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What is the plot?
The story opens in a venerable Brooklyn brownstone inhabited by the Brewster family, descendants of early New England settlers. Mortimer Brewster, a widely published theater critic and author who has long branded marriage "an old-fashioned superstition," chooses Halloween as the day he marries Elaine Harper, his neighbor and the daughter of a clergyman. After the small wedding, Elaine goes to tell her father the news while Mortimer returns to the house to inform his two maiden aunts, Abby and Martha, who raised him in the family home. The household also includes Mortimer's younger brother, Theodore -- known as Teddy -- a gentle but deluded man who believes he is President Theodore Roosevelt; Teddy regularly dashes up and down the stairs sounding a bugle and shouting "Charge!" as he re-enacts the 1898 assault on San Juan Hill.
While Mortimer searches the parlor for the notes he needs to finish his next book, he uncovers a shocking secret: a lifeless man hidden in the deep window seat. Mortimer recoils in horror and immediately suspects that Teddy's elaborate make-believe has escalated into murder. The two aunts respond to his discovery with a startling calm. Abby and Martha confess that they have repeatedly taken it upon themselves to relieve lonely elderly bachelors of their supposed suffering. They explain that their method is to place a "Room for Rent" sign in the newspaper to attract a solitary gentleman, welcome him into the house, and then serve him a cordial -- elderberry wine -- that they lace with a lethal combination of arsenic, strychnine, and cyanide. After their victims die, the aunts bury the bodies in the cellar. They reveal that the dead man Mortimer found is named Mr. Hoskins and that he is one of a dozen such bachelors they have put to death. The aunts treat their confessions conversationally and describe their actions as a form of charity. Teddy, who assists with the burials, believes he is transporting yellow fever victims to be interred at the Panama Canal, and he dutifully moves Mr. Hoskins's body from the window seat down to the cellar.
Mortimer reacts with frantic alarm. To prevent the authorities from connecting the cellar graves to Abby and Martha, Mortimer seizes upon a plan: he will have Teddy committed to an asylum, both to protect his aunts from legal scrutiny and to prevent Teddy from inadvertently revealing their secret. Mortimer rushes out of the house to secure the necessary paperwork and signatures for Teddy's commitment to Happy Dale, the mental institution.
In Mortimer's absence, an older and far more dangerous Brewster arrives: Jonathan, Mortimer's elder brother. Jonathan comes with Dr. Herman Einstein, a boozy plastic surgeon who has recently operated on Jonathan's face while intoxicated, producing a grotesque, distorted visage reminiscent of a classic horror actor. Jonathan is not merely disreputable; he is a fugitive and a violent criminal. He has already murdered a string of men -- twelve victims by his own count -- and he is currently fleeing both the law and the consequences of his crimes. Jonathan brings with him the corpse of his latest victim, a man named Mr. Spenalzo, which he and Einstein conceal in the same window seat where Mortimer later discovers Mr. Hoskins. Einstein, intoxicated and cynical, derides the aunts when the topic of hidden corpses arises, boasting that Jonathan equals their tally of victims and making light of the macabre competition.
Mortimer returns to the house while Jonathan and Einstein are still present. When he finds the body in the window seat, Mortimer demands that the two men leave immediately. Jonathan and Einstein counter by revealing that they have discovered another body -- Mr. Hoskins -- in the cellar. Mortimer, stunned by the confirmation that both his aunts and his brother have been hiding corpses in his home, bolts back out into the street to obtain the second signature required to commit Teddy. Jonathan, angered and amused by the revelation of the aunts' secret and insulted by Einstein's taunts equating the aunts' murders with his own, resolves to increase his own body count by murdering Mortimer and adding him to the list.
While Mortimer is away attempting again to secure the commitment papers, he seeks out Elaine and admits his fears about marrying into his dysfunctional family. He explains his misgivings about raising a household around this chaos, telling her in earnest that the revelations about his relatives have made him question the wisdom of their union. Elaine, who has discovered nothing of the house's hidden crimes at this point, listens as Mortimer struggles with the conflict between his love for her and his duty to protect his aunts.
Back at the Brewster residence, police activity intrudes. Two officers who usually partner with O'Hara, Mortimer's friend in the force, arrive searching for an absent colleague. Encountering Jonathan, whom they mistake for a man likely to be arrested, the officers prompt Jonathan to boast about the thirteen bodies buried in the cellar. When Lieutenant Rooney subsequently arrives on the scene looking for those missing officers, he recognizes Jonathan from a "Wanted" poster that identifies him as an escaped inmate from a mental hospital in Indiana. Lieutenant Rooney arrests Jonathan on that basis, interpreting Jonathan's presence and demeanor as evidence of his fugitive status rather than connecting him to the confessed murders.
