Movies

What is the plot?

Anniversary (2025) opens with Ellen Taylor (Diane Lane) and her husband Paul (Kyle Chandler) preparing to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary at their family home. The atmosphere is initially warm and intimate, reflecting a once close-knit family gathering. Their adult son Josh (Dylan O'Brien) arrives with his new girlfriend Liz Nettles (Phoebe Dynevor), who is revealed to be a former student of Ellen's. Liz's presence immediately introduces tension, as she is deeply involved with a controversial political movement called "The Change," which is rapidly gaining influence across the country.

As the family reunion progresses, the film gradually exposes the fractures beneath the surface of the Taylors' relationships. Ellen, a respected figure in her community and a former educator, struggles with the ideological divide that Liz's radical views bring into the household. Paul attempts to maintain peace but finds himself increasingly caught between loyalty to his wife and concern for his son's choices. Josh, caught between his parents and Liz, becomes a focal point of the family's unraveling.

The narrative unfolds through a series of charged conversations and confrontations, revealing the personal and political stakes at play. Liz's involvement with "The Change" is not merely ideological; it carries implications that threaten the family's safety and unity. Ellen's former student, now an activist, challenges the family's values and forces each member to confront their own beliefs and fears. The film uses the family's internal conflict as a microcosm for the broader societal divisions gripping the nation.

Tensions escalate when Cynthia (Zoey Deutch), Ellen's niece, arrives, adding another layer of complexity to the family dynamics. Cynthia's skepticism of Liz and "The Change" movement fuels further discord. Meanwhile, Birdie (Mckenna Grace), the youngest family member, observes the growing strife with a mixture of confusion and fear, embodying the innocence caught in the crossfire of ideological battles.

As the anniversary celebration continues, political and personal betrayals come to light. Rob (Daryl McCormack), a family friend and confidant, becomes entangled in the unfolding drama, his loyalties tested as the situation deteriorates. Anna(Madeline Brewer), another family member, reveals hidden resentments and secrets that exacerbate the family's fragmentation.

The film's climax centers on a heated confrontation between Ellen and Liz, where ideological differences explode into personal accusations. Liz's commitment to "The Change" leads her to take drastic actions that endanger the family, culminating in a violent altercation that results in multiple character deaths. The specifics of these deaths are harrowing: Liz, driven by fanaticism, kills Rob during a struggle, while Paul intervenes and is fatally wounded protecting Ellen. Josh, devastated by his father's death and Liz's betrayal, confronts Liz in a final, tense showdown that leaves Lizcritically injured but alive.

In the aftermath, Ellen grapples with profound loss and the shattering of her family. The film closes on a somber note, with Ellen and the surviving family members attempting to piece together their lives amid the ruins of their relationships. The nation outside remains on edge, mirroring the family's fractured state, as "The Change" continues to spread its influence.

Throughout Anniversary, the narrative weaves together intimate family drama with broader political commentary, illustrating how ideological extremism can infiltrate and destroy even the most cherished bonds. The characters' motivations are deeply personal yet emblematic of larger societal conflicts, making the film a tense and emotionally charged thriller that culminates in tragedy and unresolved tensions.