Wait Till Helen Comes 2016
Directed by
Dominic James
Made by
Mednick Productions
Wait Till Helen Comes Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Wait Till Helen Comes (2016). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Set in 1982, Molly, Sophie Nélisse, is a teenage girl living in Baltimore with her widowed mother Jean, Maria Bello, and younger brother Michael, Liam Dickinson. When Jean marries Dave, Callum Keith Rennie, a writer and widower, the newly formed family moves to an isolated rural church converted into a house on the edge of Holwell. On the way, they stop at a psychiatric hospital to collect Dave’s preadolescent daughter Heather, Isabelle Nélisse, who has spent the previous three years there, haunted by the trauma of seeing her mother die in a house fire.
Heather is pulled toward a blue butterfly and follows it deeper into the surrounding woods. Their exploration brings them to the churchyard, cared for by the kindly old Mr. Simmonds, Frank Adamson. There, Molly and Heather discover a memorial plaque—not a grave—for Helen Harper, a six-year-old girl whose initials are H.E.H., the same as Heather’s. Curious, they turn to Mrs. Williams, the local librarian, Mary Downing Hahn, who unearths records and photographs that reveal Helen Harper died with her parents in a fire in 1886, a tragedy in which no remains were ever found.
As Heather befriends Helen’s ghost, a bond forms. Helen leads her to the ruins of her former house beside a river, and the two girls spend time there, playing as if the past and present have grown tangled. Besides Heather, Molly is the only living person who can see Helen—a gift that Molly shares with her late father, who was known for his visions. When Molly tries to tell the rest of the family about Helen, they dismiss her as crazy. Only Mr. Simmonds believes her, remembering how his departed wife Rose shared the same gift when she was alive. He also warns Molly to be careful, noting that several young girls have vanished over the years after befriending Helen’s ghost (a girl is seen walking into the river during the opening credits).
Determined to protect Heather, Molly keeps a watchful eye on her as she forms a fragile friendship with Helen. Heather runs away to Helen’s house, and Molly’s father appears to her in a dream, warning her of danger. Molly wakes and races after Heather, arriving to witness a vision of how Helen accidentally closed a trap door—an event Helen could never unlock when she and her parents were alive in the basement. The moment grows tense as a candle is knocked over, and the ensuing fire claims the lives of Helen’s parents while Helen herself escapes to the river, where she drowns.
Heather then tries to join Helen in the river and begins to slip beneath the surface. Molly acts quickly, pulling the unconscious Heather from the water and reviving her on the shore. Heather reveals that she accidentally killed her mother while trying to cook for her, beginning a devastating house fire, and she confesses that she and Helen truly understand each other.
Molly discovers the trap door to the basement in the ruins and, with Helen’s spectral help, finally opens it. Inside lie the bodies of Helen’s parents, their spirits trapped for years. The blue butterfly, a nickname the Harper family used for Helen, lands on the corpses as a quiet sign of release. Michael arrives to join Molly and Heather, and together they witness the spirits of Helen’s parents ascend to the heavens, freed at last, with Helen accompanying them in the moment of release.
Wait Till Helen Comes Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Wait Till Helen Comes (2016) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Move to Holwell and meet Heather
In 1982, Molly and her new husband Dave relocate with their children to an isolated rural church converted into a house on the edge of Holwell. On the way, they stop to collect Dave’s preadolescent daughter Heather from a psychiatric hospital, where she has spent the last three years haunted by her mother’s death in a house fire. The move marks the beginning of a fragile, unsettled family dynamic as they settle into the secluded countryside.
Heather joins the family and carries her trauma
Heather arrives with her own heavy past, still haunted by the loss of her mother in the fire and by years spent away from a stable home. She adapts to the new surroundings in the rural house, while the memory of that tragedy lingers over every room. Her presence also tests the fragile balance of the newly formed family.
Heather follows a blue butterfly to Helen Harper’s memory
The girl is drawn by a blue butterfly into the woods and toward the churchyard, where a memorial plaque hints at a mystery. Molly and Heather discover that Helen Harper, a six-year-old girl from 1886, died in a fire but no remains were ever found. The revelation links the present to a centuries-old tragedy etched into the local landscape.
