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Timeline

Berserk (2019) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 85 min · English
Starring
Nora Arnezeder, Rhys Wakefield, Nick Cannon, Erin Moriarty, James Roday, Jack Falahee

Two friends, a former star and a struggling writer, team up to resurrect their careers by writing a zombie film. Their ambition takes a dark turn when a reckless prank leads to a tragic accident. Now, they must desperately try to cover up the incident while grappling with their own fears and the unsettling realization of life’s fragility. The experience forces them to confront the hidden terrors within themselves and the precariousness of their existence.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (13)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Berserk
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Berserk (2019)

Where can you watch Berserk? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Hoopla and Fandango at Home Free: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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13 events in order · contains spoilers

Berserk Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Berserk (2019) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Circus Opening

    The vibrant curtains of the traveling circus opened in England, showcasing the talent and artistry of its performers. Monica, the ringmistress, alongside her partner Albert, was determined to make the show a success despite financial challenges.

    Where
    England
  2. Gaspar's Fatal Performance

    During a fateful performance, Gaspar the Great, a daring tightrope walker, faced a tragic accident when his rope snapped. The fatal fall sent shockwaves through the circus troupe, leaving everyone in a state of disbelief and mourning.

    Where
    Circus Tent
  3. Monica's Opportunism

    In the aftermath of Gaspar's death, Monica saw a unique opportunity to capitalize on tragedy. She boldly believed that the publicity from the incident would draw larger audiences to the circus, despite Albert's concerns about ethics.

  4. Frank Hawkins Joins the Circus

    To replace Gaspar, Monica hired Frank Hawkins, a charismatic tightrope artist known for his remarkable acts over a bed of sharp bayonets. His audacious performances captivated the circus audiences and left an impression on everyone, including Monica.

  5. Albert's Mysterious Death

    Shortly after the circus made its transition to featuring Hawkins, Albert's lifeless body was discovered, plunging the troupe into a whirlwind of shock and suspicion. The mysterious circumstances surrounding his death raised many questions about safety and trust within the circus.

    Where
    Circus Grounds
  6. Hawkins' Demand

    In a startling turn of events, Hawkins confronted Monica, attempting to leverage his knowledge of Albert's death for his own gain. He extorted Monica for a share of the circus, preying on her desperation to keep the show running.

  7. Angela's Return

    Monica's daughter, Angela, returned from being expelled from school, stirring a mix of emotions within Monica. In an effort to soothe Angela's spirit and reintegrate her, Monica offered her a chance to perform in a thrilling knife-throwing act.

  8. Matilda's Flirtations

    Another circus performer, Matilda, began to flirt with Hawkins, which stirred jealousy within Monica. This competition for Hawkins’ attention intensified the underlying tensions in the circus family, leading to unexpected consequences.

  9. Matilda's Tragic Performance

    During a magician's trick, Matilda's recklessness led to her untimely demise, further compounding the tragedy surrounding the circus. Her accidental death raised the stakes emotionally and highlighted the inherent dangers within their performances.

  10. Angela's Accident

    On a night filled with tension, Angela threw a knife that accidentally struck Hawkins in the back during his high-wire act. The chaotic scene unfolded as Hawkins fell onto the unforgiving bayonets, bringing more horror and confusion to the troupe.

    Where
    Circus Tent
  11. Angela's Confession

    Following the incident, Angela confessed to her motives behind the shocking event, revealing her desire to eliminate those who threatened to take her mother's love away. Her admission cast a dark shadow over the remaining circus members.

  12. Angela's Fatal Accident

    Tragedy struck once more when, during a torrential storm, Angela was accidentally electrocuted by a live wire outside the circus tent. This final twist left Monica shattered and grieving the loss of both her daughter and her dream.

    Where
    Circus Grounds
  13. Curtain Falls

    With the deaths of both her daughter and several performers, Monica was left alone to mourn her losses. As the curtains of their once-thriving circus closed, the echoes of tragedy and betrayal lingered, marking an irrevocable end to their journey.

    Where
    Circus Grounds

Last updated: November 17, 2024 at 19:49

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Timeline questions answered

Berserk Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Berserk (2019): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Monica see Gaspar's death as an opportunity?

Monica recognized that the tragic death of tightrope walker Gaspar the Great would generate massive publicity. She believed the sensational nature of the accident would draw larger audiences to the circus, viewing the tragedy as a chance to boost attendance and revenue despite the ethical concerns.

Foreshadowing: Monica's opportunistic reaction to death early in the story hints at her willingness to prioritize profit over morality.

  • monica
  • gaspar
  • death
  • publicity
  • circus
Q2

How did Albert die in the circus?

Albert's lifeless body was discovered shortly after Frank Hawkins joined the circus. While the exact cause isn't specified in detail, his death occurred in proximity to Monica leaving his trailer, and the circumstances remained mysterious enough to create suspicion among the troupe members.