While law enforcement handles the situation with Jonathan, a social worker named Mr. Witherspoon arrives to escort Teddy to the Happy Dale asylum as arranged. Abby and Martha insist on accompanying their nephew to the institution; they sign the necessary papers themselves to place Teddy into care. Dr. Herman Einstein, faced with the prospect that the aunts will also be institutionalized, signs the same commitment forms to bind them as mentally ill, but rather than submit to confinement, Einstein flees the scene immediately after affixing his signature. In the ensuing confusion, Mortimer returns and signs the commitment papers as Teddy's next of kin, formalizing Teddy's transfer.
After Mortimer has completed the legal formalities, Abby and Martha deliver one more revelation. They inform Mortimer that the Brewster family lore he has accepted for years is false: he is not a blood Brewster at all. His mother had been the household cook, and his father worked as a chef aboard a steamship. Mortimer, who has long thought of the Brewsters as direct descendants of Mayflower settlers, finds this ancestry news liberating. He reacts with exuberant relief at the knowledge that, technically, he does not belong to the family line that gave rise to its peculiarities.
Mortimer seeks out Elaine and brings her back to the parlor to witness the truth. Elaine opens the cellar door and sees the hidden graves and the stacked coffins containing the men the aunts have killed. She screams in horror at the sight of the victims, confronted with the reality that the hospitable elderly women she had met are mass murderers. Mortimer intercepts her in that instant: instead of allowing her to give voice to the shock and call for authorities, he silences her with a kiss and lifts her into his arms. He whisks her away from the house and the scene of the dead, carrying her off to begin the honeymoon they had planned -- to Niagara Falls -- before she can speak about the corpses in the presence of the police, neighbors, or anyone else who might expose Abby and Martha's crimes.
The arrest of Jonathan leaves him in custody; the record shows he is identified and taken as an escaped mental patient by Lieutenant Rooney. Dr. Herman Einstein's signature on the aunts' commitment papers provides the procedural cover needed to remove Teddy from the house, and Abby and Martha's insistence on accompanying their nephew into the institution secures them temporary removal from the scene as well. Einstein departs the neighborhood hurriedly after signing, avoiding further entanglement with the authorities. Mortimer's signature as next of kin finalizes Teddy's institutionalization. The cellar holds the multiple victims that the aunts and Jonathan placed there: a dozen bachelors poisoned by Abby and Martha, including Mr. Hoskins, and the corpse of Mr. Spenalzo, placed there by Jonathan and Einstein. The methods of death are recorded where specified: Abby and Martha's victims succumb to elderberry wine that the sisters lace deliberately with arsenic, strychnine, and cyanide. The narrative records Jonathan as a serial killer responsible for a dozen murders as well, with Mr. Spenalzo identified as his most recent victim; the particulars of Jonathan's homicidal methods beyond the concealment of his victims are not detailed in the account.
In the final moments at the house, Mortimer, having accepted that he is not a true Brewster by blood, chooses to preserve his aunts' present freedom from public scandal by taking Elaine away before her protestations can draw public attention to the cellar graves. He escorts her from the property and places them on the train bound for their Niagara Falls honeymoon. As they depart, the arrested Jonathan is taken from the premises in handcuffs, Teddy is removed to Happy Dale, and Dr. Einstein disappears into the city. Abby and Martha, having been signed into commitment paperwork but insisting on accompanying their nephew, leave the family home in the custody arrangements made that day. The house remains a repository of the buried men: twelve bodies placed by the aunts after being poisoned with the cordials they offered, plus the additional corpses hidden by Jonathan, including Mr. Spenalzo. The last scene follows Mortimer and Elaine as they begin their honeymoon, Mortimer pressing forward with the simple act of carrying Elaine away and sealing his silence with a kiss, thereby postponing any public reckoning with the murders interred beneath the Brewster parlor. The narrative closes with Mortimer and his bride moving toward Niagara Falls, while law enforcement and the institutional officials depart with the Brewster family's most troubled members.
What is the ending?
