Is Lights Out based on a true story? Plot and Ending Explained

Lights Out

The 2016 American supernatural horror film Lights Out was produced by Lawrence Grey, James Wan, and Eric Heisserer, and was directed by David F. Sandberg in his feature film debut. It was also written by Heisserer. It stars Lotta Losten, who also acted in Sandberg’s 2013 short film of the same name, and is based on it.

In the movie, a young woman has to face her childhood anxieties in order to defend her brother from a vindictive supernatural being that has a strange connection to their mother. Following the short film’s popularity, Sandberg declared that his short film will be the basis for a feature picture. The movie’s main photography started in Los Angeles in June 2015. The shooting was finished on August 5, 2015. 

Is Lights Out based on a true story? 

The movie “Lights Out” is not based on a real event. Instead, the film is a remake of a 2013 Swedish short film of the same name by director David F. Sandberg. Sandberg and his wife made the three-minute-long video for the Bloody Cuts Horror Challenge film festival.

The short film’s premise, about a lady afflicted by a paranormal creature that only manifests at night, is similar to that of the feature film. It’s interesting that after the short film earned rave reviews and accolades from critics, Sandberg was contacted by production firms who wanted to develop it into a feature-length movie.

Lights Out Plot

Rebecca believed her childhood anxieties were in the past when she left home. She never really knew what was real when the lights went out at night as a young kid growing up. Martin, her younger brother, is also going through the same horrific, unexplainable incidents that put her safety and sanity in danger. A supernatural being that has a sinister connection to their mother has come back for blood afflicting the whole family.

Although daughter Rebecca originally thinks that Diana is her depressed mother Sophie’s imaginary companion, Rebecca later changes her mind after narrowly escaping a meeting with Diana. Diana is a ghost that haunts the Wells family. Rebecca discovers the truth about Sophie and Diana’s connection as a result of her inquiries.

It turns out that they were both taken to the same mental hospital when they were young, with Diana allegedly being the reason her father killed himself. Sophie became Diana’s buddy, however, Sophie had a skin condition that made her extremely sensitive to bright lights.

She died as a result of the hospital staff’s therapy, which comprised subjecting her to intense lights in an attempt to heal her. Since Sophie was a young kid, Diana’s spirit has been bound to her via death. Diana wants to kill everybody who is trying to treat Sophie, including her kids. Even though she avoids light, she can be seen in the dark as a tiny woman with terrible skin burns near the end of the movie. 

Lights Out Ending explained

When Rebecca is eventually able to use a blacklight to find her way around the basement, she realizes that it is the ideal defense against a predator hidden in the shadows. She notices a variety of sinister and peculiar carvings on the walls that are only visible with her blacklight. Diana is in the same situation. They have a chance as long as they have the blacklight.

Eventually, two LAPD officers arrive in response to Bret’s 911 call and slowly search the pitch-black home. Rebecca goes upstairs to check on her mother while carrying both a torch and a blacklight. Diana, a vindictive being that can only exist as long as Sophie creates her in her miserable mind, intercepts Rebecca.

Sophie bursts into the space brandishing a revolver. Rebecca and Diana turn to face the mother with the gun who tries to shoot Diana at first, but the ghostly figure in the shadows is immune to gunshots. When Sophie turns the gun on herself, it’s more out of a mama bear instinct than a deliberate decision. Diana is destroyed as she makes the ultimate sacrifice by shooting herself in the head.

Sophie had vowed to protect her children over her sanity and life, warning Diana repeatedly, “Never hurt my kids!” Diana was introduced into their lives by her, and she was ultimately removed by her. Although the movie’s unintended ending raised questions about David F. Sandberg’s intentions, he had planned to show Diana as a representation of Sophie’s sadness.

In Lights Out, Sophie kills herself in order to protect her children after realizing Diana is connected to the rest of the world through her. Some people interpreted Sophie’s suicide as a way to “free” her family from the burden of her sadness, but Sandberg, who has battled depression himself, soon clarified that this was not the message at all.

The current conclusion of Lights Out was cut from the original version because test audiences detested the epilogue when Diana reappears and Sophie’s sacrifice is rendered meaningless.

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