Abandoned (2022) is a psychological horror film directed by Spencer Squire, starring Emma Roberts, John Gallagher Jr., and Michael Shannon. The film delves into the unsettling psychological unraveling of a woman suffering from postpartum depression while adjusting to life in a haunted rural home. Through a combination of supernatural horror and mental health exploration, Abandoned (2022) navigates themes like isolation, trauma, and the fragility of motherhood with an ending that haunts you.
Sara (Emma Roberts) and her husband Alex (John Gallagher Jr.) move to a remote house to raise their newborn son, Liam, but their new beginning soon turns into a descent into terror as Sara’s mental health deteriorates. The movie offers a tense, chilling atmosphere with layered metaphors about the impact of postpartum depression and unresolved trauma. The film presents itself as more than a simple haunted house story. It’s a dark exploration of a woman confronting both internal and external demons, leaving viewers questioning what is real and what is a manifestation of her troubled mind.
If you were confused by Abandoned (2022), especially the way the ending and many of its other ambiguous turns meet each other, this article is for you. Please be aware that this will be full of spoilers so please proceed at your own risk.
Abandoned (2022) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
Sara and Alex, along with their infant son Liam, move from the city to a rural house in hopes of starting a peaceful life. However, shortly after they move in, they learn from their realtor that a horrific tragedy occurred in the house 40 years ago — a girl named Anna killed her infant brother, father, and herself. Despite this disturbing revelation, the couple moves forward with their plan to settle into the house, unaware that the home’s past will start to haunt Sara in more ways than one.
Sara is already struggling with postpartum depression, which is only triggered by the isolation of their new life. She feels distant from her son, overwhelmed by his constant crying, and unable to connect with him as a mother. Meanwhile, Alex is often away for work, leaving Sara alone in the house with her dark thoughts and the echoes of the home’s violent past.
As the days progress, Sara begins to experience terrifying hallucinations — she hears noises, sees the ghostly figures of the house’s previous occupants, and becomes fixated on the idea that the other children who died in the house are still there. She grows more detached from reality, snapping a rubber band on her wrist as a coping mechanism for her anxiety.
Sara’s mental state continues to unravel as she interacts with Renner (Michael Shannon), a strange and solitary neighbor who reveals he is Anna’s brother and the sole survivor of the family tragedy. He explains the gruesome history of the house, particularly his father’s abuse of his sister Anna, which let to the horrifying events of the murder-suicide.
Sara’s hallucinations intensify, blending her feelings of inadequacy as a mother with the ghosts of the past. She becomes convinced that her own son is in danger, believing that the spirits of the other children are trying to take him away. The film blurs the line between the supernatural and Sara’s psychosis, leaving viewers uncertain of what is real and what is a product of Sara’s deteriorating mental state.
Why Does Sara Struggle to Bond With Her Son?
Sara’s struggle to connect with her newborn son, Liam, is a central theme of Abandoned (2022). From the beginning, she feels an overwhelming sense of guilt, inadequacy, and emotional distance. Sara confesses that motherhood has not brought her the euphoria she was promised — instead, she feels detached, resentful, and depressed.
Her inability to soothe her crying son only intensifies her feelings of failure, feeding into the idea that she is not a good mother. As her depression worsens, her mind begins to fixate on the ghosts of the house, making her believe that the spirits are a reflection of her own inadequacies as a parent. Her obsession with the past is symbolic of her inner turmoil and her belief that she is doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past.
Is the House Haunted or Is It All in Sara’s Mind?
One of the key questions viewers may have is whether the house is truly haunted or if Sara’s experiences are a manifestation of her mental illness. The movie walks a fine line between supernatural horror and psychological drama, leaving it ambiguous as to whether the events Sara experiences are real hauntings or hallucinations caused by her postpartum psychosis.
Throughout the film, Sara sees ghostly figures, hears strange noises, and becomes convinced that the spirits of the dead children are still in the house. However, her husband Alex never witnesses any of these supernatural occurrences, which raises the possibility that everything is happening inside Sara’s mind.
The film leans heavily into the theme of mental illness, particularly how postpartum depression can distort reality. Sara’s therapist diagnoses her with hallucinogenic psychosis and prescribes medication, but Sara refuses to take it, fearing it will sever the only connection she has with her son through breastfeeding. The ambiguity of the haunting reflects Sara’s internal struggle, blurring the line between reality and delusion.
Abandoned (2022) Movie Ending Explained:
Does Sara Overcome Her Fears?
During the ending of Abandoned (2022), Sara’s hallucinations reach their peak. She believes that two ghostly boys, representing the murdered children of the house, are trying to take her son away. She chases them into a hidden crawlspace behind a wardrobe, where she finds missing objects from the house, including her son’s toy truck and her wedding photo.
In a confrontation with the apparitions, one of the boys accuses Sara of being like their abusive father, claiming that she has hurt her son. Sara denies this, but the accusations strike at the heart of her fears — that she is an unfit mother who has failed to protect her child.
The film’s resolution comes when Sara confronts her inner demons. She tearfully proclaims, “He’s mine,” reclaiming her role as a mother and affirming her bond with Liam. This moment marks a turning point in her mental state, as she finally feels the maternal connection she had been longing for.
However, the actual ending of the film is quite unsettling. Although Sara and Alex seem happy, raising a now-toddler Liam, the final shot shows Sara resting her hand on her pregnant belly. This suggests that Sara’s struggle with motherhood and mental health may not be over, leaving the audience with the lingering question of whether she will face the same challenges again with her second child.
Does Sara Truly Overcome Her Depression?
The film ends with a seemingly “happy” resolution, but it does hint that Sara’s battle with mental illness is far from over. The film subtly suggests that postpartum depression and the trauma she experienced in the house are not issues that can be neatly resolved.
Though Sara reaches a point of emotional breakthrough, accepting her role as a mother and bonding with her son, the closing moments of the film imply that the struggle may repeat itself. Mental health is a complex, ongoing process, and Sara’s refusal to take her medication earlier in the film means that she hasn’t truly confronted her issues.
