A Lonely Place to Die

A Lonely Place to Die

Year: 2011

Runtime: 99 mins

Language: English

Director: Julian Gilbey

CrimeThrillerActionAdventureHorror

Stranded in the remote Scottish Highlands, five experienced mountaineers stumble upon a young Serbian girl hidden in a tiny stone chamber. When they realize she has been kidnapped, the group is thrust into a tense cat‑and‑mouse chase with the kidnappers, fighting the elements and their own limits as they race to bring the girl to safety.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen A Lonely Place to Die yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – A Lonely Place to Die (2011)

Trace every key event in A Lonely Place to Die (2011) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Discovery of Anna

During a midday break in the Scottish Highlands, the mountaineers stumble upon Anna, a young girl buried alive in a wilderness chamber. She cannot speak any language they understand, and Ed guesses she might be Croatian. The group agrees she must be saved, setting their plan into motion.

Midday Scottish Highlands, wilderness
2

Plans to reach safety through Devils Drop

To get Anna to safety, they decide to cut through toward the nearest village, a route that requires an abseil down the sheer cliff known as Devils Drop. The ascent and descent are perilous and fraught with risk. The decision tightens the clock on their already tense situation.

Afternoon Devils Drop, Scottish Highlands
3

Descent turns deadly; rope appears cut

As Rob descends, his rope seemingly fails and he plummets to his death. Debris rains down while Alison tumbles, and she discovers that Rob’s rope has been cut, not merely worn. A shadowy figure retreats from the cliff top, signaling that danger has followed them from above.

Afternoon Devils Drop, cliff edge
4

Pursuit intensifies; captors revealed

A shadowy figure moves away from the cliff, and it becomes clear the people who kept Anna captive are now targeting the group. The rescue mission devolves into a dangerous chase through the rugged terrain. The threat expands beyond the cliff as the captors close in.

Late afternoon Cliff area, Devils Drop
5

Violent pursuit; Jenny killed; Anna nearly swept away

Kidd and Mcrae murder two poachers to steal rifles and open fire as Alison regroups with the others. Jenny is shot and killed, and Anna is nearly washed away by river rapids before Alison manages to pull her to safety. Alex undertakes a risky distraction by running with a decoy backpack, but meets his end in the crossfire.

Evening Wilderness near river, Scottish Highlands
6

Escape deeper into the wilderness; Alex dies

With the pursuit relentless, the group presses on toward Annan Mor. Alex is shot down as the pursuers press their advantage, and Alison, Anna, and Ed are forced to flee deeper into the wilderness. The search becomes a full-scale chase across unfamiliar terrain.

Evening Wilderness toward Annan Mor
7

Darko arrives with mercenaries to broker ransom

Meanwhile, Serbian mobster Darko arrives with British mercenaries Andy and Chris to broker a ransom exchange on Darko’s behalf. Kidd and Mcrae face a new, international dimension to the kidnapping, complicating alliances and plans. The stakes rise as negotiations loom amid the escalating danger.

Evening Scottish Highlands near Beltane festival town
8

Negotiations and crossfire; plan shifts

Kidd attempts a bluff during negotiations, recalling a Paris kidnapping from a violent past. Chris fires at Ed, thinking him a kidnapper, and Mcrae shoots Chris in return. Chris warns Darko that Anna is no longer in Kidd and Mcrae’s hands, prompting Darko to adjust his strategy.

Night Beltene festival town outskirts
9

Confrontation in a burning house; rescue

Inside a burning local house, Alison clashes with Mcrae and ultimately pushes him out of a window, saving Anna. Firefighters arrive and help the group escape the flames, with Alison sent to a hospital while Anna stays by her side through the ordeal.

Night Beltane festival town, burning local house
10

Kidd captured; punishment begins

Kidd nearly escapes with the ransom money but is captured by Andy using a tracking device. He is brought before Rakovic, a Serbian war criminal and Darko’s boss who is revealed to be Anna’s father. Kidd is stripped, tortured, and buried alive in the woods as punishment for the kidnapping.

Night Remote woods, near the Scottish Highlands
11

Revelations of motives and debts

The unraveling of the scheme shows a web of survival, money, and vengeance. Rakovic’s control over the ransom and Andy’s payment tie together, revealing deeper debts and loyalties behind the kidnapping. The mission shifts from rescue to navigating a dangerous cross-border conspiracy.

Late night / Dawn Remote location; aftermath of confrontation
12

Resolution and tentative safety

Alison, Anna, and the remaining rescuers assess the toll of the ordeal and begin to piece together a path to safety. The immediate danger subsides, but the survivors carry the emotional and physical scars of the harrowing experience in the Scottish wilderness.

Following day Scottish Highlands; hospital and outskirts

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 10:35

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of A Lonely Place to Die

Don't stop at just watching — explore A Lonely Place to Die in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what A Lonely Place to Die is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

A Lonely Place to Die Summary

Read a complete plot summary of A Lonely Place to Die, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

A Lonely Place to Die Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in A Lonely Place to Die

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape A Lonely Place to Die. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in A Lonely Place to Die

A Lonely Place to Die Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of A Lonely Place to Die that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

A Lonely Place to Die Spoiler-Free Summary

More About A Lonely Place to Die

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about A Lonely Place to Die: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About A Lonely Place to Die