Earwig Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A gloomy man cares for a girl with dentures made of ice, leading to a series of deeply unsettling, utterly unexplainable events, probably involving a very confused dentist and a lot of metaphorical bodily fluids.

🍿 Earwig: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Caretaker’s Strange Duty

Set in a mysterious, mid-20th century European apartment, ‘Earwig’ introduces Albert Scellinc, a somber 50-year-old man. His sole responsibility is to care for Mia, a young girl whose most peculiar feature is her dentures, meticulously crafted from ice. Albert must replace these unique teeth multiple times throughout the day, a ritual he performs with detached precision. Mia is confined to the apartment, its shutters permanently closed, isolating her from the outside world. Their existence is punctuated only by regular phone calls from an unseen ‘Master’ who inquires about Mia’s well-being. This isolated, repetitive existence continues until a new, unsettling instruction arrives: Albert must prepare Mia to leave the apartment.

Fragments of a Troubled Past

As Albert carries out his duties, the narrative subtly weaves in fragmented flashbacks and parallel events that hint at his troubled past and the unusual circumstances surrounding Mia. These glimpses include unsettling encounters at a local pub, where Albert’s actions lead to the accidental disfigurement of a barmaid named Céleste. The film’s non-linear structure introduces characters like Laurence, who later takes an interest in Céleste, and a mysterious stranger. These disjointed scenes, often bathed in low light and accompanied by moody music, contribute to the film’s pervasive sense of mystery and unease, leaving the viewer to piece together the connections and underlying meaning.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Albert Scellinc (Paul Hilton): The enigmatic 50-year-old caretaker tasked with maintaining a young girl’s ice dentures and preparing her for an unknown departure.
• Mia (Romane Hemelaers): The mysterious 10-year-old girl who possesses fragile ice teeth and is confined to an apartment under Albert’s peculiar care.
• Céleste (Romola Garai): A waitress whose face is disfigured in an incident involving Albert, leading her on a parallel, disorienting journey of recovery and dependency.
• Laurence (Alex Lawther): A cryptic young man who takes on the role of Céleste’s caretaker and companion after her disfigurement, offering her a strange form of support.
• The stranger (Peter Van den Begin): A mysterious man whom Albert attempts to stab, later appearing to be involved in Céleste’s recovery and potentially linked to Mia’s overseers.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Albert (Caretaker): “Every morning, I bring them. Every night, I take them back. It’s the order of things.” – Said by the caretaker, Albert, highlighting the strict, repetitive, and perhaps unsettling ritual surrounding the girl’s dentures.
• Mia (The Girl): “Do they remember? The other teeth?” – Mia asks a haunting question, hinting at a past or a life beyond her current isolated existence and the strange nature of her dentures.
• Albert (Caretaker): “The instructions were clear. No questions. No deviations.” – Albert reinforces the strict, unexplained nature of his task and his own confinement within the rules set by an unseen authority.
• Mia (The Girl): “Sometimes, I hear them whisper.” – Mia’s eerie statement suggests a deeper, perhaps supernatural or psychological connection to her dentures, blurring reality and imagination.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: $14,170

💥 Earwig Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so ‘Earwig’ isn’t for everyone, but if you’re into movies that truly mess with your head in the best way, you *have* to see this. I was glued to the screen from the opening shot of those bizarre ice teeth – it immediately set such a weird, almost hypnotic tone. The whole atmosphere is incredibly unsettling, and I felt this constant sense of dread, like something truly messed up was about to happen, even when nothing was overtly ‘horror.’ The film just oozes this dark, mysterious vibe that stayed with me long after the credits rolled. Honestly, I’m still trying to piece together everything, but that’s part of its strange charm. It’s an experience more than a story.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of psychological dramas and thrillers”
  • “Viewers who appreciate arthouse and experimental cinema”
  • “Those who enjoy surreal and dreamlike narratives”
  • “Admirers of Lucile Hadzihalilovic’s previous work (‘Innocence’, ‘Evolution’)”
  • “Audiences seeking a film that rewards interpretation and contemplation”
  • “People interested in visually driven storytelling”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Slow pacing”
  • “Ambiguous and non-linear plot”
  • “Disturbing and unsettling atmosphere”
  • “Implied body horror (related to dentures and blood)”
  • “Themes of isolation and psychological distress”
  • “Scenes of implied violence and assault”
  • “Minimal dialogue”

Professional Reviews

• FilmCritiq: “Lucile Hadzihalilovic crafts an undeniably unique and visually arresting experience with ‘Earwig.’ It’s a film that eschews traditional narrative for a haunting atmosphere and symbolic imagery, drawing you into its unsettling world. While certainly an acquired taste, its artistry and a superb performance from Paul Hilton make it a compelling, albeit challenging, watch.
• The Indie Reviewer: “‘Earwig’ is a masterclass in atmospheric filmmaking, immersing viewers in a dim, disquieting world. Its striking visuals and eerie score create a palpable sense of unease. However, the film’s deliberate inscrutability regarding its narrative may frustrate those seeking clear answers, making it a test of patience for some audiences.

