Summary
Highlights
Jessica and Evan are robbed at gunpoint in their New York City apartment, leading to Jessica’s decision to move to a quiet suburban neighborhood for safety. Evan is worried about the mortgage, but Jessica assures him she will work on new projects. They meet their peculiar neighbor, Simon, who is dressed like he's from the 1950s and expresses chauvinistic views.
Jessica, a graphic designer, gets sidetracked by her online crime mystery community, annoying Evan. She finds Simon increasingly strange, especially after he gives her a shovel he claimed not to have. Simon, meanwhile, has cameras on his house and is actively watching Jessica. He attempts to give Jessica an old-fashioned dress, making her uncomfortable, and then shows her CCTV footage of her peeking into his house, revealing his twisted fantasy that she secretly desires him. The encounter turns terrifying as Simon kidnaps Jessica.
Jessica wakes up in a 1950s-styled room in Simon's soundproofed basement, where she meets another captive woman named Robin, a former student of Simon's who has accepted her fate. Simon gathers Jessica's clothes from her home, narrowly avoiding Evan. Jessica tries to escape but finds another steel door. She learns from Robin that breaking free is impossible and screaming is futile. Robin reveals she has been Simon's captive for years and is now emotionally dependent on him.
Evan grows concerned about Jessica's disappearance. Simon intercepts Evan at the door with a deceptive explanation. Simon later forces Jessica to email Evan, falsely claiming she has left him for another man. Jessica is forced to embrace the 1950s housewife persona, even cooking for Simon. During dinner, she attempts to attack Simon with a knife, but Robin intervenes to protect Simon, revealing Simon had forced her to kill a previous captive named Megan.
Evan notes Simon's head wound but believes his bike accident story. Simon invites Evan over to watch baseball, creating another tense moment where Jessica tries to alert Evan. Simon threatens to kill Evan if Jessica tries to escape or contact him again, then forces her into a sexual encounter. Weeks later, Evan puts the house up for sale. Robin, jealous of Jessica, tells Simon that Jessica is still in love with Evan and planning an escape. Simon confronts Jessica and, believing Robin's lies, brutally murders Robin in front of Jessica, claiming it was for Jessica's protection.
Oscar contacts Tyler with crucial information about Simon: he has a history of students disappearing from every institution he taught at. Tyler goes to Simon's house and finds the hidden basement. Simon denies knowing Megan but later attacks and kills Tyler. Simon apologizes to Jessica for killing Tyler, but Jessica seems to have accepted her role and comforts him. Simon shows Jessica her old house with a 'sold' sign, then convinces her to give Evan a 'farewell gift' of wine.
Simon gives Evan the wine, and Evan notices a lipstick mark on Simon’s collar, reminding him of Jessica. The next morning, Oscar calls Evan, informing him of Tyler's murder and Simon's suspicious background. Evan confronts Simon. In the basement, Jessica and Simon are eating rhubarb pie when they hear sirens. Evan has snuck into the house. Simon, furious, types the door code with sticky fingers, leaving smudges. Jessica uses the smudges to guess the code, escapes, and attacks Simon, saving Evan. She sprays cleaner in Simon's eyes and incapacitates him with a fire extinguisher.
A year later, Jessica and Evan are happy. Jessica visits Simon in prison, revealing she spoke against his death penalty so he would suffer life in prison. She has published a book detailing her experience in his captivity, leaving it with him as she walks away to start her new life.