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Timeline

Between Worlds (2018) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 90 min · English
Echo score 44
JustWatch #4,337 26
Directed by
Maria Pulera
Starring
Franka Potente, Nicolas Cage, Thom Williams, Hopper Penn, Penelope Mitchell, Philip Fornah

A truck driver's already difficult life takes a turn for the surreal when he encounters a woman whose daughter is caught between life and death. As the girl miraculously recovers, she becomes a vessel for vengeful spirits connected to the driver's past. He must then embark on a dangerous journey to restore harmony and confront the lingering ghosts that threaten to consume him.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Between Worlds
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Between Worlds (2018)

Where can you watch Between Worlds? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon MX Player and Amazon Prime Video Free: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Between Worlds Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Between Worlds (2018) 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. Joe Discovers Julie

    At a busy truck stop in Alabama, truck driver Joe Majors stumbles upon a troubling scene involving a woman named Julie. She appears to be in a dangerous situation with a man, prompting Joe to intervene and restore order.

    Where
    Alabama
  2. Julie Reveals Her Past

    After Joe intervenes, Julie explains her distress, revealing her desire to connect with her comatose daughter, Billie. This longing is deeply rooted in a traumatic childhood experience where she narrowly escaped drowning and glimpsed the afterlife.

  3. Journey to the Hospital

    Determined to help her daughter, Joe assists Julie in getting to the hospital. There, they learn that Billie has suffered cardiac arrest, heightening their sense of urgency and despair.

    Where
    Hospital
  4. The Bizarre Act

    In a moment of desperation, Julie asks Joe to help her perform a bizarre act that would enable her to traverse into a mystical dimension once more. Miraculously, their efforts allow Julie to bring Billie’s spirit back, saving her life just in time.

    Where
    Hospital
  5. Joe's Growing Affection

    Following the extraordinary event, Joe finds himself inexplicably drawn to Julie. Despite his exhaustion, they share an intimate moment that hints at a deeper connection developing between them.

  6. Joe's Revelation

    As Joe becomes more entwined in Julie's life, he uncovers a shocking truth: Billie's body is now a vessel for the spirit of his deceased wife, Mary. This revelation thrusts Joe into a tumult of conflicting emotions as he struggles with his feelings for both women.

  7. Strange Behavior

    Billie's return is accompanied by an unsettling energy that confounds Julie and their friends, Mike and Rick. As Billie exhibits erratic behavior, suspicions begin to rise about the authenticity of her return.

  8. Confiding in the Nurse

    Amidst the chaos, Julie confides in a hospital nurse who gives her cryptic advice about the spirit occupying Billie's body. The nurse confirms that it is not Billie but rather Joe’s late wife, causing further confusion for Julie.

    Where
    Hospital
  9. Passionate Encounter

    Joe finds himself in an intense and primal encounter with Billie, who is possessed by Mary’s spirit. This experience sends Joe into a surreal dreamscape, revisiting cherished memories with Mary.

    Where
    Joe's Home
  10. Tensions Rise

    Upon Julie's return, she is devastated to discover the closeness between Joe and Billie/Mary. Their rising tension culminates in a confrontation where Julie demands Joe help her exorcise the spirit from Billie.

  11. Confrontation Turns Deadly

    In a shocking turn of events, Billie/Mary knocks Julie unconscious to silence her. Billie/Mary then implores Joe to flee with her, indicating a chaotic escape is imminent.

  12. Robbery Plan

    Joe and Billie/Mary concoct a tumultuous plan to rob Mike and Rick, spiraling into chaos. The plan ends in violence when Joe accidentally shoots and kills Rick in a confrontation.

  13. Return to the Past

    In the midst of their escape, Billie/Mary leads Joe back to the ruins of his family home, a place laden with sorrow from a fire that took everything from him. Here, painful memories begin to surface.

    Where
    Family Home
  14. Confrontation at Gunpoint

    In a climactic showdown, Mike and Julie confront Joe and Billie/Mary at gunpoint. As tensions flare, Billie/Mary reveals her sins and ultimately shoots Julie, leaving Joe in despair.

  15. Joe's Final Despair

    Overcome with grief from the loss of Julie and the haunting memories of Sarah, Joe succumbs to despair. He sets himself ablaze in a tragic finale, reflecting on the trauma that has consumed him throughout his life.

Last updated: November 19, 2024 at 12:08

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Timeline questions answered

Between Worlds Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Between Worlds (2018): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

How is Mary able to possess Billie's body?

Mary's spirit is able to possess Billie's body because Joe helped Julie perform the ritual that pulled Billie's spirit back from the afterlife. When Billie's spirit returned, Mary's spirit, also seeking a connection to Joe, was able to slip into her body instead. The nurse at the hospital confirms this, telling Julie that the spirit inside Billie is not Billie but rather Joe's late wife Mary.

  • mary spirit
  • billie possession
  • supernatural
  • joe wife
Q2

Why does Mary kill Julie at the end?

Mary kills Julie to free Billie's spirit from the body so they can finally be together. During the confrontation at gunpoint, Mary reveals her past sins, including that she was responsible for the fire that killed Joe's daughter Sarah. She then turns the gun on Julie, shooting her dead, which allows Billie's spirit to reclaim her body and leaves Joe devastated.

  • mary kills julie
  • billie spirit
  • ending
  • possession
Q3

What happened to Joe's family before the movie begins?