Librarian uncovers Helen Harper’s past
Mrs. Williams the librarian presents records and photographs showing Helen Harper’s death in a fire in 1886, with her parents and no remains recovered. The historical material deepens the mystery surrounding the girl and why her spirit might linger. It also explains why Heather can sense Helen’s presence while others cannot.
Helen’s ghost forms a bond with Heather
As Heather befriends the ghost of Helen Harper, a unique connection grows between them, unusual in the living world. Molly discovers that she and her late father can share the same gift of vision, while Mr. Simmonds remembers his departed wife who once had a similar sight. The bond makes the haunting feel personal rather than a simple apparition.
Mr. Simmonds warns of danger after befriending Helen
Mr. Simmonds warns Molly that several young girls have vanished after befriending Helen’s ghost, suggesting a dangerous pattern behind the haunting. The warning adds a layer of inevitability and fear to the girls’ growing friendship with the spirit. Molly resolves to protect Heather, even as the others doubt her account.
Heather runs to Helen’s house; warnings come in dreams
Heather runs away toward Helen’s house, drawn by the ghost’s presence, while Molly’s father appears to Molly in a dream warning of impending danger. The dream sequence emphasizes that the veil between the living and the dead is thin and that caution is needed. The siblings’ bond strengthens as the danger becomes more real.
The trap door and the fire that claims Helen’s parents
Molly witnesses a vision of Helen accidentally closing a trap door in the house’s basement, which becomes a deadly fire when a candle is knocked over. Helen’s parents die in the blaze, while Helen escapes to the river and drowns. The tragedy clarifies the true heart of the haunting and the fate of the Harper family.
Heather reveals the truth behind the fire
After nearly drowning in the river, Heather is revived by Molly and reveals that she had accidentally killed her mother while cooking, which started the house fire. This confession reframes the haunting and deepens Heather’s connection to Helen. The moment also reinforces the fragile trust within the trio.
The trap door is discovered and opened
With Helen’s spectral help, Molly locates and opens the long-hidden trap door in the ruins’ basement. Inside are Helen’s parents’ bodies, their spirits trapped for years. The discovery shifts the haunting from rumor to a tangible historical tragedy seeking release.
The blue butterfly signals release
The blue butterfly lands on the corpses, a quiet sign that the trapped spirits are finally released. The moment marks the turning point in the haunting and the beginning of the spirits’ peace. It also underscores the connection between the living and the dead that Heather and Molly share.
Michael arrives and the ghosts ascend
Michael arrives to join Molly and Heather as they witness the release of Helen Harper’s parents’ spirits. Helen accompanies them in the moment of release, finally freeing the ghostly family. The house, the river, and the ruins become a place of quiet closure rather than fear.
Wait Till Helen Comes Characters
Explore all characters from Wait Till Helen Comes (2016). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Molly (Sophie Nélisse)
A perceptive teenage girl living in Baltimore who moves to Holwell with her mother Jean and her new stepfather Dave. She has the rare ability to see Helen's ghost, a gift shared with her late father, and she takes on a protective role for Heather. Her visions sometimes put her at odds with the family, but they drive the search for the truth behind Helen's past.
Heather (Isabelle Nélisse)
A preadolescent girl who has spent years in a psychiatric hospital after trauma. She forms a friendship with Helen's ghost and is drawn to the blue butterfly associated with Helen. She reveals that she accidentally killed her mother while cooking, a confession that ties her to the house's dark history. Her bond with Helen drives the emotional core of the story and she shows resilience despite fear.
Helen (Abigail Pniowsky)
The ghost of Helen Harper, a six-year-old girl from 1886 who died in tragedy near the Harper house. Known by the nickname 'the blue butterfly,' she guides Heather and influences Molly. Her presence unravels long-buried family secrets and reveals the fate of her parents, trapped in the past until a spectral resolution occurs.
Dave (Callum Keith Rennie)
A writer and widower who marries Jean, joining Molly and Heather in a remote rural home. He provides a calm, introspective presence and becomes part of the fragile family dynamic as they confront fear and memory together.
