Cemetery of Terror (1985) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

The teens broke into the morgue to steal a corpse for a Halloween ritual, not knowing they were taking Devlon's body. Jorge found Devlon's book of Satanic incantations in the mansion attic and suggested attempting to bring someone back from the dead. They chose a random corpse from the university hospital morgue, unfortunately selecting the body of the notorious serial killer.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Jorge uncovers Devlon's book of Satanic incantations in the mansion attic, hinting at the dark ritual to come.

• morgue heist
• corpse theft
• satanic ritual
• Jorge
• Devlon body

Jorge performed a real Satanic ritual using incantations from Devlon's own book, successfully bringing the serial killer back from the dead. The ritual worked exactly as intended, the teens got more than they bargained for when Devlon returned as a bloodthirsty killer rather than the friend they were trying to resurrect.

Foreshadowing: The ritual was performed using Devlon's own book of Satanic incantations, suggesting a powerful supernatural connection.

• resurrection
• satanic ritual
• Devlon returned
• zombie

Devlon was a serial killer obsessed with Satan who murdered people indiscriminately. After being resurrected by the teens' ritual, he went on a murderous rampage against the group that stole his corpse. He killed Mariana on the porch, Oscar outside, Jorge and Olivia inside the house, and Lena upstairs, essentially eliminating everyone involved in the breaking and entering.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes Devlon as a notorious serial killer known for his obsession with Satan and violence.

• Devlon kills
• serial killer
• murder rampage
• teens killed

After Pedro witnessed Devlon stabbing Lena to death through the window, he grabbed a hatchet to defend himself. The weapon began levitating on its own and struck Pedro dead, a display of Devlon's supernatural powers even without direct contact. This demonstrates that Devlon possessed telekinetic abilities that extended beyond his physical form.

Foreshadowing: The supernatural elements were already established through Devlon's resurrection and the book of incantations.

• hatchet levitation
• Pedro death
• telekinesis
• supernatural powers

Devlon's resurrection somehow awakened all the other corpses buried in the cemetery, causing them to rise as zombies and attack the children. This was a consequence of Devlon's powerful Satanic magic, he was able to command the undead and lead them in an assault on the mansion.

Foreshadowing: When Tony and the children arrive at the cemetery, they see Devlon's tomb burst into flames, signaling his power is spreading.

• zombies awakened
• cemetery
• Devlon commands undead
• corpse rising

The book of incantations was the source of Devlon's supernatural power. Dr. Cardan realized that destroying the book would neutralize the evil. When Usi threw the book into the fireplace, all the undead, including Devlon, burst into flames and were destroyed. The book contained the very rituals that gave Devlon his power over life and death.

Foreshadowing: Cardan specifically tells the children they must burn the book to stop the zombies, establishing the book's importance.

• book of incantations
• burn book
• destroy zombies
• Devlon weakness

The ending strongly suggests Dr. Cardan is now possessed by Devlon. After the book is burned and Devlon is destroyed, Cardan retrieves the charred remains and places them on the attic altar where the original book was found. The final shot shows the altar now appears possessed by Devlon's evil spirit, implying the killer has transferred his presence to Cardan or the location.

Foreshadowing: The attic altar was where Jorge originally found Devlon's book of Satanic incantations, making it a focal point for demonic activity.

• Cardan possessed
• ambiguous ending
• attic altar
• Devlon spirit

The tomb bursting into flames was a supernatural warning that Devlon had been resurrected and his powers were awakening. When Tony and the children arrived at the cemetery, they witnessed this phenomenon just as the resurrected Devlon began his killing spree at the mansion. The flames signaled the return of the Satanic killer's dark energy.

Foreshadowing: This event directly precedes the children's flight into the mansion where they discover the dead bodies.

• tomb flames
• resurrection sign
• supernatural warning
• cemetery

Dr. Cardan was trying to prevent Devlon's evil from continuing by having the serial killer's body cremated. He knew of Devlon's Satanic obsession and understood that the killer's body needed to be destroyed to stop any further danger. By the time Cardan arrived at the morgue with a judge's clearance, the teens had already stolen the corpse for their ritual.

Foreshadowing: Cardan's knowledge of Devlon's danger was established early when he learned of the killer's escape from the psychiatric hospital.

• Dr. Cardan
• cremation
• judge clearance
• prevent evil