The Innocents 2022

Drama

Mystery

Thriller

Fantasy

Horror

Box Office

$322K

Runtime

117 min

Language

Norwegian

Directed by

Eskil Vogt

Made by

Vértigo Films

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The Innocents Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for The Innocents (2022). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Lonely young girl Ida and her older sister Anna have recently settled into a new apartment with their parents. Anna, who has nonverbal autism, relies on Ida for support and care. One fateful day, Ida meets Ben, and the two quickly form a friendship. To Ida’s astonishment, Ben reveals he possesses telekinetic abilities, enabling him to move small objects with his mind.

Things take a turn when Ida is tasked with taking Anna to the playground. However, she leaves Anna unsupervised for a bit to enjoy some football with Ben. Their fun is interrupted when a bully snatches their ball. Later, out of curiosity and perhaps a dark whim, Ben picks up a stray cat he noticed in the woods, and the two decide to drop it from the top of their apartment complex. While they find the cat unharmed initially, a horrific moment follows: at Ida’s urging to leave the cat alone, Ben kills it by crushing its skull with his foot.

The day becomes darker as Ida searches for Anna, only to find her playing with another child, Aisha, who lives in their building. Astonishingly, Aisha communicates with Anna through telepathy, revealing that Anna has her own latent powers of telekinesis. As Ida observes this newfound connection, it becomes clear that Anna, Aisha, and Ben thrive together in their supernatural abilities, while Ida finds herself devoid of such gifts.

With practice, the trio’s powers grow stronger, and to everyone’s delight, Anna begins to form words with Aisha’s encouragement. However, tensions rise when Ben becomes enraged at being teased and retaliates by knocking Aisha over telekinetically, leading to an unintended injury for Anna during the chaos. At home, Ben faces the wrath of his abusive mother, and in a moment of aggression facilitated by his powers, he knocks her unconscious. Shocking developments unfold when Aisha’s mother becomes a target, and tragedy strikes with Aisha’s untimely death.

As fears mount, a stranger warns Ida’s family of Ben’s manipulations. Despite that, Ida invites Ben to play with a toy glider, but their plans lead to more danger as Ida tries to thwart Ben by pushing him off the overpass where his bully was previously harmed. This reckless decision results in Ida being hit by a car, awakening her powers in sheer desperation.

Amidst the escalating conflict between Anna and Ben, Ida finds herself at a crossroads. When Anna is outmatched by Ben, Ida surprises herself by healing her broken leg through sheer willpower, unlocking her own telekinetic abilities. The battle intensifies, drawing captivated onlookers who witness the frantic energy exchange between the three children. Ultimately, a powerful surge leads to Ben’s demise, leaving a tranquil silence in its wake.

With the chaos subsiding, Ida and Anna return to their apartment, where Ida, now imbued with newfound courage, embraces their mother. The scene closes on Anna, who appears to be on the verge of expressing herself, raising hopes of a brighter connection between the sisters moving forward.

The Innocents Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of The Innocents (2022) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

New Beginnings

Ida and her older sister Anna move into a new apartment with their parents. Both sisters are adjusting to their new home, with Ida taking on the responsibility of caring for Anna, who has nonverbal autism.

New Apartment

A Friendship Forms

Ida meets Ben, a boy who quickly becomes her close friend. Their bond grows stronger as they spend time together, sharing experiences and secrets, including Ben's incredible telekinetic abilities.

A Playground Incident

Ida takes Anna to the playground but leaves her unattended for a short time to play football with Ben. Their game is interrupted by a bully who snatches the ball, highlighting their vulnerability.

Playground

The Cat Incident

Curiosity leads Ida and Ben to a stray cat they find in the woods. Despite Ida's objections, Ben kills the cat in a shocking act of cruelty, revealing a darker side to his character.

Apartment Complex

Anna's Discovery

Ida searches for Anna and discovers her playing with Aisha, another child in their building. Aisha reveals that she can communicate with Anna through telepathy, exposing Anna's latent telekinetic powers.

Building Playground

Growing Powers

As Aisha encourages Anna, their telekinetic abilities grow stronger, leading to new discoveries and breakthroughs. Anna begins to form words, indicating her progress and development in communication.

Rising Tensions

Tension mounts as Ben retaliates in anger after being teased, resulting in him inadvertently injuring Anna during a chaotic moment. The incident reminds everyone of the emotional stakes involved with their powers.

Ben's Breakdown

Back at home, Ben's abusive mother confronts him, triggering an aggressive reaction fueled by his powers. In a moment of rage, he knocks her unconscious, demonstrating the dangerous consequences of his abilities.

Ben's Home

Tragedy Strikes

Aisha's mother falls victim to a horrifying incident, leading to Aisha's untimely death. The tragedy sends shockwaves through their group, highlighting the perils that come with their supernatural gifts.

Warning Sign

A stranger approaches Ida’s family, warning them about Ben's manipulative nature. Nevertheless, Ida still invites Ben to play, which foreshadows the dangerous turn their friendship will take.

A Reckless Plan

Ida's attempt to protect herself and Anna leads to a dangerous confrontation with Ben. In a reckless moment, she pushes him off an overpass, resulting in her being hit by a car, which awakens her own powers.

Overpass

Unleashing Powers

Amid escalating conflict, Ida heals Anna's broken leg, which surprises her and reveals her own telekinetic abilities. This moment marks a turning point as Ida steps into her own power amid the chaos.

