Choose or Die (2022) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

CURS>R is a cursed interactive fiction game that manipulates reality based on player commands. When Kayla plays certain levels, the game's commands cause real-world events to occur, someone in the game dies, and their counterpart in reality dies too. The game's creator, Beck, embedded actual curses within the game's symbols that trigger deadly consequences in the real world.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the game, when Kayla plays a level where a waitress eats broken glass, that same waitress is later found dead in real life, establishing the direct connection between game actions and reality.

• cursed video game
• CURS>R mechanics
• horror game kills
• reality manipulation game

Kayla's mother, Thea, fell into drug addiction following the tragic death of her son Ricky (Kayla's brother). The grief consumed her, and she became vulnerable to exploitation by Lance, a predatory rent collector who forced her into drugs and prostitution to avoid eviction.

Foreshadowing: Kayla's mention of her brother's death early in the film hints at the root cause of her mother's breakdown.

• Thea addiction
• Ricky death
• Kayla mother drugs
• Lance exploitation

Isaac is killed by CURS>R when the game traps him in a deadly setup. As Kayla gets closer to solving the game's mysteries, Isaac falls victim to one of the game's lethal traps, sacrificing himself. This tragic loss fuels Kayla's determination to finally defeat the game.

Foreshadowing: The game consistently escalates its threats whenever Kayla and Isaac make progress, suggesting Isaac was always in danger.

• Isaac dies
• Asa Butterfield character death
• CURS>R victim

Beck is the creator of CURS>R, discovered by Kayla and Isaac when they breach the game's storage location. Beck intentionally embedded curses within the game's symbols, thriving on the suffering and anguish of players for personal gain. The building where Kayla worked is linked to Beck, connecting her to the game's origins.

Foreshadowing: The cryptic code discovered in the game's sound effects points toward the creator's sinister intent.

• Beck creator
• CURS>R origin
• game creator villain

Hal is the first player who discovered CURS>R three months before Kayla. After experiencing the game's deadly power, he bargained with it, agreeing to perpetuate its cycle of suffering in exchange for his family's safety. The game twisted this bargain, turning Hal into the final boss who now sadistically tortures his own wife Laura and son Gabe while believing he's protecting them.

Foreshadowing: The opening scenes show Hal discovering the game and experiencing its effects on his family, establishing his role in the cycle.

• Hal final boss
• Eddie Marsan character
• CURS>R bargain

Kayla defeats Hal in a brutal confrontation where the game forces them to endure each other's suffering. Through sheer will, she manages to overpower him and reclaim control over the curse from CURS>R. This victory gives her the power to break free from the game's hold and use its abilities herself.

Foreshadowing: Kayla's determination to save her mother and avenge Isaac drives her resistance throughout the film.

• Kayla wins
• defeat CURS>R
• beat the game
• final confrontation

Lance is a predatory rent collector who exploits Thea's vulnerability after her son's death. He forces her into a life of drugs and prostitution to avoid eviction, essentially trafficking her. Kayla eventually uses her newfound control over the curse to eliminate Lance, freeing her mother from his grasp.

Foreshadowing: Thea's frantic calls and desperate situation early on establish Lance as a predatory threat.

• Lance Thea
• rent collector villain
• sexual exploitation
• human trafficking

Kayla initially starts playing for the promised $125,000 prize, but continues because the game begins threatening her mother Thea. Each time she tries to quit, the game escalates the danger to her family, forcing her to keep playing and complete the challenges to protect them.

Foreshadowing: The moment Thea falls from the window and is hospitalized marks the point where Kayla can no longer walk away.

• Kayla motivation
• play to save mother
• CURS>R challenge

CURS>R manipulates reality through a cryptic code embedded within its sound effects. Kayla and Isaac discover this code and realize it allows the game to bend reality itself. The game's curses are triggered by player commands, causing real-world events that match what happens in the game narrative.

Foreshadowing: The waitress eating glass incident provides the first clear evidence that game actions have real consequences.

• CURS>R code
• reality bending
• sound code
• game manipulates reality

After defeating Hal and reclaiming control from CURS>R, Kayla uses the curse's power to eliminate Lance, freeing her mother from exploitation. She then declares her intention to target only those who truly deserve punishment. This choice represents a morally ambiguous resolution where she embraces the curse's power rather than destroying it entirely.

Foreshadowing: Kayla's earlier determination to save her mother suggests she'll use whatever means necessary to protect her family.

• Kayla curse power
• ending choice
• morally ambiguous
• target deserving