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Hoax (2019) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 96 mins · English
Echo score 60
JustWatch #15,229
Directed by
Matt Allen
Starring
Brian Thompson, Shoshana Bush, Christopher Soren Kelly, Lauren Ashlyn O'Brien, Ryan Lee, Adrienne Barbeau

A team investigating a supposed wilderness disaster finds themselves facing a terrifying fight for survival. Led by a determined television producer and including a knowledgeable primate specialist, the group must confront the possibility that Bigfoot is real. The expedition quickly devolves into a desperate struggle against a mysterious and powerful force in the wild.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Hoax
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Hoax (2019)

Where can you watch Hoax? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Fawesome and Amazon Prime Video Free: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Hoax Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Hoax (2019) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Rick Paxton pitches a Bigfoot-based show

    In the wake of the Mountaineering Massacre, struggling film producer Rick Paxton approaches his former boss Roger Brannan and pitches turning the case into a TV hit. Brannan agrees to the project only if Paxton can bring credible proof first. The meeting kickstarts the hunt-for-proof storyline that frames Bigfoot as the culprit.

    When
    Some time after the massacre
    Where
    Brannan's office
  2. Paxton assembles a team and plans an expedition

    Paxton gathers a team to venture into the woods in search of evidence of Bigfoot. He brings Danny, cameraman Justin, vlogger Brigette, primate specialist Dr. Ellen, helicopter pilot Jonesy and his bulldog Ike, Sasquatch expert Peter, security John Singer, and Cooper, Alex's missing father. They set up a trail cam with bait and secretly add pheromones to attract animals, hoping to lure the cryptid into view.

    When
    Beginning of expedition
    Where
    Woods / camp site
  3. Peter checks the trail cam and is killed

    Peter checks the trail cam as instructed, hoping to capture evidence. An unseen creature strikes, killing him before anyone realizes what happened. His death raises the stakes and confirms the danger lurking in the woods.

    When
    Soon after setup
    Where
    Trail cam site
  4. A cave discovery and mysterious silhouette

    While searching for Peter, the group finds a cave with intestines hanging from the ceiling and a hairy shape visible on the camera footage. The unsettling discovery heightens the sense of danger and hints at something far more horrific than a bear attack. They struggle to interpret what they have just witnessed.

    When
    Soon after Peter's death
    Where
    Cave
  5. Brigette is attacked after pheromone lure

    Paxton secretly adds pheromones to Brigette's coat, hoping to draw the creature toward the group. The plan backfires as Brigette is attacked, breaking her ankle and derailing morale. The team debates evacuation versus continuing the mission.

    When
    After the cave discovery
    Where
    Camp
  6. Jonesy and Ike are killed at the helicopter

    Jonesy and Ike are attacked at the helicopter site by the unseen predator. Ike is ripped open, and Jonesy's skull is repeatedly bashed, a brutal demonstration of the creature's threat. The team loses key support and valuable equipment.

    When
    During the attack sequence
    Where
    Helicopter site
  7. Camp is damaged and a Bigfoot footprint is found

    The creature destroys Paxton's equipment around the camp and leaves a bloody paw print on Brigette, terrifying the remaining team. Later, the expedition discovers a large footprint in the ground that seems to belong to Bigfoot. The discovery confirms their fear and pushes them to press on.

    When
    Night / later that day
    Where
    Camp
  8. Danny learns the SAT Phone is destroyed and finds Jonesy's body

    Danny drives to the landing site to retrieve the SAT Phone, only to find it destroyed along with Jonesy's body. He glimpses the creature nearby, panics, and crashes his ATV, injuring himself and scaring the others. He limps back to camp to report what happened.

    When
    After the helicopter attack
    Where
    Landing site, then camp
  9. Survival talks and the night camp plan

    Back at the camp, Ellen and Justin tend to Danny's injuries while Singer asserts they should leave at first light if they want to survive. The looming fear of a nocturnal predator keeps everyone on edge as the night deepens.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Camp
  10. Night raid: Singer is killed; Cooper and Justin return to camp

    During the night, Cooper, Singer, and Justin sneak out to track the creature, only for Singer to be ambushed and killed. Cooper and Justin rush back to the camp to warn the others, realizing the danger is closing in. The siege culminates with the camp being overrun.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Woods then camp
  11. Paxton panics, shoots Brigette and Cooper, then flees

    Paxton, out of ammo and overwhelmed, runs into the woods as the creature closes in. In a panic, he fatally shoots Brigette and Cooper when they try to intervene, then disappears into the trees. He carries the pheromone-streaked bag as the cryptid looms nearby.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Camp / woods edge
  12. Ellen and Justin reach a cabin; Justin trapped; Charlotte takes Ellen inside

