Blackout (1985) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Steiner becomes convinced Allen Devlin is Ed Vincent after receiving a tip triggered by a newspaper article featuring the Devlin family. He notices a striking physical resemblance between Allen and the missing Ed Vincent, who disappeared after his wife Lucy and three children were murdered in Ohio. Steiner also theorizes that Allen may have a split personality, with Vincent existing as a hidden facet of his psyche, which would explain how the killer could commit murders while seemingly living a normal life.

• steiner
• ed vincent
• allen devlin
• identity
• resemblance
• split personality

The real Allen Devlin died in the California car crash. When the two men were involved in the fiery wreck, one died in the blaze while the other survived with amnesia. The deceased was burned beyond recognition, and authorities initially identified the surviving man as Allen Devlin. However, the twist reveals that the survivor was actually Ed Vincent, and the body in the car was the real Allen Devlin.

Foreshadowing: The summary mentions the identification was initially unsure because the body was burned beyond recognition.

• allen devlin
• ed vincent
• car crash
• death
• body burned

Ed Vincent survived the California crash because he was the hitchhiker who picked up the real Allen Devlin. When the car wreck occurred, the real Allen Devlin died in the fire while Ed Vincent survived with amnesia and severe facial injuries. After facial reconstructive surgeries, he was mistaken for Allen Devlin and built an entirely new life under that identity.

Foreshadowing: The timeline notes investigators were unsure which man was Allen Devlin because the other body was burned.

• ed vincent
• crash survivor
• hitchhiker
• amnesia
• facial reconstruction

The threatening calls to Chris were being made by Ed Vincent himself. While disguised and wearing a leather mask to obscure his identity, Ed made the calls with a distorted voice accusing Chris of infidelity. This was part of his psychological manipulation and possibly an attempt to create justification for his eventual actions against her.

• threatening calls
• chris
• leather mask
• distorted voice
• stalking

The leather mask attacks were committed by Ed Vincent and connected the California attacks to the original Ohio murders. In Ohio, Lucy Vincent was attacked by a leather-masked assailant before her and her children's deaths. The park attack in California and the later attack on Chris used the same modus operandi, reinforcing Steiner's theory that the same person was responsible for both sets of crimes.

Foreshadowing: The timeline notes the park attack echoes the earlier Ohio assaults.

• leather mask
• ohio murders
• park attack
• modus operandi
• connection

Patterson was not behind the attacks on Chris. While he did send the newspaper tip to Ohio to initiate Steiner's investigation, he did not make the threatening calls or commit the attacks. However, Patterson was in love with Chris and hoped the investigation would destroy Allen's marriage, allowing him to pursue her. The actual attacks were carried out by Ed Vincent wearing the leather mask.

Foreshadowing: Steiner discovers a mural of Chris's photographs at Patterson's house.

• patterson
• chris
• attacks
• newspaper tip
• motive
• red herring

John Davey was murdered by Ed Vincent. After Allen hired Davey to investigate whether he resembled Ed Vincent, Davey tracked down Theo Grant (who lent the vehicle used in the crash) and was killed before he could reveal what he discovered. This elimination of the private investigator prevented the truth from coming out earlier and protected Ed Vincent's identity.

• john davey
• murdered
• private investigator
• ed vincent
• theo grant

Allen checked himself into a psychiatric hospital after a leather mask was found in his home, causing Chris to doubt his innocence. At the advice of his lawyers, Allen chose to voluntarily commit himself, likely to appear cooperative and to potentially use psychiatric defense arguments if charges were brought against him. This was a strategic move rather than a genuine belief in his own guilt.

Foreshadowing: The timeline notes Chris discovers a black leather mask in their home.

• psychiatric hospital
• allen
• defense
• leather mask
• lawyer advice

Chris survived the final attack by successfully defending herself during her son's birthday preparation. When Allen (wearing the leather mask) targeted her, she managed to subdue him and peel away the mask, revealing his true identity as Ed Vincent. Before Allen could harm her further, Steiner arrived and shot Allen, saving Chris's life.

• chris
• final attack
• survived
• birthday
• steiner shot allen

Steiner theorized that Allen Devlin might be living with a split personality, with Ed Vincent existing as a hidden facet of his psyche. This theory suggested that Vincent could be a subconscious aspect of Allen's mind, an internal voice harboring a concealed past that included the Ohio killings. While this sounds like a psychological explanation, the reality was that Allen and Ed Vincent were the same person all along.

• split personality
• steiner
• theory
• subconscious
• ed vincent
• psychological

Ed Vincent's wife Lucy and their three children were brutally murdered after Lucy's birthday party in Ohio. Ed was missing and presumed to be the killer, though his body was never found, leaving the case open. The murders remained unsolved for years until Steiner connected Allen Devlin to the Vincent case, ultimately revealing that Ed Vincent himself committed the murders before assuming a new identity.

Foreshadowing: The summary opens with the Ohio murders of Lucy Vincent and her three children.

• lucy vincent
• children
• ohio murders
• birthday party
• ed vincent