What Is May About?
The premise of May in 287 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a muted slice of Los Angeles, the everyday hum of a neighborhood veterinary clinic becomes the backdrop for a quietly unsettling tale. May moves through this world with a hesitant gait, her childhood marked by a lazy eye that set her apart and left her clutching a glass‑encased doll her mother gave her—a silent companion that whispers the promise of friendship when real connections feel out of reach. The city’s low‑key streets and cramped workspaces echo her isolation, painting a portrait of a woman whose ordinary life is tinged with a persistent, almost tactile loneliness.
Within this setting, May’s yearning for intimacy draws her toward two very different acquaintances. Adam, a mechanic whose off‑beat charm offers a glimpse of normalcy, invites her into a realm of new sensations and tentative romance, while Polly, a co‑worker with a teasing edge, flirts with the idea of becoming something more than a colleague. Their interactions are colored by May’s quirks and the fragile hope that each relationship might fill the void left by years of social awkwardness. As affection deepens, subtle currents of tension begin to surface, hinting that the very connections she craves may also stir unsettling emotions she has long suppressed.
The film’s tone balances a soft, almost clinical realism with an undercurrent of psychological unease. Light fades into shadow around May’s moments of vulnerability, and the ordinary becomes increasingly strange as her inner world collides with the outer one. A subtle dread lingers, suggesting that the path toward companionship may lead her into a maze where desire, fear, and identity intertwine. The atmosphere invites viewers to wonder how far a yearning for acceptance can drive someone when the line between imagination and reality begins to blur.
What Happens in May?
The complete story of May, from the first scene to the last, in 673 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 2 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
May, portrayed by Angela Bettis, is an awkward and isolated young woman struggling with the heavy burdens of a troubled childhood stemming from her “lazy eye.” This condition made her feel different, and as a child, her mother took her to an eye doctor who suggested wearing an eye patch. Instead of helping, this only drew unwanted attention from her peers, as one child famously asked if she was a pirate on her very first day of school. As May grew, she found herself with limited social interactions, leaning on her only companion, a glass-encased doll named Suzy, a gift from her mother with the moral, “If you can’t find a friend, make one.”
As an adult, May works at a veterinary hospital in a lower-class neighborhood in Los Angeles, where she assists in various surgeries. To correct her lazy eye, her optometrist first provides her with regular eyeglasses and later a specialized contact lens. In an effort to connect with the world around her, she becomes infatuated with Adam, played by Jeremy Sisto, a local mechanic. Her fascination leads her to synchronize her schedule with his so she can watch him discreetly. When she finally musters the courage to approach him, she admits her quirks, to which he responds, “That’s okay. I like weird.” Their relationship begins to blossom, and Adam becomes a gateway for May into a new world of emotions and experiences, even teaching her to smoke.
Meanwhile, May’s co-worker, Polly, portrayed by Anna Faris, shows a burgeoning interest in her, while also teasing her about being odd. At one particular moment of vulnerability, May compliments Polly’s neck, which leads Polly to gift her a cat named Loopy due to her landlord’s stringent rules against pets. May’s infatuation with Adam takes a darker turn when he introduces her to his university film, a black-and-white silent piece about lovers engaging in cannibalistic acts. This revelation leads to an intense moment where she gets carried away during a passionate kiss and inadvertently bites Adam, drawing blood, which deeply disturbs him and propels him to end their relationship.
Feeling guilty and blaming her doll Suzy for her poor choices, May becomes increasingly isolated after overhearing Adam and a friend derisively label her a lunatic. In a twist of fate, she succumbs to Polly’s flirtations, diving into a romantic relationship that offers brief solace. Afterward, May seeks a job at a school for disabled children, hoping to connect with a lonely girl named Petey, whom she feels sympathetic towards.
As her relationship with Adam fades, May’s mental state deteriorates. In a moment of rage, she accidentally kills the cat Loopy, further isolating her existence. Over time, her obsession with her doll Suzy transforms into delusion, and she begins to hear Suzy speaking to her through crackles from her shattered glass case. Desperate and lonely, May visits the school for blind children and shares Suzy with them. However, chaos ensues when the doll falls, cutting both May and the children, leaving her drenched in their blood.
