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Contracted: Phase II (2015) movie poster

Plot Summary

Contracted: Phase II (2015) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2015 · 78 min · English
JustWatch #25,930 6
Directed by
Josh Forbes

A man struggles to contain a rapidly spreading virus that is physically transforming him and threatening to unleash a devastating outbreak. He fights to understand the nature of the infection and its origins, desperately seeking a way to stop its progression and prevent further harm to those around him, all while battling the loss of his own humanity.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Contracted: Phase II
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Contracted: Phase II (2015)

Where can you watch Contracted: Phase II? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on AMC+, Philo and Sundance Now: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Contracted: Phase II: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Contracted: Phase II (2015) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

As the aftermath of the previous film continues to haunt him, Riley (Matt Mercer) is tormented by the same symptoms that once plagued Samantha (Najarra Townsend). His desperate search for answers leads him down a harrowing path. With loved ones, including his grandmother Margie, Harper, and his pregnant sister Brenda, already victims of the devastating virus, Riley sets out on a relentless mission to locate BJ (Morgan Peter Brown), the originator of the infection, in hopes of finding a cure.

Unbeknownst to Riley, BJ harbors his own secret agenda. Immune to the virus, he cunningly spreads the infection with a cold, calculated ferocity, taking advantage of vulnerable victims through intimate encounters. He injects them with the lethal pathogen, sending them back into society unaware of the danger they're carrying.

As Riley joins forces with Detective Crystal Young (Marianna Palka), he finds his condition deteriorating and ultimately succumbs to the virus. In a shocking turn of events, BJ makes an appearance at the hospital where Riley lay on the brink of death, intent on setting off a bomb to trigger a devastating pandemic among the already infected patients. Just when it seems that all hope is lost, Riley’s shocking transformation into a zombie escalates, and he lunges at BJ. However, in a tense climax, Detective Young intervenes and shoots Riley to prevent him from causing further chaos.

In a haunting mid-credits scene, we see BJ, although severely injured, defying the odds and alive in a hospital bed. A shadowy doctor, marked with an Abaddon tattoo eerily resembling BJ's own symbol, leans in close, whispering ominously: > "Very soon, my friend, very soon." This chilling exchange suggests a far darker destiny looms for the world, hinting at apocalyptic horrors yet to come.

Last updated: November 21, 2024 at 13:27

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Plot questions answered

Contracted: Phase II Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Contracted: Phase II (2015): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why is Riley searching for BJ in Contracted: Phase II?

Riley searches for BJ because BJ is the originator of the virus that has already killed his grandmother Margie, infected his sister Brenda, and affected his friend Harper. Riley hopes to find BJ and force him to reveal a cure or antidote for the devastating infection.

Foreshadowing: Riley's desperation is fueled by watching Samantha endure the same symptoms in the first film, which the timeline describes as haunting him.

  • riley
  • bj
  • search
  • cure
  • infection
  • virus
Q2

How is BJ immune to the virus in Contracted: Phase II?

The film reveals that BJ is immune to the virus, though the exact reason is never explained. This immunity allows him to deliberately spread the infection to others without suffering any consequences himself, making him a cold and calculated serial infector.

  • bj
  • immune
  • virus
  • infection
  • originator
Q3

How does BJ spread the infection in Contracted: Phase II?

BJ spreads the virus through intimate encounters with vulnerable victims. He deliberately targets people, injects them with the pathogen, and sends them back into society unaware that they are now carriers of the deadly infection.

Foreshadowing: The timeline describes BJ as exploiting intimate encounters, showing his manipulation of trust.

  • bj
  • spread
  • infection
  • inject
  • virus
  • transmission
Q4

Why does BJ want to set off a bomb at the hospital?

BJ plans to detonate a bomb at the hospital to trigger a massive pandemic. With Riley and other infected patients already in the facility, BJ intends to use the explosion to spread the virus to even more victims, accelerating his goal of causing a devastating outbreak.

Foreshadowing: BJ's character is established as remorseless and driven by sinister motives from the moment his deception is revealed.

  • bj
  • bomb
  • hospital
  • pandemic
  • infection
  • outbreak
Q5

Why does Riley become a zombie in Contracted: Phase II?

Riley succumbs to the virus despite his search for a cure. As his condition deteriorates at the hospital, he undergoes a terrifying transformation into a zombie, driven by the virus's lethal influence. This marks the complete loss of his humanity as the infection takes full control.

Foreshadowing: Riley experiences the same symptoms that plagued Samantha in the original film, following the same progression toward physical deterioration.

