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Timeline

I Came By (2022) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2022 · 110 min · English
Echo score 53
JustWatch #27,896 3
Directed by
Babak Anvari
Starring
George MacKay, Kelly Macdonald, Hugh Bonneville, Antonio Aakeel, Gabriel Bisset-Smith, Kitty Lovett

A young street artist in London uses his art to target the wealthy elite. While seeking out a new subject, he discovers a disturbing secret about a prominent judge. This revelation triggers a dangerous series of events, exposing a web of deception and putting the artist and those close to him in grave peril as he fights to uncover the truth.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like I Came By
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch I Came By (2022)

Where can you watch I Came By? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Netflix and Netflix Standard: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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14 events in order · contains spoilers

I Came By Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of I Came By (2022) 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. Toby's Artistic Mission

    At just 23 years old, Toby Nealey embarks on his politically-charged mission as a graffiti artist. He targets affluent homes, explicitly leaving behind the provocative message, 'I CAME BY,' revealing his disdain for the elite.

  2. Intrusion at Blake's Home

    Toby's latest target is retired judge Hector Blake's residence, where he intends to expose the hypocrisy he perceives beneath Blake's socially conscious facade. During his break-in, Toby discovers a hidden pottery studio that hints at deeper secrets within the home.

    Where
    Hector Blake's residence
  3. Discovery of the Imprisoned Man

    While exploring Blake's home, Toby uncovers a man imprisoned in the basement. This shocking discovery amplifies Toby's determination to bring Blake's hidden life to light, heightening the stakes of his mission.

    Where
    Blake's basement
  4. Forced to Flee

    Toby's adventure takes a dangerous turn when Blake unexpectedly returns home, triggering the alarm system. Toby is compelled to flee the premises, narrowly escaping the confrontation, but with newfound urgency to expose Blake's true nature.

    Where
    Hector Blake's residence
  5. Seeking Help from Jay

    Desperate for assistance in revealing Blake's dark secret, Toby reaches out to his friend Jay. However, Jay is preoccupied with personal issues as he juggles supporting his pregnant girlfriend, Naz, making him less available to help Toby.

  6. Police Investigation

    Toby decides to inform the police anonymously about his discovery of the imprisoned man. Unfortunately, when officers investigate Blake's home, they find no evidence, as Blake manipulates the situation to appear innocent.

    Where
    Hector Blake's residence
  7. Conflict with Lizzie

    Tensions escalate between Toby and his mother, Lizzie, culminating in a heated argument. Feeling aimless and frustrated, Toby reminds Lizzie of her dependence on his father's legacy, leading to a dramatic rift between mother and son.

  8. Tragic Fate of Toby

    Determined to rescue the captive, Toby returns to Blake's home but is caught by Blake, who brutally attacks him with a cricket bat. This tragic confrontation results in Toby's demise as Blake disposes of his remains in a horrific manner.

    Where
    Hector Blake's residence
  9. Jay's Internal Struggle

    Following Toby's death, Jay grapples with his grief and guilt while trying to support his girlfriend, Naz. Despite his reluctance to involve himself further in criminal activities, he feels a compelling need to honor his friend's legacy.

  10. Lizzie's Determination

    Driven by the desire for justice, Lizzie starts tailing Blake, uncovering more about his sinister past and intentions. This investigation leads her to witness Blake's interaction with a man named Omid, an asylum seeker in desperate need of help.

  11. Omid's Escape and Blake's Retaliation

    After Lizzie observes the unfolding situation, Omid manages to escape Blake's clutches. However, Blake's retaliation is brutal and immediate, resulting in Omid's senseless murder, further entrenching Lizzie's plight.

  12. Lizzie's Final Attempt

    In a desperate move to confront Blake, Lizzie seeks Jay's help but ends up deciding to infiltrate Blake's home alone. Unfortunately, this choice leads to a dire outcome, as she becomes yet another victim of Blake's violent tendencies.

    Where
    Hector Blake's residence
  13. Jay's Confrontation with Blake

    Motivated by grief and the urge for justice, Jay tracks Blake to a secluded celebration event. The confrontation between the two escalates into violence, allowing Jay to free the prisoner Toby had previously discovered.

    Where
    Birlstone School's tercentenary celebration
  14. Aftermath of the Confrontation

    Once the police arrive, they find Blake bound and beaten in the aftermath of the fight with Jay. The scene starkly contrasts with the haunting message left behind on the wall—Jay's final mark echoing Toby's earlier mission, 'I CAME BY.'

Last updated: November 15, 2024 at 19:02

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Timeline questions answered

I Came By Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of I Came By (2022): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Toby choose to target Hector Blake's home?

Toby selected Blake because he believed the retired judge was a hypocrite. While Blake publicly took on pro-bono cases for immigrants, Toby noticed his colonial family lineage and collection of ivory antiques, viewing these as signs of underlying corruption and exploitation of the elite system.

  • toby
  • hector blake
  • graffiti
  • hypocrisy
  • elite
Q2

What did Toby discover in Blake's basement?

During his break-in, Toby discovered a hidden basement prison where Blake was keeping a man captive. This revealed that beneath Blake's socially conscious public image lay a dark secret, his involvement in kidnapping and imprisoning vulnerable people.

  • toby
  • basement
  • prisoner
  • captivity
  • discovery
Q3

Why didn't the police find anything when they investigated Blake's home?