In a striking moment of emotional turmoil, May meets a punk named Blank, played by James Duval, who displays interest in her peculiar madness. Yet, when he finds the corpse of Loopy wrapped in plastic, he panics and calls her a freak. The encounter spirals into violence, as May, driven by her frustration and anger, stabs him.
The film reaches a climax on Halloween night, where dressed as Suzy, May adopts a normal demeanor and coldly interacts with Polly and Ambrosia before culminating in a horrific series of murders that reveal her desperate need for connection, albeit through violence.
In the end, May attempts to create her ideal friend, sewing together parts from those she has murdered, and names her creation Amy, seeing in it the possibility of companionship. After a psychological meltdown, she pierces her own eye, connecting painfully with her creation. As she leans against Amy, her mind conjures a vision of friendship and comfort, an escape from her solitary existence amidst the terror she has unleashed.
May Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Childhood Trauma” to “A New Friend”. 15 events name a place, across 9 locations.
- 1
Childhood Trauma
May, an awkward and lonely young girl, faces bullying due to her lazy eye. Her mother, trying to help, takes her to an eye doctor, who suggests an eye patch, inadvertently making May feel even more out of place among her peers.
When:Childhood Where:Doctor's Office
- 2
The Gift of Suzy
For her birthday, May's mother gifts her a glass-encased doll named Suzy, which becomes her only true friend. This presents May with a concept of companionship that she clings to throughout her lonely childhood.
When:Childhood Where:Home
- 3
Work at the Veterinary Hospital
As an adult, May works at a veterinary hospital where she assists in surgeries. Her life is seemingly mundane, yet she longs for deeper connections with others.
When:Adulthood Where:Veterinary Hospital, Los Angeles
- 4
Meeting Adam
May notices Adam, a local mechanic, and becomes infatuated with him. Despite her shyness, she times her visits to places he frequents, which culminates in a brave introduction where Adam accepts her quirks.
When:Adulthood Where:Laundromat
- 5
First Date with Adam
On their first date, Adam teases May about not having smoked before and shares his pack of cigarettes with her. This experience brings them closer, showcasing May's desire to fit in and please him.
When:Adulthood Where:Los Angeles
- 6
May's Cannibal Moment
During an intimate moment, while watching Adam's film that depicts love and cannibalism, May gets carried away and accidentally bites Adam, drawing blood. This shocking incident drives a wedge in their budding relationship.
When:Adulthood Where:Adam's House
- 7
Heartbreak and Isolation
After overhearing Adam and his friend dismissing her as a lunatic, May feels devastated and turns to her colleague Polly for comfort. This transition marks the beginning of her complicated feelings regarding friendship and love.
When:Adulthood Where:Home
- 8
The Tragic Event with Loopy
In a fit of rage and despair, May accidentally kills the cat that Polly gave her. This tragic moment signifies May’s deepening isolation and loss of control over her emotions.
When:Adulthood Where:Home
- 9
Conflict at the Blind School
May visits a school for blind children, attempting to connect with them through her doll Suzy. However, during a chaotic moment, the glass case shatters, causing injury to both herself and the children, amplifying her turmoil.
When:Adulthood Where:Blind School
- 10
Confrontation with Blank
After a chance encounter with a boy named Blank, the situation escalates when he discovers her dead cat. Fueled by anger, May stabs him in a moment of rage, further solidifying her path of destruction.
When:Adulthood Where:May's Apartment
Show the other 5 events of May Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Halloween Transformation
On Halloween, May dons a costume resembling her doll Suzy and adopts a cold demeanor. This stark change in personality reflects her mental unraveling and deep desire for acceptance.
When:Halloween Night Where:Los Angeles
- 12
Murder of Polly
May visits Polly under the guise of friendliness, but her erratic behavior leads her to fatally stab Polly. This act marks a definitive turn in May’s descent into madness, blurring the lines between friendship and violence.
When:Halloween Night Where:Polly's House
- 13
The Final Confrontation with Adam
In a shocking climax, May confronts Adam and, in a fit of madness, stabs him after a brief interaction with Hoop. This final act of desperation represents May's complete loss of grip on reality and her twisted quest for companionship.