Short Narrative Ending: In the movie "Laced," Molly's plan to kill her abusive husband, Charlie, unravels during a record-breaking blizzard. With the help of her mistress, Victoria, Molly attempts to poison Charlie, but the plan fails. Victoria ultimately kills Charlie, and Molly's brother, Austin, arrives unexpectedly, complicating the situation. The film concludes with Molly and Victoria dealing with the aftermath of their actions, while Austin is left to grapple with the shocking truth.
Expanded Narrative Ending:
The movie "Laced" unfolds on a night marked by a record-breaking blizzard in Colorado. Molly, played by Dana Mackin, is seen cooking dinner for her husband Charlie, portrayed by Kyle Butenhoff, in their cozy rural home. However, beneath the warm atmosphere, Molly's relationship with Charlie is fraught with emotional, verbal, and physical abuse. Molly has been planning to escape this toxic relationship with the help of her secret girlfriend, Victoria, played by Hermione Lynch.
As the evening progresses, Molly and Victoria execute their plan to poison Charlie's shepherd's pie. However, the poison fails to take effect, and Charlie remains alive. In a desperate attempt to complete their plan, Victoria intervenes and kills Charlie. This pivotal moment marks a turning point in the story, as Molly and Victoria must now confront the consequences of their actions.
Just as they are dealing with the aftermath of Charlie's murder, Molly's brother Austin, played by Zach Tinker, arrives unexpectedly at the house. Austin had intended to watch the Broncos game with Charlie but was unaware of the unfolding drama. His arrival complicates the situation, as Molly is horrified that her brother has become entangled in their crime.
As the story unfolds, Molly confesses to Austin about the abuse she suffered in her marriage, revealing the true nature of her relationship with Charlie. This revelation adds depth to the narrative, highlighting the cyclical nature of violence and the desperation that can drive individuals to extreme actions.
The film concludes with Molly and Victoria facing the repercussions of their actions, while Austin grapples with the shocking truth about his sister's life and the events that transpired. The fate of each main character is intertwined with the consequences of their choices: Molly and Victoria must navigate the aftermath of their crime, and Austin must come to terms with the reality of his sister's situation.
Throughout the ending, the movie emphasizes the themes of toxic relationships, desperation, and the complexities of human emotions. The characters' actions are driven by a mix of fear, love, and survival instincts, creating a tense and suspenseful narrative that explores the darker aspects of human nature.
Is there a post-credit scene?
The 2023 movie Laced does not have a post-credits scene. There is no information or indication from available sources, including IMDb and detailed reviews, that any extra scene appears after the credits in this film.
Laced is a thriller centered on a wife's plan to kill her abusive husband during a snowstorm, and the story concludes without additional post-credits content or teasers.
How does Molly initially plan to kill her husband Charlie?
Molly plans to kill her husband Charlie by poisoning his shepherd's pie with the help of her secret girlfriend, Victoria. However, the poison fails to take effect as planned.
What role does Victoria play in the story?
Victoria is Molly's secret girlfriend who helps her plan and execute the murder of Charlie. When the initial poisoning fails, Victoria is the one who ultimately finishes the deed.
How does Austin's arrival affect the plot?
Austin, Molly's brother and Charlie's best friend, arrives unexpectedly to watch a game, complicating Molly's plans. His presence forces Molly to confess the truth about her marriage and the crime, adding tension and paranoia to the situation.
What is the nature of Charlie's relationship with Molly?
Charlie's relationship with Molly is abusive, involving emotional, verbal, and physical abuse. This is evident in his behavior towards Molly, such as snapping at her over minor issues.
How does the blizzard setting contribute to the tension in the story?
The record-breaking blizzard creates a claustrophobic atmosphere, trapping the characters together and heightening the tension as their secrets and lies begin to unravel. The isolation adds to the sense of desperation and urgency in their situation.
Is this family friendly?
The movie "Laced" (2023) is not family-friendly due to several potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects. Here are some elements that might be disturbing for children or sensitive viewers:
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Abusive Relationship: The film depicts a toxic relationship between a husband and wife, which can be emotionally distressing. The tension and unspoken violence in their interactions may be unsettling.
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Severe Profanity: The movie contains severe profanity, which could be inappropriate for younger audiences.
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Mild Violence and Gore: Although the violence and gore are mild, they still exist and might be disturbing for some viewers.
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Frightening and Intense Scenes: The film includes mildly frightening and intense scenes, which could be too much for sensitive viewers.
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Emotional Manipulation: The plot involves emotional manipulation and complex relationships, which might be difficult for younger viewers to understand or process.
Overall, while "Laced" is a thriller with intriguing elements, its themes and content are not suitable for children or those who prefer less intense films.