Warning! This article contains spoilers for the movie IF.

IF”s twist ending may have come as a surprise to some, but eagle-eyed viewers may have noticed several hints that gave away the ending from the start. IF is a story about youth and imagination, which explores the idea of imaginary friends, and where they go after kids grow up and stop seeing them. The movie was directed by John Krasinski, and stars Ryan Reynolds opposite Cailey Fleming as two people who see IFs and hope to help find them a new home after their kids grow up.

While the movie explores themes of the power of imagination and the importance of connecting to one’s inner child, the movie also hides a major twist in plain sight. The young girl, Bea (Fleming) appears to have a rare ability to see other people’s imaginary friends, which she shares with a man named Cal (Reynolds). However, the truth is that Cal was her imaginary friend growing up, and she grew out of seeing him after her mother passed away. This twist alters the way earlier elements of the story were shown, with many moments foreshadowing this twist along the way.

7

Cal Knew Bea When She Was Younger

Early in the film, when Bea finally manages to get into the apartment with Cal and the other IF characters, she has numerous questions about what is going on. The IFs introduce themselves, but when it comes to Cal’s turn to introduce himself, he simply says, “she already knows who I am.” This is quickly glanced over, and no further comments are made about it at the time, but it’s a clear hint at the pre-existing relationship between Cal and Bea. This moment also highlights a distance that now exists between Cal and Bea.

While Bea herself, despite her inquisitiveness, neglects to acknowledge this comment, it raises questions about how the pair know each other. Cal is a middle-aged man living upstairs from Bea’s grandmother, so while it could reasonably be assumed that they have briefly met, there is no clear reason for them to know each other well. But, Cal is clearly attached in some way, and presents as being distant and disengaged, which is likely a response to his being discarded when Bea grew out of seeing him.

6

Cal Hadn’t Managed To Place Any IFs

However, Bea does learn that Cal has been trying to help the IFs find new friends to connect with. He works tirelessly out of the small apartment with a catalog of IFs that need new homes, and occasionally visits the retirement home for IFs. Despite his efforts, Cal has been unsuccessful with ever placing an IF with a new friend. While it does prove to be difficult, and possibly impossible to pair IFs with new kids as the movie progresses, Bea is able to come and make tangible changes quickly.

But, the changes she makes are not in any way groundbreaking. Bea interviews the IFs to find out what matches could best suit them, and then she goes and asks kids about their hobbies, while trying to determine if they can see any of the potential IF placements. These ideas are pretty straightforward, but it doesn’t seem like Cal even got this far, because he can’t be seen by any people as one of the IFs that has had their kid grow out of seeing him. Bea’s simple ideas are the biggest shifts for these IFs in a long time, despite Cal’s efforts.

5

Cal Used To Be A Clown

When Cal is convinced by Bea to let her help with his work, he takes her to the IF retirement home. While there, she is introduced to a kindly older IF named Lewis, who is a giant teddy bear that is nearly 100 years old. Lewis informs Bea that Cal, the uptight and seemingly perpetually frustrated man, used to be a clown. This seems like a contradiction of the character as he is in the present, but considering he went through some sort of traumatic event that changed his outlook on life, it makes sense.

Calvin was Bea’s IF, and when she was younger, she tragically lost her mother to a terminal illness. This had a major impact on the young girl, forcing her to grow up quickly and leave some of her childish ways behind her. As a result, her imaginary friend, the clown whose entire purpose was to make her smile also felt that tremendous loss for his friend, and their connection evaporated. While this hint is a little more subtle, it is another moment that raises questions about Cal and his past, pointing to his true identity as an IF.

4

Cal & Bea Have Similar Quirks

There are also small moments included in the film that showcase striking similarities between Bea and Cal. From their outfits and dialogue, to the identical way that they both sit down and smooth the pages of a book, the two have clear quirks in common. This sort of mirroring is common in people who spend a great deal of time together, such as friends or family, but for Bea and Cal, it can seem like an odd detail to include.

However, it is another clear indication that the pair have more in common than what is immediately revealed. Bea and Cal spent a lot of time together during her formative years, and Cal was born out of Bea’s imagination. As a result, it is perfectly clear that the pair would develop many commonalities and behave in similar ways. From their physical movements, to their attitudes and personalities, these elements mimic each other because of that pre-existing connection.

3

Cal Doesn’t Speak To Other People

When Cal is first introduced, he is seen sneaking into the room of a small child to recover a giant IF named Blue. When the child stirs in the bed, he quickly hides beneath the bed, giving the impression that he could be caught, but as the movie progresses, his interactions are increasingly quirky and one-sided. An actor like Ryan Reynolds is incredibly good at performing comedy opposite other characters, and when he has call and response dialogue. However, his interactions in IF are often met with no response.

This is jarring and unusual, as the character continues to speak in any setting, but his dialogue is not met with any clear reaction. However, the fact that he cannot be seen or heard by others makes it clear that this stilted communication was intentional. Even in an office setting, Bea is able to gain access to the reception by pretending to have a delivery. However, no one questions or speaks to the man who is following close behind her, and scenes where he would be expected to explain his presence are simply skipped over.

2

Cal Seems Like A Version Of Bea’s Dad

One of the most endearing aspects of the film is shown through the interactions Bea has with her father, played by the director, John Krasinski. Bea’s dad is now unwell, and in hospital for surgery that could cause complications. However, despite the intense situation, and the possibility of Bea losing her only remaining parent, her dad is always bright, cheerful, and doing everything he can to put a smile on his daughter’s face. These persistent attempts to make her happy and prevent her from feeling upset are indications of his love and care for her.

Interestingly, it is at this moment when Bea is afraid of being left alone that her gift for seeing imaginary friends, and her former IF, Cal, manifests itself. Cal may now be someone who seems to lack joy and happiness, but that is a reflection of Bea’s own emotions. And interestingly, the version of Cal, a happy-go-lucky clown who does all he can to make Bea smile and feel happier, seems to be a reflection of her father. Reynolds and Krasinski are similar in their appearance, and the connection could be more than surface level from Bea’s unconscious imagination.

1

The Witch Down The Hall

When Bea first tries to visit the mysterious people upstairs, they refuse to let her in. After a moment, an elderly woman enters the hall from her apartment at the end of the hall. This woman is only seen in the shadows, and appears to frighten Bea. Then, when Bea is in the room the next day, Cal mentions that neither she nor they want to be outside the room when the witch comes along. This presents an interesting question, about why the mystery figure is there, and why they don’t want to be out of the room when she arrives.

However, later in IF, when Bea is preparing to return home with her father, she rushes upstairs early in the morning to meet with Cal and the others, and the woman emerges from her apartment. This time, she is seen clearly as a simple elderly woman, and she comes to unlock the apartment that belongs to Cal and the IFs. Once inside, Bea doesn’t see her friends, but a storage room. This room clearly belongs to the woman, who opens it during the day to move her stuff back and forth, but locks the door in the evening.