    Ellen and Justin stumble upon a cabin with parked cars after trying to help the injured Cooper. Justin's foot is caught in a bear trap, forcing Ellen to seek aid from the house's owner, Charlotte, who opens the door and knocks Ellen unconscious.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Cabin in woods
  13. Cannibal family reveals their trap; Justin killed; Ellen and Cooper captured

    Inside, Charlotte and her two insane sons, Luc and Gage, reveal themselves as cannibalistic killers who posed as monsters to misdirect suspicion. Luc drags Justin into a shed and clubs him to death, while Gage lures Ellen and Cooper into submission. The siblings' gruesome rituals are revealed as the family’s dark purpose.

    When
    Inside the cabin
    Where
    Cabin
  14. Ellen escapes and wreaks revenge inside the cabin

    Ellen frees herself, scalds Charlotte with hot water, and uses a frying pan to beat Gage to death. She then tries to flee in one of the family's cars, but crashes and triggers a 911 call as Charlotte attacks through the window. The escape marks a brutal turning point in Ellen's fight for survival.

    When
    Escape sequence
    Where
    Cabin / cars
  15. The real Bigfoot confronts Paxton

    While the human threats unfold in the cabin, Paxton has saved nothing and finds himself face-to-face with the real Bigfoot in the woods. With his ammo exhausted and the cryptid closing in, he fights for his life as the creature advances. The film ends on a grim confrontation between Paxton and the true monster.

    When
    Final confrontation
    Where
    Woods

Last updated: February 25, 2026 at 08:16

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Timeline questions answered

Hoax Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Hoax (2019): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Rick Paxton secretly put pheromones on Brigette's coat?

Paxton desperation drives him to use pheromones as bait to lure the creature toward the camera for proof of Bigfoot. Knowing Brigette was the most mobile team member walking around camp, he secretly applies the chemicals to her coat without her knowledge, hoping the animal attractant will draw the creature into view. This reckless decision directly leads to Brigette's brutal attack and broken ankle.

Foreshadowing: The team had already added pheromones to the trail camera bait earlier, establishing Paxton's willingness to use attractants.

  • rick paxton
  • brigette attack
  • pheromones
  • bait
  • lure creature
Q2

Who actually kills the team members in the woods?

The kills are split between two threats. Early deaths like Peter's and Jonesy's are caused by the real Bigfoot. However, the bulk of the attacks, including the campsite assault and Singer's death, are orchestrated by the cannibal family (Charlotte, Luc, and Gage) who have been posing as the Bigfoot creature to cover their human hunting operations.

Foreshadowing: Peter is killed checking the trail cam, but later the team finds a cave with intestines, hinting at human rather than animal behavior.

  • cannibal family
  • luc
  • gage
  • charlotte
  • kills
  • murders
  • bigfoot hoax
Q3

Why is the cannibal family pretending to be Bigfoot?

Charlotte and her sons Luc and Gage use Bigfoot costumes and sounds to deflect suspicion away from their hunting operation. By making the deaths look like creature attacks, they avoid investigation and continue their human hunting ritual undetected. The shaggy silhouettes on the camera and the creature sounds the team hears are all part of their disguise.

Foreshadowing: Peter is killed near the trail camera site but the creature is never clearly seen, suggesting a human perpetrator.

  • cannibal family
  • bigfoot costume
  • disguise
  • hunt humans
  • charlotte
  • luc gage
Q4

What does Cooper discover about his missing daughter Alex?

Cooper learns that his daughter Alex Barnes, who went missing during the original Mountaineering Massacre years earlier, was captured and killed by the cannibal family. When Gage boasts about their ritual, Cooper recognizes a long-dead figure as his missing daughter, confirming the family's involvement in her disappearance.

Foreshadowing: Cooper joined the expedition specifically to find answers about his daughter's disappearance.

  • cooper barnes
  • alex barnes
  • missing daughter
  • cannibal family
  • daughter death
Q5

Why does Rick Paxton shoot Brigette and Cooper?

Paxton suffers a complete mental breakdown when overwhelmed by fear and low ammunition. As the creature closes in during the camp siege, he panics and fires wildly, hitting Brigette accidentally and then shooting Cooper when he tries to intervene. Paxton then flees into the woods in a terrified stupor, abandoning the surviving team members.

Foreshadowing: Paxton's desperation and moral compromises throughout the expedition, especially his pheromone scheme, foreshadow his breakdown.

