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Grace Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Grace (2009). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.


Michael and Madeline Matheson Jordan Ladd celebrate a hard-won breakthrough after two unsuccessful attempts to have a child, and they enlist Madeline’s former midwife, Patricia, to oversee an unorthodox delivery that they hope will safeguard their future as a family.

One night, tragedy strikes: Michael and the unborn baby are killed in a car accident. Madeline resists induction, so Patricia allows her to carry to term. The baby appears stillborn at first, but Grace is miraculously born alive, and Madeline names her daughter with a mix of relief and fear.

Back at home, Grace’s presence brings a shocking set of signals. The infant attracts flies from a putrid scent, and she struggles to digest breast milk, repeatedly vomiting. As Madeline nurses, she discovers Grace is feeding from a breast that is bleeding, a detail that unsettles her and deepens the sense that something is terribly wrong.

Meanwhile, Vivian, Michael’s domineering mother, presses for access to Grace, while Madeline resists. She seeks help from Dr. Richard Sohn, an obstetrician she believes she can trust, hoping to gather evidence that she might be an unfit mother if Grace were to be removed from her care.

To protect Grace, Madeline continues nursing with her own blood feeding the baby, a brutal strain that drains her physically. The blood loss becomes dangerous, and she eventually lets Dr. Sohn into her house to examine Grace. When the doctor nears the baby’s cries, Madeline acts in a desperate, protective move and kills him to prevent him from taking Grace away.

Vivian arrives soon after, discovering the aftermath: Grace in her crib, the bottle of Dr. Sohn’s blood spilled on the floor, and Madeline’s desperate attempt to conceal the consequences. Vivian, shaken but determined, grabs Grace and attempts to flee, later discovering Dr. Sohn’s body as she escapes. Vivian arms herself with a hammer, but Madeline confronts her in a brutal struggle. In the climax of their confrontation, Madeline rips out part of Vivian’s throat with her teeth, leaving Vivian unconscious but Grace unharmed for the moment. Patricia arrives and ends the immediate danger by witnessing Grace drinking from Vivian’s blood, a grim confirmation of the house’s dark secret.

Some time later, Patricia drives a motor home across the desert, checking on Madeline who continues to nurse Grace. She reassures herself that as long as Madeline maintains the proper diet for Grace, they can continue feeding and raising the child. Madeline, however, reveals Grace has begun teething, and in a haunting, final image, Grace’s mutilated breast is exposed, signaling that the horrifying bond between mother and child has only grown more disturbing.

Grace Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Grace (2009) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.


Conception and Patricia's consultation

After two failed attempts to have a child, Michael and Madeline Matheson succeed on their third try. They seek help from Madeline's midwife ex-girlfriend, Patricia, to enable an unorthodox delivery. Patricia agrees to assist, and the couple prepares for an unconventional birth.

Before birth Madeline and Michael's home

Night of the car crash

One night, Michael and the unborn baby are killed in a car accident. Madeline survives and is left to face the loss. The tragedy sets in motion a decision to carry Grace to term despite the danger.

Night On the road / outside their home

Grace is born alive

Grace is delivered and, despite being stillborn at first, is miraculously alive. Madeline names her Grace and accepts the unexpected miracle as the baby begins her life under abnormal circumstances. The birth occurs within the confines of Madeline's home.

Shortly after accident Madeline's home

Grace's feeding mysteries

Grace attracts flies with a putrid scent and cannot digest ordinary breast milk, often vomiting. While Madeline nurses, Grace feeds from a breast that is bleeding, tying her nourishment to blood. The mother's bond with Grace deepens amid the odd, unsettling signs.

Days after birth Madeline's house

Vivian and Dr. Sohn enter the picture

Vivian, Michael's domineering mother, insists on visiting Grace and pressures Madeline. She enlists Dr. Richard Sohn, an obstetrician, to gather proof that Madeline is an unfit mother. The two introduce a new threat to Madeline's fragile grip on Grace.

Soon after Grace's birth Madeline's house

Sohn's visit and Madeline's fear

Dr. Sohn visits the house to assess Grace and Madeline's care, hoping to document neglect or risk. Madeline, weakened by ongoing blood loss from nursing, allows him to examine Grace. The tense visit foreshadows the lengths she'll go to protect her daughter.

That night Madeline's house

Murder of Dr. Sohn

Afraid that Sohn will take Grace away, Madeline kills the obstetrician to prevent removal. She drains his blood into a bottle, a grisly act that marks a turning point in the story. The house becomes a crime scene fueled by desperation.

That night Madeline's house

Vivian flees with Grace

Vivian arrives and finds Grace in her crib with a bottle of blood spilled nearby. Madeline pursues but Vivian manages to grab Grace and flee, leaving the house behind as the tension escalates. The confrontation escalates into open danger as Vivian arms herself with a hammer.

Immediately after Sohn's death Madeline's house

Patricia witnesses Grace’s feeding

Patricia arrives after the violent events and witnesses Grace drinking blood, signaling the depth of Grace's inhuman feeding. She observes the bleeding victims and the entangled fate of Madeline and Vivian. The maternal bond is now shadowed by brutality and secrecy.

Shortly after the confrontation Madeline's house

Desert retreat and Grace's teething

Some time later, Patricia drives a motor home through the desert and contemplates Grace's survival and care. She asserts that with the right diet, Grace can continue to be fed and raised. Madeline reveals that Grace has begun teething, exposing her mutilated breast, a disturbing sign of what Grace needs to grow.

