This is What It Looked Like" follows the story of Tina, a real estate agent desperate to sell a house with a dark and mysterious past. The Smith family—comprising Helen, Frank, and their imaginative, deaf son Timothy—moves in, with the hopes that the move will help build Timothy’s social skills. As they settle in, Timothy begins to notice a strange, shadowy figure and unsettling noises in the bushes in the backyard. As his obsession with the thicket of bushes intensifies, Helen grows increasingly worried that his monster puppets are the source of his hallucinations and antisocial behavior. Meanwhile, her husband, Frank, encourages Timothy's creativity by crafting more puppets for his son’s enjoyment.

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Tensions rise as the family grapples with the inexplicable events and their internal conflicts. The situation escalates when a furniture mover mysteriously disappears, witnessed only by Timothy. When confronted by her son’s story, Helen's anxiety peaks as she believes that his made-up stories are induced by his father’s monster puppets. She later discovers unsettling drawings and items hidden in Timothy's room.

 

In a climactic confrontation, Helen attempts to remove Timothy’s beloved puppets, believing they are the source of his nightmares. However, she soon realizes the true nature of the malevolent force haunting their home. The family must come together to confront and overcome this dark entity, leading to a suspenseful and emotional resolution where their love and unity are put to the ultimate test.