When:Halloween Night Where:Adam's House
- 14
Creating Amy
After the murders, May begins to construct a new friend out of the body parts of those she wanted to be close to. This act signifies her broken psyche and desperate need for connection in its most macabre form.
When:Post-Murders Where:May's Apartment
- 15
A New Friend
In her emotional collapse, May stabs her own eye and affixes it to her creation, Amy, seeking the connection she desperately craves. In a moment of clarity amidst chaos, she believes Amy can finally love her.
When:Post-Murders Where:May's Apartment
Who Are the Main Characters in May?
4 characters, among them May, Adam (Jeremy Sisto) and Polly (Anna Faris): who each one is and the part they play in the story. 3 of them link to the actor’s page.
- M
May
May is an awkward, isolated woman haunted by her troubled past. Her struggles with social interaction and her obsession with a childhood doll reveal her desire for companionship. As her mental state deteriorates, her actions lead to tragic and violent outcomes, illustrating her desperate need for connection and acceptance.
- 👩🎨 Protagonist
- 🧸 Loneliness
- 🔍 Obsession
-
Adam (Jeremy Sisto)
Played by Jeremy Sisto
Adam is a local mechanic who becomes the object of May's infatuation, providing her with a glimpse of emotional connection. Despite his initial acceptance of her quirks, he ultimately cannot handle the darkness that May embodies, leading to a painful breakup. His character serves as a catalyst for May's tragic descent.
- 🛠️ Mechanic
- ❤️ Infatuation
- 😔 Heartbreak
-
Polly (Anna Faris)
Played by Anna Faris
Polly is May's co-worker who demonstrates a playful interest in her, often teasing her about her oddities. Despite her flirtatious nature, Polly embodies a more typical social interaction, which May craves. Their brief relationship highlights May's search for connection even in the face of societal norms.
- 🌼 Co-worker
- 🤗 Flirtation
- 🍀 Playful
-
Blank (James Duval)
Played by James Duval
Blank is a punk character who becomes briefly entangled with May. Drawn by her unconventional behavior, he represents her desire for acceptance among the misfits. However, his reaction to her violent tendencies further isolates May, showcasing the fragile nature of her quest for companionship.
- 🎸 Punk
- 😱 Fear
- ⚡ Chaos
Where and When Is May Set?
May is set in Los Angeles. Here is why the place matters to the story.
When
The events in 'May' unfold in contemporary times, characterized by modern societal challenges, personal struggles, and complex interpersonal relationships. This era reflects the realities of urban life, where feelings of loneliness and the quest for connection can lead individuals down dark paths.
Where
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a bustling metropolis known for its vibrant culture and diverse communities. Often associated with the entertainment industry, it also has quieter corners, like the lower-class neighborhoods where May works in a veterinary hospital. The city's vast expanse offers a backdrop for narratives of isolation and connection amidst its famous landmarks.
- 🏙️ City
- 🐾 Veterinary
What Are the Themes of May?
2 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Isolation and Violence.
-
01
Isolation
Isolation is a central theme in 'May,' illustrated through the protagonist's struggles to connect with others. This feeling is exacerbated by her childhood trauma and social awkwardness, leading her to rely on her doll for companionship. As her relationships deteriorate, her descent into madness highlights the consequences of profound loneliness.
-
02
Violence
The theme of violence in 'May' emerges as a shocking response to her need for connection and acceptance. Her actions escalate from misguided infatuation to brutal acts, reflecting her internal turmoil and desperation. Through violence, the film explores the fragile boundaries between love and madness.
What Kind of Film Is May?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bleak
A deeply unsettling and melancholic descent into madness that follows a profoundly lonely woman whose desperate search for connection spirals into obsession and horrific violence.
- unsettling
- lonely
- melancholic
- tense
- oppressive
- disturbing
- loneliness
- mental illness
- childhood trauma
- social isolation
Content notes: self harm, animal death, murder, severed body parts, psychological trauma.
Quiz
How well do you remember May? Test yourself on the story.
Where to Watch May
Stream it on Amazon MX Player and Amazon Prime Video, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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