Some time later Desert / motor home

Grace Characters

Explore all characters from Grace (2009). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.


Madeline Matheson (Jordan Ladd)

A devoted mother whose attempt to carry Grace to term spirals into a chilling, self-destructive hunger. She becomes increasingly protective and dangerous as Grace's demands push her beyond ordinary maternal limits. The boundary between care and violence blurs as Madeline's own body becomes a conduit for Grace's survival.

🏠 Domestic 🩸 Blood 🧠 Obsession

Grace

A miraculous infant who reveals monstrous traits: she cannot digest breast milk, vomits, and ultimately feeds from her mother’s blood. Her fragility hides a predatory hunger that transforms her into a terrifying force within the family home. The baby’s presence drives the horror and complicates the line between innocence and threat.

👶 Baby 🩸 Blood 🧬 Monstrous

Patricia (Samantha Ferris)

Madeline's midwife ex-girlfriend who becomes involved with Grace's condition. She visits to assess Madeline and, later, drives a motor home through the desert to confront the unfolding danger. She becomes a wary ally trying to navigate the escalating crisis and preserve Grace.

💼 Medical 🕵️‍♀️ Investigation 🚐 Road trip

Vivian (Gabrielle Rose)

Michael's domineering mother who wants to claim Grace, symbolizing external pressure and social scrutiny. She discovers the truth behind Madeline's actions and becomes entangled in the violent conflict that follows. Her presence amplifies the stakes and the sense of betrayal within the family.

👩‍👧‍👦 Mother-in-law 🗝️ Secrets 🔪 Violence

Dr. Richard Sohn

An obstetrician recruited to prove Madeline is an unfit mother. He meets a gruesome fate when Grace's survival and Madeline's desperation collide, underscoring the film's brutal turn from medical authority to fatal consequence.

👨‍⚕️ Doctor ⚖️ Ethics 🩸 Blood

Grace Settings

Learn where and when Grace (2009) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.


Time period

Contemporary

Set in modern times, the film uses contemporary medical figures—a midwife, an obstetrician—and familiar suburban surroundings. The events unfold with current-level technology and social dynamics, emphasizing the immediacy and plausibility of the horror. The tone is grounded in a present-day context rather than a historical period.

Location

Madeline's House, Desert Road, Motor Home

The story centers on a secluded family home where Madeline raises Grace, creating a claustrophobic setting saturated with secrecy and fear. The narrative also follows a lonely desert road and a motor home, where Patricia and the others traverse to confront the unfolding nightmare. The domestic space blurs with horror as Grace's presence transforms the house into a site of threat and disquiet.

🏠 Domestic 🏜️ Desert 🚐 Vehicle

Grace Themes

Discover the main themes in Grace (2009). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.


🩸

Monstrous Motherhood

The film reframes motherhood as a dark, consuming bond. Madeline's choice to nurse Grace with blood turns nurturing into nourishment for violence, making the maternal role a site of danger. The tie between mother and child becomes a source of both protection and peril, culminating in lethal acts.

🔍

Paranoia & Control

Grace forces Madeline to hide the truth of her situation, while external threats—such as the obstetrician and a probing mother-in-law—probe for signs of unfitness. The film builds tension through surveillance, misdirection, and the fear that help and authority can misinterpret or inflame the danger. Trust is continually compromised as the truth escalates.

🏚️

Isolation & Secrets

Within the house and the desert road, characters live apart from a safe support system, making every action seem more extreme. Secrets pile up as Madeline's behavior and Grace's unearthly needs isolate them from friends, healthcare, and family. The setting amplifies the sense that private space harbors public danger.

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Grace Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Grace (2009). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.


In the quiet suburbs where everyday life is stitched together by routine appointments and family expectations, Madeline Matheson approaches the climax of a long‑desired pregnancy with a fierce resolve to welcome her child naturally. The anticipation that builds around the impending birth is suddenly shattered when a tragic accident claims her partner, Michael, and leaves the newborn seemingly stillborn. Defying medical odds, the infant takes a breath, but the miracle carries with it an unsettling mystery: the baby’s need for sustenance seems to extend far beyond the ordinary, hinting at a hunger that cannot be satisfied by ordinary nourishment.

Around this fragile focal point, a small circle of caretakers and relatives converge, each bringing their own hopes and anxieties. Patricia, a seasoned midwife who once guided Madeline through earlier attempts at motherhood, returns to oversee an unorthodox delivery, hoping her experience will protect the family’s future. Vivian, Michael’s domineering mother, insists on involvement, while Dr. Richard Sohn, an obstetrician trusted by Madeline, offers professional insight that may either reassure or endanger the delicate balance she strives to maintain. The dynamics among these characters are charged with both affection and tension, as Madeline navigates the weight of parental responsibility while confronting an inexplicable and increasingly urgent need to protect her child from forces that threaten to expose their secret.

The film presses its audience into a tightened, almost claustrophobic atmosphere where the familiar comforts of home are tinged with dread. A muted, clinical aesthetic blends with visceral, body‑oriented horror, allowing the unsettling premise to linger like a quiet pulse beneath everyday sounds. As Madeline claws at the edges of maternal love, the story invites viewers to question how far one will go when the very act of nurturing becomes a terrifying, almost sacrificial, pact. The tone remains relentless in its tension, offering a haunting meditation on the darkness that can hide behind the most intimate of bonds.

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