic past.
Detective's Inquiry
The film opens with a woman named Pia, who is being interrogated by a detective regarding her brother and friend's mysterious deaths. The detective reveals that while they have found the deceased bodies of her brother and friend, Jacob remains missing.
Jacob Receives the News
Jacob is working on a car when he is contacted by an attorney who informs him that his father has passed away. He learns that he stands to inherit $1.2 million, but first, he needs to prove that an unknown aunt has also died.
Family Tragedy Unveiled
After discovering that his father's battle with cancer ended in suicide, Jacob retrieves a strange box filled with personal items from his father's house. This discovery further complicates his pursuit of answers regarding his family's past.
A Night Out
Jacob meets up with his friend Dell at a bar, where Pia works as the bartender. In celebration of Jacob's birthday, he reluctantly buys a round for everyone as Dell pressures him into borrowing money to help with a personal matter.
Bribing for Information
Jacob attempts to obtain records on his aunt from the asylum but finds that he must bribe the clerk. His greed leads him into deeper trouble as he receives an admission form for the asylum instead of actual records.
Breaking and Entering
Determined to access the annex where the records are held, Jacob and Dell resolve to break into the building. They seek assistance from Scott, who possesses blueprints, and they discover a connection between Scott and Pia.
Exploring the Annex
Inside the annex, Jacob, Dell, and Scott are overwhelmed by the vast number of filing cabinets. Their search is interrupted by a police officer, and as they explore further, they begin to experience strange phenomena.
Flashbacks and Hallucinations
As the characters delve into patient files, disturbing flashbacks reveal the harrowing practices in the asylum. Dell's decision to steal medications leads to hallucinations, plunging him into a nightmarish experience filled with visions.
Dell's Downfall
After experiencing a drug-induced hallucination, Dell encounters terrifying visions that lead him to a locked room filled with dead bodies. His panic results in an accident that floods the room, dragging him down to his demise.
The Search for Scott
Jacob and Pia, worried about Scott’s disappearance, hear haunting music that takes them through twisted corridors and memories of the asylum’s past. They encounter visions of a chaotic art class and glimpse Scott’s tragic fate.
Confronting Fears
Jacob finds himself restrained on a gurney, facing his greatest fear of claustrophobia, while Pia is subjected to painful injections. In an intense moment, Pia manages to break free and rescues Jacob from the morbid drawer.
Revelation of the Past
In a gripping encounter, Jacob discovers that Gertrude, a pregnant woman in labor, is his mother. He learns of their family's dark past as plans are made to ensure that baby Jacob is given a different fate.
The Fire Ignites
Realizing the fire was intentionally set to cover the asylum’s dark secrets, Jacob exacerbates the situation by pouring chemicals around the building. This leads to chaos as the asylum erupts into flames, threatening everyone inside.
A Despairing End
Back in the present, Pia is devastated as she grapples with the loss of her brother and friends amidst the burning asylum. The scene flashes between the past and present, encapsulating the tragedy that haunts those left behind.
Explore all characters from Eloise (2017). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Pia
Pia is a complex character, balancing her role as a bartender with the emotional turmoil stemming from the past. She often grapples with her memories of the asylum and her family, particularly regarding her brother’s fate. Her resilience shines through as she seeks to reconnect with Jacob and confront their shared history.
Jacob
Jacob is a troubled but determined character, driven by a need to uncover his family's hidden secrets. His journey through despair and revelation symbolizes a search for identity amidst chaos. He faces physical and emotional challenges, ultimately leading to a profound transformation impacted by his family’s legacy.
Dell
Dell is a friend to Jacob who often embodies the reckless nature of their circumstances. His need for quick cash leads them into dangerous situations, showcasing his impulsive traits. Despite his flaws, Dell’s character allows for moments of deep reflection regarding loyalty and friendship amid chaos.
Learn where and when Eloise (2017) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Time period
1982
The events of the movie unfold in 1982, a year marked by societal challenges and a growing awareness of mental health issues. This period also highlights the stigma surrounding mental asylums and their often cruel treatment methods. The story navigates the past's lingering effects on the present, intertwining personal tragedies from decades past with contemporary struggles.
Location
Eloise Asylum, Annex Building, Scott's House, Bar
Eloise Asylum is a once-thriving mental institution known for its controversial treatments. The building's tragic history includes a destructive fire in 1982, which adds an air of mystery and eeriness. The annex building stores old patient records and forgotten memories, while a bar serves as a temporary refuge for Jacob and Dell amidst their troubling investigations.
Discover the main themes in Eloise (2017). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Haunting Past
The theme of a haunting past is prevalent throughout the movie, affecting characters in profound ways. Jacob and Pia confront deep-seated traumas as they delve into their family's dark history within the asylum. The film uses flashbacks to illustrate how the past continuously influences the present, urging characters to face their fears and unresolved issues.
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Destruction
Destruction not only manifests in the physical fire at the asylum but also in the emotional ruin experienced by the characters. Jacob's actions lead to a fiery climax that symbolizes both a purge of the past and a tragic conclusion to his journey. The theme explores how destructive choices can have far-reaching consequences.
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Search for Truth
The pursuit of truth is a driving force for characters like Jacob and Pia. They navigate a web of family secrets, unraveling the mysteries tied to their identities and the asylum's dark history. This quest leads them to confront uncomfortable realities, emphasizing the importance of understanding one’s heritage.
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