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Published 10:38 IST, May 3rd 2021

'Things Heard & Seen' book's ending and how true is the Amanda Seyfried adaptation to it?

'Things Heard & Seen' book's ending is a little different from the ending of the Netflix movie. Read on to know how does the original novel truly conclude.

Reported by: Ganesh Raheja
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A still from Things Heard & Seen | Image: self
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Things Heard & Seen, the book-to-screen adaptation of Elizabeth Brundage’s novel, All Things Cease to Appear, directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini, has finally made it to Netflix. The film tells the story of a young couple who moves upstate in hopes of a better life. But, as soon as the couple makes it to their new humble abode, Catherine Clare (Played by Amanda Seyfried), begins to suspect the presence of supernatural entities out there. This article will basically answer the question as to how does the book that inspired the new Netflix film truly end. Read on to know more about Things Heard & Seen book's ending.

All Things Cease To Appear book's ending

The final chapters of the film are set on a snowy day at the Clare residence when Catherine gathers the nerve to leave George once and for all. She packs some suitcases and Franny, their three-year-old daughter, in the car, but then, for some reason, is unable to pull out of the driveway. Catherine goes back inside downhearted and quickly loses the will too execute the plot that had been cooking in Catherine’s mind for a major portion of the novel. She then later admits to George that she was planning on leaving when he questions her about the suitcases. From there, the readers are led to assume that George murders Catherine, drugs Franny with sleeping medicine and goes to work the next day. The actual act, which would have dissipated all questions regarding the mysterious circumstances under which Catherine passes away, is never really described in the book, while in the film, the deed is explicitly shown.

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The story concludes with an epilogue that is set several years in the future. Franny, now a full-grown adult, is in a medical school as a surgical apprentice and is not too fond of life. She is sleeping with a married man and lives in a small, sterile apartment that she has rented. She receives a call that her father's real estate agent has sold the old farmhouse and needs Franny to come clear out their personal belongings. At this point in the book, George is very much alive and is now an ageing man who is going blind from diabetes and incapable of being of any assistance at all. When Franny steps back in the house she feels a chill and a sense of calm all at once; she feels like she's home, presumably due to the knowledge of the fact that the spirit of her mother is somewhere in there. She makes her rounds around the town. The final scene in the novel itself with Cole and Franny getting very much comfortable with each other. The epilogue section was left out of the Things Heard & Seen's plot, as is evidenced by the ending of Things Heard & Seen.

About Things Heard & Seen

Things Heard & Seen is a Netflix Original film that has been co-directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini. The film has been co-produced by Anthony Bregman and Peter Cron. The movie made its digital debut on Netflix gone April 29th. The film, which has a rating of 5.3 on IMDb, is available for streaming on Netflix.

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Image credit: A still from Things Heard & Seen

10:38 IST, May 3rd 2021