What Is The Details About?
The premise of The Details in 313 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a rain‑softened Seattle neighborhood, an obstetrician‑gynecologist balances the demands of his practice with the quiet turbulence of his home. Jeff lives with his wife Nealy and their toddler in a modest house that feels both comfortable and cramped, a space where the prospect of expanding their family looms amid lingering doubts about their marriage. The couple’s routine is punctuated by the ordinary worries of parenthood, yet an undercurrent of disconnect makes every conversation feel like a negotiation of unspoken expectations.
When a newly laid lawn attracts an unexpected family of raccoons, Jeff finds himself drawn into an all‑consuming quest to reclaim his backyard. The nocturnal intruders become a strangely convenient focus, pulling his attention away from the fragile cracks in his relationship. As he devises increasingly elaborate plans to evict the critters, the house fills with a mix of humor and tension, turning a simple pest problem into a symbolic battlefield for his deeper anxieties.
Friendship and neighborly proximity add further layers to the domestic tableau. Lila, a nearby resident, offers a sympathetic ear that quickly blurs the line between concern and involvement, while Becca, an old confidante, surfaces at moments when Jeff seeks validation beyond his marital circle. Their presence hints at roads not taken and choices that hover just out of reach, casting a gentle glow on the moral gray zones that the protagonist navigates.
The film’s tone balances dark comedy with earnest introspection, painting a portrait of a man whose attempt to control the external—raccoons, lawn, and neighborly advice—mirrors his struggle to manage the internal disquiet of a partnership on shaky ground. Amid the drizzle‑spattered streets and the soft hum of suburban life, the story invites viewers to consider how easily a small distraction can amplify larger, unspoken fears, leaving the audience wondering whether the real battle lies outside the garden gates or within the heart of the home.
What Happens in The Details?
The complete story of The Details, from the first scene to the last, in 835 words (about 4 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 2 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Jeff Lang, an obstetric gynecologist (OBGYN), and his wife Elizabeth Banks Nealy live in Seattle with their two-year-old son, Miles. As they consider a second child, they decide to expand their modest home and lay expensive new grass in the backyard, hoping to create a perfect, carefree space for their growing family. But the plan quickly sours when worms in the grass invite a family of raccoons that gnaw away at their hard work, prompting Jeff to go to shocking lengths to eradicate the pests—even mixing poison with a can of tuna in a misguided bid to save the lawn. The trouble deepens when their neighbor, Lila, reports that her cat Matthew is missing, and Jeff remains unaware that his own actions may be the cause.
After a heated argument with Nealy over his raccoon fixation, Jeff seeks guidance from Becca, his childhood best friend. The two share drinks at a bar, and Becca takes him to the house she shares with her husband, Peter. In a charged moment, Becca introduces Jeff to her world—she shows off a collectible car that her husband cherishes and the two end up having sex in the garage, a reckless decision that will resurface with consequences. That same night, Lila pursues Jeff, desperate to talk, and follows him to his office where Peter is waiting to confront Jeff about Becca. The tension spikes when Lila seems to overhear the confrontation; she leaves without saying another word.
Later, Becca arrives with proof that Jeff’s poison scheme accidentally harmed Matthew, and Lila confronts him with the knowledge that she is fully aware of his extramarital affair. She blackmaps him into having sex with her immediately, leaving Jeff in a moment of coercive fear and bewilderment. He emerges believing the chance of pregnancy from that encounter is slim, but the seed of trouble has already been planted. When he returns home, Nealy mentions that Peter stopped by, hinting at the broader network of complications looming over their lives. Jeff then meets Peter on a bridge, where Peter corners him with a stark choice: confess everything to Nealy or hand over a dramatic sum of money. Desperate, Jeff pulls together what he can and offers $75,000, a loan secured by debt and fear rather than pride. Peter tosses the money into the river, chastising Jeff for his pattern of reckless decisions and warning that continued missteps would ruin his life. The moment crystallizes Jeff’s desire to change his course.
Around this time, Jeff learns that Lincoln, his long-ago college friend who once shone as a basketball star before a car accident derailed his pro dreams, is now dying of kidney failure. Recognizing a chance to do something truly meaningful, Jeff discovers that he is a perfect donor match and decides to offer a kidney to his friend. The surgery is a somber success, and as Jeff recovers, Lila reveals with a mix of triumph and mischief that she is pregnant with Jeff’s child. The revelation lands with a heavy quiet in Jeff, who must decide how to respond to the life-changing news.
In a moment of confession, Jeff reveals the full scope of the turmoil to Lincoln, including a strange dream in which Lila is killed by an arrow. Moved by the debt he feels toward Jeff for saving his life and for giving him a new opportunity as a basketball coach, Lincoln takes it upon himself to “remove” the threat Lila represents. He buys an archery set and tracks Lila down in a park, ending her life to spare his friend from exposure and guilt.