Foreshadowing: Hawkins' knowledge of Monica's presence near Albert's trailer before his death sets up the blackmail scenario.

  • albert
  • death
  • circus
  • monica
  • mystery
Q3

Why did Frank Hawkins extort Monica?

Hawkins had witnessed Monica leaving Albert's trailer just moments before Albert's death. He used this knowledge to blackmail Monica, demanding a share of the circus in exchange for his silence about what he saw.

Foreshadowing: Hawkins' earlier observation of Monica creates the leverage he later uses against her.

  • hawkins
  • blackmail
  • monica
  • albert
  • extortion
Q4

Why did Angela kill Frank Hawkins?

Angela confessed that her motive was to eliminate anyone who had monopolized her mother's affection during her youth. She viewed Hawkins as another person stealing Monica's attention and love away from her, leading her to kill him during his high-wire performance.

Foreshadowing: Monica's fascination with Hawkins' performances and her interaction with him-planted the seed of jealousy in Angela.

  • angela
  • hawkins
  • murder
  • motive
  • jealousy
Q5

What was Angela's confession about?

Angela admitted that her killing of Frank Hawkins was part of a larger pattern. She had resorted to murder against anyone who threatened to take her mother's love away. This twisted sense of protectiveness over Monica drove her to violence.

Foreshadowing: Angela's return after being expelled from school, seeking her mother's attention, foreshadows her desperate actions.

  • angela
  • confession
  • murder
  • motive
  • monica
Q6

How did Angela die?

Angela met her end during a torrential storm when she was accidentally electrocuted by a live wire outside the circus tent. This tragic accident occurred after she had already killed Hawkins, sealing her fate.

Foreshadowing: The escalating tragedies and electrical elements present in the circus performances create ironic foreshadowing.

  • angela
  • death
  • electrocution
  • storm
  • accident
Q7

How did Matilda die?

Matilda died during a magician's trick when her reckless behavior caused the act to go horribly wrong. Her death added to the mounting tragedies surrounding the circus and intensified the dark atmosphere.

Foreshadowing: Matilda's earlier flirtations with Hawkins and her competitive tension with Monica hinted at her reckless nature.

  • matilda
  • death
  • magician
  • trick
  • accident
Q8

What happened to the circus at the end?

After the chain of tragedies, including Gaspar's death, Albert's murder, Hawkins' killing, Matilda's accident, and Angela's electrocution, Monica was left alone. The curtains of their once-thriving circus closed permanently, marking the end of her dream.

Foreshadowing: The steady accumulation of deaths throughout the narrative builds toward this inevitable tragic conclusion.

  • circus
  • ending
  • monica
  • tragedy
  • curtains

Movie threads

More Movies Like Berserk, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Berserk tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Moral collapse stories like Berserk

Stories where a single tragic accident triggers a devastating moral unraveling. If you liked Berserk, you might be looking for similar movies about characters grappling with a tragic accident and its devastating aftermath. This section features thrillers and dramas where a reckless act or terrible mistake leads to a desperate cover-up, exploring themes of guilt, moral decay, and existential dread.

  • suspenseful
  • oppressive
  • tragic
  • anxious
  • gripping
  • moral decay
  • Tone: dark, grim, tense
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically begin with an impulsive act or reckless ambition that results in an irreversible tragedy. The core of the story is the characters' frantic attempts to conceal their involvement, which inevitably leads to deeper moral compromises, paranoia, and psychological disintegration. The journey is one of steady descent, often ending in bleak realization rather than redemption.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here based on their shared focus on the aftermath of a single, life-altering mistake. They share a dark, oppressive tone, a steady pacing that builds dread, and a heavy emotional weight centered on guilt and the fragility of normalcy.

Existential thrillers with a mood like Berserk

Thrillers where the true horror is the unsettling fragility of life itself. For viewers who appreciated the heavy existential themes in Berserk, this section collects movies that blend thriller suspense with deep philosophical dread. These films often involve characters facing their own mortality and the hidden terrors within, creating a similar feeling of anxious, melancholic tension.

  • existential dread
  • melancholic
  • gripping
  • anxious
  • philosophical
  • oppressive
  • Tone: melancholic, dark, anxious
  • Pacing: steady, slow burn
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a catalyst event—often a brush with death or a violent incident—that shatters the characters' sense of reality and safety. The plot is driven by their struggle to cope with this new, frightening awareness of life's randomness and their own vulnerability. The conflict is as much internal (philosophical, existential) as it is external.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their shared mood of existential anxiety and their use of a thriller framework to explore profound themes. They typically feature a steady, deliberate pace that allows the dread to seep in, a dark or bleak tone, and a high emotional intensity derived from confronting mortality and meaning.

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Movies Like Berserk

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Every angle

Berserk (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Berserk in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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