The Eternal Daughter Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A filmmaker takes her elderly mother (who is also her) to a spooky old hotel, only to discover the biggest mystery is why the audience isn’t asleep yet.

🍿 The Eternal Daughter: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Nostalgic Return to the Ancestral Home

Filmmaker Julie Hart travels with her elderly mother, Rosalind, to a remote, fog-enshrouded hotel that was once Rosalind’s childhood home. Julie hopes this visit will help her write a film script about her mother, especially following the recent death of her father. The old manor feels nearly vacant, contributing to an immediate sense of quiet mystery. As they settle into their room, Rosalind begins to share long-buried memories of her time in the house. These recollections include deeply personal and often painful events, such as a miscarriage and the loss of a family member during World War II. While these stories resurface difficult emotions for both women, Rosalind reassures Julie that her childhood here also held many happy moments.

Unexplained Occurrences and Familial Tensions

The serene atmosphere of the hotel is occasionally punctuated by strange noises, particularly in the room above them, contributing to Julie’s growing unease. One night, a frantic search ensues when Julie’s dog, Louis, unexpectedly goes missing from their room, prompting her to enlist the help of Bill, a hotel employee. Louis soon reappears, found by Rosalind back in their room, adding to the perplexing nature of their stay. Amidst these peculiar events, a bond forms between Rosalind and Bill, as they find common ground in their shared experiences of grief, both having recently lost loved ones. However, tensions subtly simmer between Julie and Rosalind. Julie later overhears a conversation where Rosalind expresses a quiet sorrow for her daughter, remarking on Julie’s lack of children and her deep attachment to her mother.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Julie Hart (Tilda Swinton): A middle-aged filmmaker confronting her grief by creating an imagined presence of her deceased mother during a visit to their former family home.
• Rosalind Hart (Tilda Swinton): Julie’s elderly, deceased mother, whose imagined presence allows Julie to process their complex relationship and long-buried memories in a former family home now a hotel.
• Louis (Louis the dog): Julie’s loyal pet and faithful companion who accompanies her throughout her emotionally taxing stay at the mysterious hotel.
• Hotel receptionist (Carly-Sophia Davies): The seemingly indifferent and terse employee who manages the nearly vacant hotel, contributing to its unsettling and mysterious atmosphere.
• Bill (Joseph Mydell): A compassionate hotel employee who shares a bond with Rosalind’s imagined presence over shared experiences of loss and grief.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Julie: “I spent my whole life trying to make you happy.” – Said during an emotional moment, revealing Julie’s lifelong devotion and the burden she feels in their complex relationship.
• Rosalind: “Oh, you know, I think… this was the room.” – Repeatedly attempts to recall specific details about her childhood home with uncertainty, highlighting the fragility of memory and the search for the past.
• Rosalind: “I feel sorry for Julie. She has no children of her own, so she dotes on her mother instead.” – Overheard by Julie, this seemingly innocuous remark reveals Rosalind’s perception of her daughter’s life choices and attachment.
• Julie: “I can’t be happy if you’re not happy.” – Expressed during a moment of emotional vulnerability, underscoring Julie’s deep codependency with her mother.
• Hotel receptionist: “You are very welcome.” – Her recurring, flat, and often detached response to Julie’s requests, contributing to the hotel’s uncanny and unwelcoming atmosphere.

💰Box Office

• Budget: Not disclosed
• Domestic Gross: $86,490
• Worldwide Gross: $568,330

💥 The Eternal Daughter Reviews

Personal Review

I went into ‘The Eternal Daughter’ expecting a ghost story, and while it wasn’t jump-scares, it was haunting in a much deeper way. Tilda Swinton playing both roles was mind-blowing – her performances felt so distinct and real, I truly forgot it was the same actress. The atmosphere of that old hotel, the fog, the quiet creaks… it just got under my skin. It made me think so much about my own relationship with my family and the memories we carry. It’s a slow burn for sure, but the emotional payoff at the end hit me hard. I walked away feeling a real sense of poignant reflection, totally immersed in its melancholic beauty.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Joanna Hogg’s introspective and character-driven cinema (e.g., “The Souvenir” films).”
  • “Viewers who appreciate slow-burn psychological dramas and atmospheric films over explicit plot-heavy narratives.”
  • “Those interested in explorations of grief, mother-daughter relationships, and personal memory.”
  • “Admirers of Tilda Swinton’s nuanced and transformative performances, especially in dual roles.”
  • “Audiences who enjoy gothic settings and a sense of unease without relying on overt horror elements.”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Themes of grief, loss, and the psychological processing of death.”
  • “Features an unsettling and melancholic atmosphere throughout.”
  • “Deals with complex and sometimes challenging family dynamics.”
  • “Rated 12A (UK rating), indicating it may contain material unsuitable for children under 12.”