Jean (Maria Bello)
Molly's mother, a widowed woman who remarries and moves the family to Holwell. She is initially skeptical of Molly's visions, yet she remains protective and strives to hold the family together as secrets surface and dangers loom.
Mr. Simmonds (Frank Adamson)
The kindly, elderly keeper of the churchyard who believes Molly's visions and warns of danger. He remembers his late wife Rose and acts as a bridge between the living and the departed, offering cautious guidance to the children.
Sheriff (John B. Lowe)
The local lawman who represents the town's sense of order and safety. He provides stability to the community and participates in the unfolding investigation of the haunting.
Michael (Liam Dickinson)
Molly's younger brother who joins the family at the Holwell residence. He brings a youthful curiosity to the events and anchors the sibling dynamic as the mystery deepens.
Librarian (Mary Downing Hahn)
The local librarian who helps uncover Helen's backstory through records and photographs, providing essential context about the historical tragedy and its lasting impact on the community.
Wait Till Helen Comes Settings
Learn where and when Wait Till Helen Comes (2016) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Time period
1982
The events unfold during the early 1980s, a time when a widowed mother remarries and relocates to a secluded countryside home. The quiet era emphasizes intimate family ties and a slowly building haunting tied to forgotten history. The setting's simplicity contrasts with the eerie revelations that surface as old wounds are reopened.
Location
Baltimore, Holwell
Set in 1982, the story follows Molly and her family as they move from Baltimore to a remote church converted into a house on the edge of Holwell. The isolated rural setting features a river and nearby ruins that become the stage for supernatural events. Local figures like Mr. Simmonds and the town librarian anchor the living world while Heather befriends Helen's ghost, linking past tragedy to the present.
Wait Till Helen Comes Themes
Discover the main themes in Wait Till Helen Comes (2016). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Supernatural Bonds
A girl becomes entangled with the ghost of Helen Harper, and Heather forms a bond with the spirit that transcends time. Molly, who can see Helen, acts as a bridge between the living and the dead, protecting her friend from danger. The film uses this friendship to explore memory, guilt, and how belief can shape reality.
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Family Dynamics
A blended family navigates trust, secrecy, and fear after moving to a remote home. Molly's visions are met with skepticism from Jean and other adults, highlighting the strain of newcomer bonds. The presence of Dave as a writer adds a gentle, outsider perspective while the siblings support one another.
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Grief and Release
The haunting rests on unresolved grief: Helen's death in 1886 and Heather's role in a modern tragedy. As the truth about the past comes to light, the spirits seek release and closure. The butterfly motif ties memory to transformation when Helen's parents are finally freed.
Wait Till Helen Comes Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of Wait Till Helen Comes (2016). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In the quiet outskirts of Holwell, a newly‑blended family seeks fresh starts within the stone walls of a former church, its vaulted ceilings echoing the promise of peace and the weight of history. Molly, a teenage girl still navigating the loss of her father, moves in with her widowed mother Jean, younger brother Michael, and step‑father Dave, a thoughtful writer still learning the contours of his own grief. Their newest addition, Heather, arrives from a distant psychiatric facility, a shy pre‑adolescent whose past is marked by shadowed memories and an invisible thread of unease.
The house, with its creaking floors and sun‑dappled graveyard, becomes a stage for a lingering presence—a young girl whose name is whispered among the town’s folklore. This spectral figure seems to reach out to Heather, forging a bond that feels both comforting and unsettling. As Molly watches over her step‑sister, she senses an uncanny connection she alone can perceive, a sensitivity inherited from a father whose own visions were dismissed as madness. The locals, including the kindly caretaker Mr. Simmons, speak of old tragedies and missing children, hinting at a pattern that blurs the line between memory and menace.
Within this atmospheric setting, the story weaves themes of familial loyalty, the fragile edges of childhood imagination, and the pull of unseen forces that linger in places where sorrow once dwelled. The converted church, standing as a sanctuary and a sentinel, frames a tension between the safety of home and the whisper of an ancient, restless spirit. As the new family settles into their rural life, Molly finds herself balancing the ordinary challenges of adolescence with the extraordinary task of protecting Heather from a connection that may be as perilous as it is compelling.
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