Joe's family died in a fire at their home. His wife Mary and daughter Sarah were killed in this tragedy, which explains Joe's deep trauma and why he has no truck by the time the movie takes place. The fire and loss of his family haunts him throughout the film, culminating in his return to the ruins of their home.

  • joe family
  • fire
  • sarah
  • mary death
  • past trauma
Q4

How did Julie know how to perform the supernatural act?

Julie learned about the mystical dimension from her own childhood experience. She nearly drowned as a child and briefly glimpsed the afterlife during that trauma. This experience convinced her that she could traverse into that other realm and guide lost spirits back, which is exactly what she attempts to do with her comatose daughter Billie.

  • julie near death
  • afterlife
  • supernatural
  • childhood trauma
Q5

Why does Joe set himself on fire at the end?

Joe commits suicide by fire because he is overwhelmed by the cumulative grief from losing everyone he loved. First he lost his wife Mary and daughter Sarah in the fire years earlier, then he lost Julie who was shot dead in front of him. The jack-in-the-box, a relic from his daughter Sarah, triggers these painful memories, and unable to bear the sorrow any longer, he douses himself in gasoline and lights himself on fire.

  • joe death
  • suicide
  • grief
  • sarah
  • ending
Q6

Why does Billie/Mary convince Joe to rob Mike and Rick?

Billie/Mary manipulates Joe into planning the robbery as a way to escape together and obtain money for their journey. The plan goes wrong when Joe accidentally shoots and kills Rick during the confrontation. This violent outcome reflects Mary's manipulative nature and her determination to be with Joe regardless of the consequences.

  • robbery
  • mike
  • rick
  • billie mary
  • joe
Q7

What did Mary reveal about her past sins?

During the climactic confrontation, Mary reveals that she was responsible for the fire that killed Joe's daughter Sarah. This shocking confession exposes that Mary's death was not an accident but rather a deliberate act, likely part of a broader pattern of violence that defines her character as a vengeful spirit.

  • mary sins
  • sarah death
  • fire
  • revelation
Q8

Why does the nurse confirm that Billie's body contains Mary's spirit?

The nurse confirms Mary's possession because she recognizes the signs of a spiritual takeover in Billie. She provides cryptic wisdom to Julie, explaining that the spirit inside Billie's body is not Billie but rather Joe's deceased wife Mary, which helps Julie understand the strange behavior and the supernatural nature of what's happening.

  • nurse
  • possession
  • hospital
  • billie
  • mary
Q9

What is the significance of the jack-in-the-box?

The jack-in-the-box is a childhood relic belonging to Joe's daughter Sarah. When it resurfaces at the ruins of Joe's family home, it serves as a powerful trigger for his traumatic memories of the fire that killed Sarah. In the end, it becomes the symbol of his shattered world, prompting his devastating decision to end his life.

  • jack in box
  • sarah
  • memory
  • trauma
  • family home
Q10

How did Joe accidentally kill Rick during the robbery?

Joe kills Rick accidentally during the botched robbery attempt. When Joe and Billie/Mary confront Mike and Rick, the situation escalates into violence. In the chaos of the confrontation, Joe's gun fires accidentally, striking Rick and killing him. This tragic accident further entangles Joe in the criminal consequences of Mary's manipulation.

  • rick death
  • robbery
  • joe
  • accident
  • mike

Movie threads

More Movies Like Between Worlds, by Mood & Story

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

Supernatural Thrillers About Grief like Between Worlds

Where the trauma of loss invites vengeful spirits from the past. For viewers seeking movies like 'Between Worlds' where intense personal loss opens a door to the supernatural. If you liked the theme of a grieving protagonist confronting vengeful spirits tied to their past, this thread collects similar haunting and emotionally heavy thrillers and horror dramas.

  • haunting
  • grieving
  • supernatural
  • desperate
  • tragic
  • psychological
  • Tone: dark, tragic, haunting
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern centers on a protagonist consumed by grief, whose emotional state attracts or becomes entangled with supernatural entities. Their journey is less about traditional heroism and more about a desperate, often self-destructive, attempt to reconcile with the past, leading to a collision between the living and the dead that rarely ends well.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their core fusion of heavy emotional themes—specifically grief and loss—with supernatural horror or thriller elements. They share a dark, oppressive tone, high emotional weight, and a focus on the psychological toll of confronting one's past through a paranormal lens.

Movies with a Bleak Self-Destructive Arc like Between Worlds

Characters spiral towards a devastating, inevitable sacrifice. This collection features films similar to 'Between Worlds' where the main character's journey ends in a devastating act of self-sacrifice or destruction. If you were captivated by the tragic, fatalistic arc culminating in a bleak ending, these movies explore similar narratives of irreversible descent and ultimate sacrifice.

  • tragic
  • devastating
  • fatalistic
  • self-sacrifice
  • bleak
  • desperate
  • Tone: bleak, dark, tragic
  • Pacing: steady, inevitable
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The defining journey is a downward spiral where the protagonist becomes so entangled in their supernatural or psychological conflict that the only perceived resolution is a final, self-destructive act. This ending is treated as a form of grim redemption or the inevitable consequence of their actions, leaving no hope for conventional survival or happiness.

Why they belong together: They are united by a specific, powerful narrative arc: a protagonist's journey that culminates in their own destruction. This creates a cohesive experience of high tension, overwhelming sadness, and a consistently dark tone that builds towards an emotionally shattering, bleak finale.

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Movies Like Between Worlds

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Every angle

Between Worlds (2018) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Between Worlds 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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