As the community reacts to Lila’s death, police begin interviewing everyone on the block about the case. Jeff’s name appears in the investigations, and Lincoln’s church holds a ceremony that recognizes Jeff in a way that feels both celebratory and haunted—an uneasy tribute to a man who has killed in the name of protection and with a lingering fear of being found out. On the drive home, a guilt-ridden Jeff finally opens up to Nealy, confessing nearly everything and accepting the consequences of his tangled choices, even as he bluntly ends a raccoon’s life on the road with a quiet, reluctant mercy. In the wake of these revelations, Nealy shares a startling confession of her own infidelity, and the couple resolves to put the past behind them and start anew.
In the months that follow, the family’s lawn is transformed: the grass is replaced with a bed of flowers, a symbolic shift that signals both renewal and the persistent fragility of their domestic peace. Nealy becomes pregnant again, bringing a hopeful note to their troubled life, but Jeff remains haunted by the possibility that the truth could erupt again at any moment. The story closes with a sense of wary optimism: their home is more vibrant, their relationship has endured a brutal test, and the threat of exposure lingers just beneath the surface, a reminder that balance is fragile and happiness can hinge on hard, painful choices.
The Details Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Family plans and a new grassy dream” to “A fragile renewal: flowers replace the lawn and Nealy's pregnancy”. 15 events name a place, across 14 locations.
- 1
Family plans and a new grassy dream
Jeff Lang and his wife Nealy live in Seattle with their two-year-old Miles. They decide to expand their modest home and lay expensive new grass in the backyard to create a carefree space for their growing family. The plan symbolizes stability but foreshadows the trouble to come.
When:early in the story Where:Seattle, family home backyard
- 2
Raccoons invade and Jeff's risky idea
Worms in the new grass draw a family of raccoons into the yard. Jeff, hoping to save the lawn, secretly poisons them by mixing poison into tuna. His misguided act will ripple through their lives.
When:soon after Where:Seattle backyard
- 3
Becca becomes confidant and the affair begins
After a heated argument about the raccoon obsession, Jeff seeks guidance from Becca, his childhood friend. They drink at a bar, and she takes him to her house, where they end up having sex in the garage. The reckless decision will echo in the days to come.
When:that night Where:Bar; Becca's house garage
- 4
Lila trails Jeff and confronts him
That same night, Lila pursues Jeff, desperate to talk. She follows him to his office where Peter is waiting to confront Jeff about Becca. The tension spikes as she seems to overhear the confrontation and leaves without a word.
When:that night Where:Jeff's office
- 5
Becca returns with proof; Lila reveals knowledge
Becca arrives with proof that Jeff’s poison plan accidentally harmed Matthew the cat. Lila confronts Jeff with full awareness of his extramarital affair, turning the situation into a coercive trap.
When:days later Where:Jeff’s home
- 6
Lila coerces Jeff into sex
Lila blackmails Jeff into having sex with her immediately, leaving him stunned and fearful of what the encounter could mean. He is left in fear and bewilderment, unsure how this will affect the future.
When:that night Where:Lila's home
- 7
Bridge confrontation: a demanded confession or payment
Peter corners Jeff on a bridge and issues a stark ultimatum: confess everything to Nealy or hand over $75,000. Jeff scrambles to assemble what he can as Peter hurls the money away, warning that more bad choices will ruin him. The moment crystallizes Jeff’s resolve to change course.
When:shortly after Where:Bridge
- 8
Jeff learns Lincoln's kidney failure and donor match
Around this time, Jeff learns that Lincoln, a college friend, is dying from kidney failure. Realizing he is a perfect donor match, Jeff decides to offer a kidney. The prospect of meaningful sacrifice marks a shift from selfish to selfless.
When:shortly after Where:Phone calls and hospital
- 9
Kidney transplant and recovery
The surgery is a somber success, and Jeff recovers from the operation with a new sense of purpose. The act of giving a life to a friend becomes a catalyst for reevaluating his life choices. Lincoln sees his chance at a fresh start.
When:surgery day Where:Hospital operating room; recovery ward
- 10
Lila reveals she is pregnant with Jeff's child
As Jeff recovers, Lila reveals she is pregnant with Jeff's child, a revelation that intensifies the stakes of his moral pivot. Jeff is forced to grapple with the consequences of his past actions turning into a present and future burden. The news unsettles him and tests the strength of his marriage.
When:during recovery Where:Hospital
Show the other 5 events of The Details Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Jeff confesses to Lincoln and the arrow dream
Jeff confesses the full scope of his turmoil to Lincoln, including a dream in which Lila is killed by an arrow. Moved by gratitude for saving his life, Lincoln vows to shield Jeff from exposure, however grim the consequences.