When Toby anonymously reported his discovery, the police investigated but found no evidence. Blake had disguised sounds from the basement as washing machine malfunctions, and he used his connections and status as a retired judge to manipulate the investigation, making it appear nothing was wrong.

  • police
  • investigation
  • basement
  • cover-up
  • hector blake
Q4

What happened to Toby at Blake's house?

Toby returned to Blake's home to rescue the captive man, but Blake arrived early and caught him. Blake attacked Toby with a cricket bat, then cremated his body in a kiln and flushed the ashes down the toilet, eliminating all evidence of the murder.

Foreshadowing: Toby's intrusion triggered the alarm system, alerting Blake and setting the deadly chain of events in motion.

  • toby
  • death
  • hector blake
  • murder
  • cricket bat
Q5

Why was Jay reluctant to help Toby with his mission?

Jay was preoccupied with supporting his pregnant girlfriend Naz, who had been disowned by her parents. Taking on this responsibility made Jay reluctant to engage in illegal activities that could jeopardize his ability to care for his growing family, leading him to decline Toby's request for help.

  • jay
  • naz
  • pregnant
  • responsibility
  • toby
Q6

Why did Lizzie go to Blake's house alone?

After learning that Jay was involved in Toby's graffiti activities through evidence she found, Lizzie asked for his help to infiltrate Blake's home. When Jay hesitated due to his criminal background and new fatherhood responsibilities, Lizzie decided to go alone, ultimately falling into Blake's hands.

  • lizzie
  • blake
  • infiltration
  • alone
  • death
Q7

What was Blake's traumatic backstory?

Lizzie discovered that Blake's father had a lover, and when Blake's mother learned of the affair, she committed suicide. In retaliation, Blake attacked his father's lover with extreme violence, explaining his deep-seated trauma and propensity for preying on vulnerable people like asylum seekers.

  • blake
  • backstory
  • trauma
  • father
  • suicide
  • asylum seekers
Q8

How did Jay finally confront Blake at the end?

After learning that Blake would attend the Birlstone School's tercentenary celebration, Jay followed him to the secluded estate. During their confrontation, Jay discovered and freed the same prisoner Toby had found earlier. When police arrived, they found Blake bound and beaten, with Jay's final message "I CAME BY" written on the wall.

Foreshadowing: Jay had earlier planted a letter in Toby's room that led police to revisit Blake's home, where they found the basement prison.

  • jay
  • blake
  • confrontation
  • prisoner
  • escape
  • i came by
Q9

Who was Omid and what happened to him?

Omid was a gay Iranian asylum seeker whom Blake had promised help securing UK residency. Instead, Blake was using him as another victim. When Lizzie witnessed their encounter and learned of Blake's true nature, Omid managed to escape temporarily, but Blake tracked him down and murdered him to prevent exposure.

  • omid
  • asylum seeker
  • iran
  • blake
  • murder
Q10

What does the phrase "I Came By" mean in the film?

"I CAME BY" was the provocative message Toby left after each graffiti attack on elite homes, symbolizing that he had visited and exposed their hypocrisy. Jay continued this message at the end, leaving it on Blake's wall as a haunting reminder of Toby's mission and the tragic events that unfolded while trying to expose hidden evil.

  • i came by
  • graffiti
  • message
  • toby
  • jay
  • expose

Movie threads

More Movies Like I Came By, by Mood & Story

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

Thrillers about exposing powerful evil like I Came By

Rebellious outsiders discover the dark hypocrisy of the powerful elite. If you liked the tension of I Came By, you'll appreciate these movies where ordinary people find themselves pitted against a corrupt and powerful elite. These stories often involve a dangerous investigation, a fight for justice, and a grim exploration of moral hypocrisy in high places.

  • tense
  • suspenseful
  • grim
  • anxious
  • paranoid
  • uneasy
  • Tone: dark, tense, grim
  • Pacing: steady, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically begins with an accidental or deliberate discovery that challenges the respectable facade of a powerful figure. This triggers a cat-and-mouse game where the protagonist, often an underdog, must gather evidence and survive while the antagonist uses their resources to silence them. The journey is one of escalating peril and moral conviction.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their core conflict: the lone truth-seeker versus the entrenched, corrupt system. They share a dark tone, high intensity, and a focus on the tension that arises from challenging authority and exposing hidden sins.

Thrillers with a bittersweet cost of justice like I Came By

Stories where uncovering the truth comes at a devastating personal cost. For viewers who appreciated the heavy emotional weight and bittersweet ending of I Came By, this thread collects movies where the pursuit of truth leads to a pyrrhic victory. These films are characterized by high tension, tragic losses, and an ending that feels more somber than triumphant.

  • tragic
  • tense
  • suspenseful
  • grim
  • heavy
  • bittersweet
  • Tone: dark, tragic, suspenseful
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot follows a determined investigation or pursuit that exacts a heavy toll on the protagonist and their allies. Key characters often perish or are irrevocably damaged in the process. While the central goal—exposing a villain, solving a crime—is achieved, the conclusion is permeated with sadness and the sobering reality of the price paid.

Why they belong together: This thread unites films based on their shared emotional journey and narrative outcome: a blend of suspenseful action and profound tragedy, culminating in an ending that is both conclusive and deeply sorrowful. The focus is on the high cost of righteousness.

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Movies Like I Came By

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Every angle

I Came By (2022) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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