A Climactic Battle

The confrontation between Ida, Anna, and Ben intensifies as onlookers watch in amazement. A powerful surge of energy ultimately leads to Ben's demise, culminating in a moment of absolute silence.

Apartment Complex

Return to Normalcy

With the chaos subsided, Ida and Anna return to their apartment, reflecting on the series of events that have transpired. Ida now embraces her mother with newfound courage, signaling a shift in their family dynamics.

Apartment

A New Beginning for Anna

The film closes with a hopeful moment as Anna appears to be on the verge of expressing herself verbally. This newfound confidence hints at a brighter future for the bond between the sisters.

Apartment

The Innocents Characters

Explore all characters from The Innocents (2022). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Ida

Ida is a lonely young girl who takes on the responsibility of caring for her older sister Anna, who has nonverbal autism. Her character is defined by her protective instincts and strong sense of loyalty. As the story unfolds, Ida faces moral challenges and ultimately discovers her own telekinetic abilities, showcasing growth and resilience.

👧 Young ❤️ Protective 🌟 Determined

Anna

Anna, Ida's older sister, lives with nonverbal autism, relying on Ida for support and communication. She embodies innocence and vulnerability while also possessing her own latent telekinetic powers, which she begins to explore throughout the film. Her journey represents hope for connection and expression despite her challenges.

👩‍🦽 Autistic 🤝 Vulnerable 🌈 Hopeful

Ben

Ben is a charismatic boy with telekinetic abilities who initially forms a strong bond with Ida. However, his character is marked by emotional turmoil and aggression, which leads him to make harmful choices. His journey serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of unbridled power and unresolved trauma.

👦 Charismatic ⚡ Troubled 🥺 Aggressive

Aisha

Aisha is a girl who lives in the same apartment complex and possesses the ability to communicate telepathically with Anna. Her character brings a mystical element to the story, serving as a bridge for Anna’s development. Aisha's untimely death intensifies the film's exploration of loss and the fragility of childhood.

👧 Mystical ✨ Telepathic 💔 Tragic

The Innocents Settings

Learn where and when The Innocents (2022) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

The film doesn't specify an exact time period, but its contemporary setting is reflected through the children’s modern experiences and interactions. The absence of historical references creates a timeless quality, allowing the themes to resonate with both present and future audiences.

Location

Apartment Complex, Playground

The movie takes place primarily in a residential apartment complex where the sisters Ida and Anna live with their parents. Nearby, a playground serves as a significant location for the children's interactions and events. The juxtaposition of the mundane residential life with the darker supernatural elements creates an eerie atmosphere.

🏢 Residential 🛝 Playground

The Innocents Themes

Discover the main themes in The Innocents (2022). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🧠

Supernatural Abilities

The film explores the theme of supernatural abilities, particularly through the characters of Ben, Anna, and Aisha, who possess telekinetic powers. As these abilities become a source of fascination and turmoil, they highlight the fear and potential that comes with such powers. Ida's eventual awakening of her own abilities emphasizes the theme of self-discovery and empowerment.

💔

Sibling Relationship

Ida and Anna's relationship is pivotal to the story, showcasing the complexities of sibling support, especially in the face of disabilities. Ida's determination to protect Anna reflects the deep bond they share despite the challenges. Their connection symbolizes hope for communication and understanding even in dire situations.

⚖️

Morality and Consequences

The film raises questions about morality as the children’s use of their powers leads to dire consequences. The tragic events involving the cat and Aisha reveal the unpredictable nature of power and responsibility. This theme underscores a dark narrative about the impact of actions on others and the moral dilemmas faced by the characters.

The Innocents Ending Explained

Unravel the ending of The Innocents (2022) with our detailed explanation. Understand the final scenes, character fates, and unresolved questions.

The ending of “The Innocents” presents a haunting culmination of the children’s supernatural powers and the chaos they unleash. As Anna and her sister Ida confront Ben, who has now become a dangerously vengeful figure driven by his own anger and remorse, their final battle takes place at the edge of a large pond in the playground. Ben, overwhelmed by Anna’s psychic attack, begins to weaken, and Ida, finally breaking free from her own guilt and fear, joins her sister in combating him. Together, they unleash a powerful, almost mythic force against him, which results in Ben collapsing and becoming motionless. This climactic moment is ambiguous—whether Ben truly dies or simply is incapacitated by the children’s combined supernatural assault is left intentionally unclear. Following this, the sisters return home, with their mother informing them that paramedics have arrived to care for a supposedly dead child in the playground, emphasizing the tragic and unresolved nature of the events.

In the aftermath, Ida notices Ben watching their house from afar, and she becomes increasingly paranoid, feeling that he might still pose a threat. Her fears are confirmed when she finds Anna missing, and she suspects Ben is still lurking nearby. The sisters eventually face Ben once more near a pond, where both are able to summon their powers—Anna through her supernatural control of water, and Ida through her determination and courage. Their combined strength appears to finally subdue Ben, who falls to the ground as the water around him ripples violently. When they go home, their mother is unaware of the true extent of what happened, and as Anna resumes her drawings, the film leaves their fate somewhat open-ended, hinting that the supernatural struggle between these children—representing innocence, guilt, and evil—may continue beyond what is shown on screen.

The ending is deliberately ambiguous, blending the supernatural with the psychological, leaving viewers pondering whether the children’s powers are real or simply imagination, and whether their actions resulted in genuine death or are symbolic of their inner struggles and fears. The conclusion ultimately underscores the complex and unsettling nature of childhood innocence corrupted and the thin line between good and evil in the realm of the supernatural.

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