Son (2021) Ending Explained Has Creepy Cults and Hidden Secrets

“Son” (2021) is the kind of horror movie that lingers. It thrives on unsettling questions—strange illnesses, cryptic cults, and secrets buried so deep you can almost hear them whisper. The story begins with Laura, disheveled and in the throes of labor, her son David arriving into the world moments later. She locks onto her motherly instincts, determined to leave her nightmares behind. But when David’s health deteriorates into something inexplicably horrific—vomiting blood, lesions spreading like wildfire—it’s clear this isn’t just any illness. Something sinister is at work.

Plot Deep Dive: Escaping Monsters and Memories

Laura’s instinct to protect David is matched only by her fear of the past creeping into the present. After discovering him in a mysterious state of decline, she begins to suspect someone—or something—was in his room. Her accusations point to shadowy cultists, but with no evidence to support her claims, investigators are skeptical.

As David’s condition worsens, Laura’s visions of her past blur the line between reality and memory. A chilling dream reveals a cult pursuing her and her son, deepening the mystery. Is David a victim of these people, or is he something much darker? The answers lie tangled in Laura’s psyche and her desperate attempt to escape her past.

Ending Explained: Is Evil Born or Made?

Son (2021) grapples with questions of identity, sacrifice, and the grip of generational trauma. Laura’s past as Anna Hansen—unveiled through fractured memories and horrifying newspaper clippings—paints a portrait of survival steeped in darkness. She escaped abuse only to find herself drawn into something far worse: the shadow of Lucifer himself.

In the film’s haunting final moments, Laura’s maternal instincts clash with the truth of David’s nature. Her love for him is undeniable, but can love conquer pure evil? Or is she complicit in its creation? The film leaves viewers pondering whether some fates are inescapable.

What Worked (and What Didn’t)

Hits:

• Son masterfully blends psychological horror with cult intrigue, creating an atmosphere thick with tension.
• Andi Matichak delivers a standout performance, her portrayal of Laura equal parts fragile and fierce.
• Fans of Rosemary’s Baby and the lesser-known Grace will appreciate the thematic echoes and unsettling tone.

Misses:

• The film’s use of memory gaps occasionally frustrates. David’s selective amnesia feels underexplored, and his personality remains static despite his gruesome actions.
• Some sequences could have benefited from more breathing room, giving the story’s revelations time to fully resonate.

Verdict

“The Devil is in the details,” and in Son, those details are chillingly effective. Though imperfect, it’s a compelling tale of maternal love and monstrous truths, steeped in dark secrets and blood-soaked revelations.

I give Son (2021) a solid 3.75 devilish kids out of 5.

It’s creepy, unnerving, and packed with enough twists to keep horror fans hooked.

Explore More Horror With Cults

If you enjoyed Son (2021), check out these films featuring unhinged kids and cult horror:

• Dark Match (2023): A sinister wrestling-themed cult horror.
• The Aviary (2022): Deserts, and the girls who escape.
• Apartment 7A (2024): If Son could be the sequel, then Apartment 7A is the actual prequel. And it’s great.

Your Questions about Son film Answered

What did the newspaper article in the film Son, say?

The newspaper that flashes briefly on screen about Laura’s past. It gives plenty of information for an explanation about the ending of Son 2021
May, 10th, 2012
Excerpts taken from the two clippings seen in the scene between officers Paul and Steve.
The beautiful landscape of Kansas held a terrible secret for almost 7 years. From the age of 10, Anna Hansen lived a nightmare existence of daily abuse, sexual and physical, by her father Phillip Hansen, and the men who paid him to rape her. Locked in her bedroom for most of those seven years. She was taken out of school by her father at the age of 14 after her mother died of cancer. She barely ever set foot outside of her home during that time. Last Saturday night, Anna made a desperate bid for freedom. She escaped from her family farmhouse, stealing a car. 9 months pregnant with a baby.

Who is Anna Hansen in the Movie Son 2021?

Fathered by one of her attackers, she gave birth to the child, a boy, at the side of the road. Police came to her rescue. Hansen is currently being treated for mental and psychological trauma at Kansas State Hospital. Although her condition is stable, her mental health is severely damaged from the horrific conditions under which she lived. Physicians are evaluating her condition and formulating a plan to help her heal and transition back into society once the treatment is completed. The community will make an ongoing effort to enable her to regain autonomy and work toward leading a normal life in the future.

A police raid was immediately carried out on the farmhouse where her father and three other local men were arrested, and three days later, seven more men, three from Kansas were identified by Anna and arrested.

Questions have been asked about how this could happen as teachers at Anna’s school had alerted social services on several occasions after Anna came to class with bruising and her personality changed drastically from a bright happy child to a depressed and withdrawn one. The accused have all been charged and will appear in court on the 14th of the month

How to Watch Son 2021

Son 2021 Review

Director: Ivan Kavanagh

Date Created: 2021-02-26 00:05

Editor's Rating:
3.75