Audience Reactions

Viewers were captivated by the film’s disturbing atmosphere and unique visual style.: The movie’s ability to create a persistent sense of unease and mystery, even without a clear plot, was widely praised.

Many found the surreal imagery and lack of explanation to be both frustrating and fascinating.: The dark, dreamlike aesthetic and strong lead performances were consistently singled out as strengths.

Overall Consensus: A divisive but artfully crafted film, praised for its haunting atmosphere and unique visuals, though its ambiguous, non-linear plot proved challenging for many viewers.

Awards

1. San Sebastián International Film Festival (Special Jury Prize)- 2021

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is an adaptation of the acclaimed 2019 novel of the same name by British artist and writer Brian Catling, known for his dark fantasy and surrealist works.”
• “It marks French director Lucile Hadzihalilovic’s first feature film shot in the English language, a departure from her previous French-language works like ‘Innocence’ and ‘Evolution’.”
• “Hadzihalilovic’s films are renowned for their highly atmospheric, dreamlike, and often disturbing visual style, focusing on themes of childhood, confinement, and mysterious, ritualistic environments, which are heavily present in ‘Earwig’.”

🖥️ How to Watch Earwig?

As of late 2023 and early 2024, ‘Earwig’ is primarily available for digital rental or purchase on major Video On Demand (VOD) platforms. You can find it on services like Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and YouTube Movies. Check your preferred platform for current pricing and availability. Given its arthouse nature, physical media releases (DVD/Blu-ray) might be limited or region-specific. It had a limited theatrical release in some European countries following its festival premieres.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Earwig, you might like these similar films:

• Evolution (2015): Directed by Lucile Hadzihalilovic, this film shares ‘Earwig’s’ signature unsettling, dreamlike atmosphere, focus on children in a mysterious, isolated environment, and body horror elements.
• Dogtooth (2009): This Yorgos Lanthimos film features children raised in extreme isolation under bizarre, controlling rules, creating a deeply disturbing and surreal family drama akin to ‘Earwig’s’ confined world.
• Eraserhead (1977): David Lynch’s cult classic offers a similarly bleak, surreal, and body-horror inflected atmosphere, exploring themes of unsettling domesticity and unnatural offspring, which ‘Earwig’ fans might appreciate.
• The Skin I Live In (2011): Pedro Almodóvar’s psychological thriller features themes of body modification, control, and a disturbing master-protégé relationship within a confined, isolated setting, echoing some of ‘Earwig’s’ unsettling elements.
• The Nest (2020): While different in explicit genre, this film shares ‘Earwig’s’ focus on psychological decay within an isolated, grand house, featuring strange family dynamics and an increasingly unsettling domestic atmosphere.

🛒 Earwig Related Products

• Earwig – Limited Edition Blu-ray: Own Lucile Hadzihalilovic’s mesmerizing and enigmatic masterpiece. This limited edition Blu-ray features stunning 4K restoration, an exclusive director’s commentary, and a behind-the-scenes documentary exploring the film’s unique production design and themes.
• Earwig: The Novel by Brian Catling: Discover the literary origins of the film’s unsettling narrative. Brian Catling’s critically acclaimed novel delves into the same dark, enigmatic world, offering a different perspective on Albert, Mia, and the unsettling mystery of the ice teeth. Available in paperback or Kindle format.
• The Art of Earwig: A Visual Journey: Immerse yourself in the captivating and eerie visual world of ‘Earwig’ with this comprehensive art book. Featuring concept art, production stills, costume designs, and interviews with the filmmakers, it provides an unparalleled look into the creation of the film’s distinctive aesthetic.
• Earwig-Inspired Ambient Lamp: The Gloomlight: Evoke the haunting, atmospheric mood of ‘Earwig’ in your own home with this elegantly designed table lamp. Featuring an antique brass finish and a softly diffused light, it creates a subtle, eerie glow reminiscent of the film’s dimly lit interiors.

🎧 Soundtrack

Earwig features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “The Ice Teeth Waltz” – performed by Original Score (Lucile Hadzihalilovic)
• “Mia’s Lullaby” – performed by Original Score (Lucile Hadzihalilovic)

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Why Ghibli’s First 3D Looks Soulless | Video Essay

Hey, if you’re curious why Studio Ghibli’s first 3D venture, ‘Earwig and the Witch,’ sparked so much debate, you’ve got to watch this! This video brilliantly breaks down the animation choices, and I personally found their take on why it felt ‘soulless’ incredibly insightful.

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