  • rick paxton
  • shooting
  • brigette
  • cooper
  • breakdown
  • panic
Q6

Why does Charlotte let Ellen in then attack her?

Charlotte's hospitality is a calculated trap. After Justin's foot gets caught in a bear trap outside, Ellen desperately seeks help from the cabin. Charlotte pretends to be a helpful survivor but immediately knocks Ellen unconscious upon entry, revealing the cabin is part of the cannibal family's hunting grounds, not a safe haven.

Foreshadowing: The cabin has multiple cars outside belonging to previous victims, which should have raised suspicion.

  • charlotte
  • cabin
  • ellen
  • trap
  • knockout
  • hospitality trap
Q7

How does Ellen escape from the cannibal family?

Ellen frees herself from the binding ropes, grabs a pot of scalding water and throws it on Charlotte, then uses a frying pan to bludgeon Gage to death. She flees in one of the family's victim cars, crashes while trying to escape, and the car's 911 system alerts authorities. Charlotte attacks through the car window before Ellen can fully escape.

Foreshadowing: Ellen is established as the primate expert, suggesting resourcefulness and survival knowledge.

  • ellen escape
  • frying pan
  • gage death
  • charlotte attack
  • car 911
  • cabin escape
Q8

What happens when Paxton encounters the real Bigfoot?

After the chaos at the cabin, Paxton wanders alone in the woods with no ammunition left. He finally comes face-to-face with the actual Bigfoot creature, the real animal that has been killing people throughout the film. With his gun empty and the cryptid advancing, the film ends on this grim confrontation, leaving his fate uncertain.

Foreshadowing: Earlier trail camera footage showed a shaggy silhouette, and Peter was killed at the camera site, suggesting a real creature exists.

  • real bigfoot
  • paxton final confrontation
  • cryptid
  • woods
  • ammo empty
Q9

What happens to Justin at the cabin?

Justin becomes trapped in a bear trap outside the cabin while trying to help Cooper and Ellen reach safety. When he calls out for help, Luc drags him into the shed and kills him with a club. His death occurs off-screen but is referenced when the family reveals their hunting rituals.

Foreshadowing: Justin is the cameraman whose footage drives the documentary angle of the expedition.

  • justin death
  • luc
  • cabin
  • shed
  • bear trap
  • killed
Q10

How does Singer die during the night raid?

Singer leads a night tracking mission with Cooper and Justin to find the creature. During the pursuit through the woods, Singer is ambushed and killed by the creature, the film implies it is the Bigfoot or one of the human attackers in costume. His death triggers the team's retreat back to camp.

Foreshadowing: Singer has been the security expert pushing for survival protocols throughout the expedition.

  • singer death
  • night raid
  • ambush
  • woods
  • tracker
  • killed

Movie threads

More Movies Like Hoax, by Mood & Story

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

Wilderness Horror movies with human monsters like Hoax

When the real terror in the wild is not a monster, but desperate people. If you liked Hoax, you'll appreciate these movies where the wilderness setting becomes a terrifying stage for human evil. Discover similar horror stories where survival hinges on outwitting people who have embraced their darkest instincts.

  • tense
  • brutal
  • paranoid
  • desperate
  • wilderness
  • cannibalism
  • Tone: dark, bleak, cynical
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These films typically begin with a journey or investigation into a remote location, often with an initial focus on a mythical or external threat. The narrative pivot reveals that the true antagonists are humans, often a group living in isolation, who pose a far more immediate and psychologically complex danger than any beast.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their core narrative twist and thematic focus: the horror of realizing that humanity itself can be the most savage predator. They share a bleak tone, high intensity, and explore themes of deception, savagery, and the thin veneer of civilization.

Found footage horror movies with psychological collapse like Hoax

First-person perspectives spiraling into terror and psychological collapse. Fans of Hoax's documentary-gone-wrong premise will find more tense, shaky-cam horror here. Explore movies that use the found footage style to create a sense of immediacy and chart a group's rapid psychological disintegration under extreme pressure.

  • found footage
  • claustrophobic
  • anxious
  • paranoid
  • brutal
  • psychological breakdown
  • Tone: tense, dark, anxious
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a team or individual documenting an event, which quickly escalates into unforeseen and uncontrollable horror. The filming device becomes a lifeline and a curse, capturing the group's disintegration, paranoia, and ultimate fate in a raw, immediate way.

Why they belong together: They share a specific visual style and narrative structure that amplifies tension and realism. The 'found footage' aesthetic creates claustrophobia and immediacy, while the fast-paced plot ensures a relentless slide from normalcy into utter devastation.

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Every angle

Hoax (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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