  • riley
  • zombie
  • transformation
  • virus
  • infection
  • deterioration
Q6

Why does Detective Young shoot Riley at the end?

Detective Young shoots Riley because he has already transformed into a zombie and is lunging at BJ to attack. With Riley completely overtaken by the virus and posing a threat to everyone in the hospital, she makes the difficult choice to kill him and prevent further chaos.

Foreshadowing: The virus progressively takes over Riley's body throughout the film, making his transformation inevitable.

  • detective young
  • riley
  • shoot
  • zombie
  • death
  • kill
Q7

Is BJ dead after being attacked by Riley?

BJ is not dead. Despite being severely injured by Riley's zombie attack, the mid-credits scene reveals him alive in a hospital bed. This sets up the sequel teaser, suggesting he survives the confrontation despite his injuries.

Foreshadowing: The mid-credits scene arrives as a shocking revelation after Riley's attack, immediately subverting expectations of BJ's death.

  • bj
  • alive
  • injured
  • hospital
  • survive
  • attack
Q8

What does the doctor mean in the mid-credits scene?

The shadowy doctor whispers to BJ that 'very soon' something is coming, hinting at a larger conspiracy and suggesting an apocalyptic sequel. The doctor's Abaddon tattoo, which resembles BJ's own symbol, indicates BJ has powerful allies and that the outbreak is part of a much larger plan.

Foreshadowing: The Abaddon symbol connects the doctor to BJ, suggesting their relationship predates the events of the film.

  • doctor
  • mid-credits
  • abaddon
  • sequel
  • dark destiny
  • conspiracy
Q9

What is the Abaddon symbol in Contracted: Phase II?

The Abaddon symbol is a tattooed marking worn by both BJ and the shadowy doctor in the mid-credits scene. It appears to be a symbol associated with the conspiracy behind the virus, suggesting BJ is part of a larger organization or movement related to the outbreak.

  • abaddon
  • symbol
  • tattoo
  • doctor
  • conspiracy
  • organization
Q10

Why does Riley get infected if he's looking for a cure?

Riley becomes infected despite searching for a cure because BJ deliberately spreads the virus to anyone he encounters. As Riley gets closer to BJ and investigates his methods, he likely becomes a target of BJ's intentional infection scheme, being injected and sent back into society as a carrier.

Foreshadowing: BJ's pattern of infecting victims through intimate encounters and sending them back into the world means Riley was always at risk as he pursued him.

  • riley
  • infected
  • bj
  • cure
  • spread
  • victim

Movie threads

More Movies Like Contracted: Phase II, by Mood & Story

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

Movies about desperate viral outbreaks like Contracted: Phase II

Stories of frantic races to contain a terrifying, world-ending pathogen. If you enjoyed the frantic race against a gruesome infection in Contracted: Phase II, you'll find similar movies here. These stories focus on pandemics, body horror, and characters fighting to contain a terrifying pathogen before it leads to societal collapse.

  • anxious
  • desperate
  • grim
  • body horror
  • tense
  • pandemic
  • Tone: dark, bleak, tense
  • Pacing: fast, frantic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow a linear, cause-and-effect structure where a character or group discovers a horrific virus and must act swiftly to prevent a global catastrophe. The journey is a desperate investigation against the clock, often involving conspiracies and irreversible physical transformation.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a high-intensity, fast-paced viral outbreak scenario. They deliver a similar vibe of claustrophobic dread, graphic body horror, and a bleak outlook on humanity's fragility in the face of a biological threat.

Movies with bleak body horror and loss of humanity like Contracted: Phase II

Tales of gruesome physical decay and the terrifying loss of humanity. For viewers who liked the gruesome physical decay and tragic arc in Contracted: Phase II, this section features similar movies. These stories explore body horror, the loss of one's identity, and often culminate in a devastatingly bleak conclusion for the protagonist.

  • body horror
  • unsettling
  • grim
  • desperate
  • loss of humanity
  • tragic
  • Tone: dark, unsettling, tragic
  • Pacing: steady, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows a character's gradual, horrific physical metamorphosis, which is both a source of visceral terror and a metaphor for a deeper loss of self. The story is a downward spiral, charting the protagonist's desperate but futile struggle against their own deteriorating body and mind.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their core theme of body horror and the emotional heaviness of a protagonist losing their humanity. They share a dark tone, high intensity from graphic physical change, and a consistently bleak, unsettling mood.

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Every angle

Contracted: Phase II (2015) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Contracted: Phase II 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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