When:after transplant Where:Lincoln's home
- 12
Lincoln acts to remove Lila
He purchases an archery set and tracks Lila down in a park, ending her life to spare Jeff from guilt and discovery.
When:soon after Where:Park
- 13
Police begin investigations; community reacts
As the community processes Lila's death, police begin interviewing everyone on the block about the case. Jeff’s name surfaces in the investigations, bringing the danger of exposure closer to home.
When:days after Lila's death Where:Neighborhood/police station
- 14
Church tribute and drive-home confession
Jeff is honored in a church ceremony that feels both celebratory and haunted by what he has done. On the drive home, he opens up to Nealy and confesses nearly everything.
When:days after investigations Where:Church; driving home
- 15
A fragile renewal: flowers replace the lawn and Nealy's pregnancy
Months pass and the lawn is replaced with a bed of flowers, signaling renewal amid fragility. Nealy becomes pregnant again, offering a glimmer of hopeful balance for a family scarred by danger and secrecy.
When:months later Where:Seattle, family home backyard
Who Are the Main Characters in The Details?
4 characters, among them Jeff Lang (Tobey Maguire), Becca (Laura Linney) and Nealy Lang (Elizabeth Banks): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Jeff Lang (Tobey Maguire)
Played by Tobey Maguire
An obstetrician whose outward calm masks growing impulses and a willingness to bend moral lines. He pursues control through material and sexual risk, and his rationalizations crumble under guilt and pressure.
- 💼 Professional
- 💔 Flawed
- 🧭 Morally compromised
-
Becca (Laura Linney)
Played by Laura Linney
Becca is Jeff's childhood friend who becomes the lure for his affair and a catalyst for the unraveling of his life. She exudes a mix of warmth and resolve, and isn't afraid to push boundaries.
- 💬 Confidant
- 💞 Temptation
- 🎭 Complex relationships
-
Nealy Lang (Elizabeth Banks)
Played by Elizabeth Banks
Jeff's wife, who seeks to preserve their family while confronting betrayal. She processes the infidelity with pragmatism and an openness about her own flaws, leading to a fragile reconciliation.
- 💍 Wife
- 💡 Insightful
- 🧩 Relational drama
-
Peter (Ray Liotta)
Played by Ray Liotta
Becca's husband who confronts Jeff about the affair and becomes a pivotal player in the couple's moral crisis. He negotiates leverage, exposing the high-stakes tension behind small-town life.
- 🗣️ Confrontational
- 💰 Leverage
- 🔒 Secrets
Where and When Is The Details Set?
The Details is set in Seattle and Washington (Early 2010s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Early 2010s
Set in the early 2010s, the film portrays a contemporary life in which technology, social expectations, and neighborhood dynamics shape the characters' choices. The period feels current and grounded in real-life concerns—marital strain, infidelity, and the pressure to maintain appearances. The intimate scope centers on a single household and its surrounding community.
Where
Seattle, Washington
Seattle provides the modern backdrop for a tense domestic drama focused on Jeff Lang and his family. The action unfolds across a quiet urban-suburban neighborhood, Jeff's clinic, and the couple's home, highlighting the contrast between professional life and private turmoil. The city landscape grounds the story in a contemporary setting where everyday routines mask escalating conflicts.
- 🏙️ Urban Seattle
- 🏡 Suburban neighborhood
- 🧭 Contemporary setting
What Are the Themes of The Details?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Infidelity, Guilt & Consequences and Domestic Life.
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01
Infidelity
Jeff's affair with Becca destabilizes his marriage and exposes how desire eclipses duty. The narrative tracks the emotional fallout—from flirtation to betrayal—and the heavy costs of a double life. Infidelity here is used to explore trust, vulnerability, and the fragility of family bonds.
-
02
Guilt & Consequences
Secrets accumulate into a burden of guilt that drives decisions and reactions. The film shows how one dishonest act cascades into harm for multiple people, forcing characters to confront their choices. The consequences ripple through relationships, finances, and the sense of safety in their neighborhood.
-
03
Domestic Life
The home and neighborhood are depicted as both sanctuary and pressure cooker. The couple's attempts to fix their life—financially, emotionally, and literally by gardening—mirror their efforts to manage deceit. Ordinary routines become stage directions for a drama where secrets threaten to surface.
What Kind of Film Is The Details?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A progressively tense and morally murky dark comedy that follows a man's life spiraling out of control due to a series of disastrous decisions, creating an atmosphere of anxiety and uneasy dread.
- anxious
- guilty
- tense
- uneasy
- melancholic
- cynical
- marriage breakdown
- infidelity
- murder
- escalating consequences
Content notes: murder, animal death, infidelity, blackmail.
Quiz
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