Professional Reviews

• Cinephile Quarterly: “Joanna Hogg’s ‘The Eternal Daughter’ masterfully crafts a haunting, ethereal atmosphere, delving deep into the complexities of memory and grief. Tilda Swinton’s dual performance is a remarkable feat, anchoring this introspective psychological drama. While not a conventional horror, its subtle creepiness and profound emotional depth linger long after the credits roll, making it a truly unique cinematic experience.
• Film Spectrum: “Far from a jump-scare fest, ‘The Eternal Daughter’ is a richly layered character study shrouded in gothic mystery. Swinton’s astonishing double act illuminates the unspoken dynamics of a mother-daughter bond, set against a beautifully desolate backdrop. It’s a patient film, allowing its themes of loss and connection to slowly permeate, rewarding viewers who appreciate depth over conventional thrills.

Audience Reactions

Tilda Swinton’s incredible dual performance left audiences stunned, proving her mastery of character.: Many viewers praised the film’s deeply atmospheric setting and its raw, emotional portrayal of grief and memory.

The film’s subtle, eerie ambiance successfully created a lingering sense of unease, rather than cheap jump scares.: Audiences appreciated how the film explored complex family dynamics and the quiet, often overlooked, aspects of loss.

Overall Consensus: A divisive yet critically acclaimed psychological drama, praised for its masterful atmosphere and Tilda Swinton’s profound dual performance, though some viewers found its slow pace and subtle narrative challenging.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Tilda Swinton performed dual roles as both the daughter, Julie, and the elderly mother, Rosalind, often appearing in scenes opposite herself through various camera techniques.”
• “Louis, the Springer Spaniel featured prominently in the film, is actually Tilda Swinton’s own dog in real life, making his on-screen presence particularly authentic.”
• “Director Joanna Hogg conceived the film as a deeply personal and intimate exploration of her relationship with her own mother, drawing on real-life memories and emotions, similar to her ‘Souvenir’ films.”
• “The isolated, almost empty hotel setting was meticulously designed to evoke a sense of uncanny loneliness and to externalize Julie’s internal state of grief and memory.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Eternal Daughter?

“The Eternal Daughter” was released in the United States on December 2, 2022. As an A24 production, it is typically available for rent or purchase on major video-on-demand (VOD) platforms. You can find the film on services such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube Movies, and Vudu. Check your preferred platform for current streaming availability and pricing options to rent or buy this psychological drama.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Eternal Daughter, you might like these similar films:

• Don’t Look Now (1973): A classic psychological horror film exploring grief and ambiguous supernatural events, much like ‘The Eternal Daughter’ delves into the haunting nature of loss and memory.
• A Ghost Story (2017): Delivers a profound, melancholic exploration of grief and the persistence of presence after death through a quiet, atmospheric approach, eschewing traditional scares for emotional depth.
• Relic (2020): A modern horror-drama that tackles themes of aging, dementia, and family legacy within a haunted house framework, resonating with the psychological unease and familial introspection of Hogg’s film.
• Aftersun (2022): A poignant drama that uses fragmented memories and a reflective, melancholic tone to explore a parent-child relationship and the subtle, lasting impacts of the past.
• The Souvenir Part II (2021): Directed by Joanna Hogg, this film (and its predecessor) is a semi-autobiographical exploration of filmmaking, memory, and formative relationships, making ‘The Eternal Daughter’ a spiritual and thematic companion piece.

🛒 The Eternal Daughter Related Products

• The Eternal Daughter Collector’s Edition Blu-ray: Deluxe Blu-ray edition featuring a stunning high-definition transfer, exclusive behind-the-scenes documentaries on Joanna Hogg’s meticulous filmmaking process, and an in-depth interview with Tilda Swinton discussing the challenges and nuances of her dual role. A must-have for cinephiles.
• The Eternal Daughter: A Visual Companion & Screenplay: A beautifully bound hardback book containing the complete shooting screenplay, exclusive production stills, concept art detailing the gothic hotel’s eerie design, and insightful essays exploring the film’s profound themes of grief, memory, and the intricate mother-daughter bond.
• The Eternal Daughter Hotel Key Replica Keychain: A vintage-style metal keychain meticulously designed to replicate the distinctive room key from the film’s mysterious hotel. Features the iconic hotel’s fictional crest and a classic room number, perfect for adding a touch of gothic ambiance to your everyday carry.
• Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta by Béla Bartók (Vinyl): A high-quality vinyl pressing of Béla Bartók’s iconic ‘Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta,’ a pivotal and haunting piece of the film’s score. Experience the unsettling beauty and intricate orchestration of this classical masterpiece as it was intended.

🎧 Soundtrack

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

• “Music for strings percussion and celesta” – performed by Bela Bartok

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

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Mark Kermode reviews The Eternal Daughter – Kermode and Mayo’s Take

Ever wonder what a top-tier critic thinks about those more ‘artsy’ films? Mark Kermode breaks down ‘The Eternal Daughter’ in his signature insightful style, and honestly, he always has such a thoughtful take that makes you think about the movie in a whole new way!

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