Coming Home in the Dark

Coming Home in the Dark

Year: 2021

Runtime: 93 min

Language: English

Director: James Ashcroft

ThrillerHorror

During a family outing along the coast, Alan Hoaggie and his family find themselves targeted by two menacing strangers, Mandrake and Tubs. What begins as a seemingly pleasant day quickly devolves into a terrifying struggle for survival. As the drifters pursue them, disturbing secrets from the family’s past resurface, revealing a chilling link to a tragedy that occurred two decades earlier. The experience blurs the lines between reality and nightmare, forcing them to confront a painful history.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Coming Home in the Dark (2021)

Trace every key event in Coming Home in the Dark (2021) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Family Road Trip Begins

Alan 'Hoaggie' Hoaganraad, a school teacher, sets off on a family road trip with his wife Jill and their two teenage sons, Maika and Jordan. They are excited and optimistic, looking forward to creating cherished memories together.

2

Suspicious Encounter

While hiking, Maika notices two strange men in the distance who quickly disappear from sight. This unsettling moment raises suspicions but does not immediately affect the family's plans.

3

Roadside Picnic Turned Nightmare

The family enjoys a peaceful roadside picnic until they are confronted by two dangerous drifters, Mandrake and Tubs. The criminals rob them at gunpoint, forcing the terrified family to lie on the ground.

4

Tragic Loss of Maika and Jordan

In a horrific turn of events, Mandrake overhears Maika calling Alan 'Hoaggie' and retaliates by murdering both Maika and Jordan. The family’s nightmare escalates as they realize they are now targets.

5

Alan and Jill Abducted

Following the shocking murders, Mandrake and Tubs abduct Alan and Jill as night falls. In the ensuing struggle, Mandrake breaks Alan’s arm and knocks Jill unconscious, showcasing the dangerous situation they are in.

6

Revealing the Past

As they are held captive, Mandrake reveals that he knows about Alan's troubled past at a group home associated with abuse. Alan pleads his innocence, leading to a tense confrontation about the sins of the past.

7

Desperate Plea for Help

During a stop at a gas station, Alan attempts to send a covert plea for help to the attendant. However, Mandrake sees through this desperate move and brutally murders the attendant, further illustrating the escalating violence.

8

Alan's Ingenious Sabotage

In a moment of cleverness, Alan uses a nail to puncture one of the kidnappers' tires while pretending to recover from his injuries. This act of defiance demonstrates his determination to escape despite his physical condition.

9

Jill's Bold Attempt to Escape

In a moment of courage, Jill makes a daring attempt to escape from their captors. Sadly, she is quickly recaptured, reinforcing the dire stakes they are facing under the control of Mandrake and Tubs.

10

Alan's Forced Confession

Under Mandrake's pressure, Alan is compelled to confess his alleged complicity in the abuse at the group home. He recounts a traumatic incident involving a boy with a forced tattoo, which deeply unsettles Jill and creates emotional distance between them.

11

Jill's Desperate Leap

With her life in jeopardy, Jill makes the bold choice to leap into a river rather than return to her captors. This decision showcases her desperate will to survive, even as it leaves her fate uncertain.

12

Alan's Brief Escape

At a stop to fix the damaged tire, Alan manages a brief escape and attempts to flee with a group of teenagers. Unfortunately, Mandrake discovers him, resulting in another traumatic encounter that highlights the danger surrounding them.

13

Arrival at the Old Boarding School

The captors finally arrive at an old, dilapidated boarding school that holds significant memories for Mandrake and Tubs. The location becomes the site of tragic confrontations, forcing Alan to confront his painful past.

14

Confrontation and Revelation

Within the confines of the school, Alan faces his past demons, acknowledging failures and dark truths. In a shocking twist, Mandrake reveals he is not the tattooed boy Alan once knew, intensifying the horror of the moment.

15

Climactic Showdown

In a chaotic struggle, Mandrake shoots Alan in the chest, but Alan fights back fiercely, hitting Mandrake with a rock. Just as Mandrake seems ready to finish Alan off, Tubs unexpectedly shoots Mandrake, closing this violent chapter with a poignant moment of reflection.

Last Updated: November 03, 2024 at 13:58

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Coming Home in the Dark Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Coming Home in the Dark

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Coming Home in the Dark

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