Didn't the father find...

He wanted his daughter back even if she was changed. I compare it to someone who has a kid in a accident that has brain damage. They are at least grateful the child is still alive. Louis felt cheated that she died so young and needed more time with her. Also(I know it was implied in the original too)I love the fact louis was an atheist it only provides another motivation for him wanting to bring her back. Rachel with a belief in a after life at least thought her daughter was continuing in another realm.

In the novel, the father asks the wife if she would still love cage if he was born retarded or if something happened to him and he was forever maimed. She says "of course". He reasons with himself for a long time going back and forth as to why he should/shouldn't do it. He hopes also that maybe it will be different than with church and cage will be normal. The windigo or whatever force is in the forest was also most definitely helping/pushing him to bury the kid.

Do you have children?

You don’t care how covered in soot they are.

🖤👹🖤

A parent’s grief is deep and profound. Louis wanted his daughter back so badly he lost sight of reality. By the time he realized what she’d become it was too late.