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In the Name Of (2013) movie poster

Plot Summary

In the Name Of (2013) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2013 · 102 min · English
Directed by
Malgorzata Szumowska

A dedicated priest, Father Adam, lives a life of devotion in the Polish countryside, caring for troubled teenagers. However, he struggles with repressed desires and a hidden sexuality. The arrival of Lukasz, a mysterious newcomer, disrupts Adam's ordered world, challenging his faith and forcing him to confront long-buried secrets and the conflict between his spiritual calling and personal desires.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 What happens: full plot
  2. 2 Plot questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like In the Name Of
  5. 5 Every angle

Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in In the Name Of: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of In the Name Of (2013) 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.

Hazen Kaine, portrayed by Dominic Purcell, is a cold-hearted assassin ready to leave his life of crime behind. He takes on one final assignment involving a European royal family, tasked with kidnapping the two daughters. After successfully completing this mission, he finds the girls locked in a connex box. Upon closer inspection, he notices one of them wearing a charm necklace that closely resembles a tattoo he bears himself. As he takes the charm from the young girl, it unexpectedly opens a portal to the Middle Ages, leading him to the enchanted Kingdom of Ehb.

Once he arrives, Hazen quickly gathers his wits and sees that a nearby village is under siege from a terrifying, fire-breathing dragon. Reacting swiftly, he rushes to aid the villagers, but soon attracts the dragon's attention. As it bears down upon him, two courageous sisters, Arabella and Emeline, invite him into their home for refuge. It’s here that they introduce him to their shaman, who informs Hazen that he has been chosen to restore balance and bring order back to the troubled kingdom.

Realizing the depth of the chaos, Hazen recognizes that he must confront the malevolent King Tervon, played by Marian Valev, who has usurped control over the Kingdom of Ehb. Alongside the sisters, he rallies an army to march against Tervon's stronghold, only to find themselves ambushed by the king's relentless forces. Engaging in an intense battle, Hazen faces Tervon in a climactic duel, where he triumphantly defeats the tyrant. However, Hazen learns that the dragon's previous attack was orchestrated by Tervon himself, who attempts to flee after his defeat.

With Tervon vanquished, Hazen is now tasked with protecting good against the remnants of evil, including the formidable dragon. Together with Arabella, he finally storms Tervon's castle and, through sheer strength and valor, he kills the king with alarming ease. Realizing his responsibilities, Arabella urges Hazen to rescue the girls he had previously imprisoned. He travels back to the 21st century, but the dragon, now free from Tervon's control, follows him through the portal, threatening his life anew.

Amidst the chaos, Hazen encounters the very men who initially hired him, who are now intent on eliminating him as well. In a gripping confrontation, he fights to save the girls while battling the remaining henchmen. During this tumultuous escape, one henchman meets a grim fate as the dragon swoops down and carries him away to an unknown destination. With determination and courage, Hazen safely returns the girls to their family, and their father graciously allows him to leave without harm. In a poignant farewell, Hazen expresses his gratitude before walking away, leaving behind a legacy of bravery.

In the film's closing scene, a majestic sight unfolds as the dragon is seen soaring through the sky, a reminder of the extraordinary journey Hazen embarked upon and the adventures that lie ahead.

Last updated: November 04, 2024 at 01:23

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Plot questions answered

In the Name Of Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about In the Name Of (2013): 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 does taking the charm necklace open a portal to the Middle Ages?

The charm necklace bears a close resemblance to a tattoo that Hazen already carries on his body. When he removes the charm from the young girl, it triggers an unknown magical mechanism that opens a temporal portal, transporting him from the 21st century to the enchanted Kingdom of Ehb in the Middle Ages.

Foreshadowing: The summary notes that the charm 'closely resembles' his tattoo, suggesting a pre-existing magical connection.

  • charm necklace
  • tattoo
  • portal
  • time travel
  • magic
  • kingdom ehb
Q2

Why does the shaman say Hazen is chosen to restore balance in the kingdom?

The shaman reveals that Hazen has been 'chosen' by mystical forces to restore order to the troubled Kingdom of Ehb. This suggests that the magical realm selected him specifically - likely due to his unique combination of combat skills and the mysterious connection to the charm that brought him there.

  • shaman
  • chosen one
  • kingdom ehb
  • restore balance
  • magic
Q3

Why did King Tervon orchestrate the dragon attacks on the village?

King Tervon is described as a malevolent tyrant who has usurped control over the Kingdom of Ehb. The summary reveals that the dragon's attacks were part of Tervon's malevolent schemes - using the dragon as a weapon to terrorize the kingdom and maintain his tyrannical grip on power.

  • king tervon
  • dragon
  • tyrant
  • village attack
  • evil scheme
Q4

How does Hazen manage to defeat King Tervon in their duel?

Hazen confronts Tervon in a climactic duel and ultimately triumphs, defeating the tyrant. The summary emphasizes this as the turning point that ends Tervon's reign of terror over the kingdom.

  • hazen kaine
  • king tervon
  • duel
  • defeat tyrant
  • climax
Q5

Why does the dragon follow Hazen back through the portal to the present?

When Hazen travels back to the 21st century, the dragon - now freed from Tervon's control since the king's defeat - follows him through the portal. With Tervon dead, the dragon is no longer bound to the medieval kingdom and pursues Hazen into the modern world, creating new threats.

Foreshadowing: The summary notes the dragon was under Tervon's command, so his death releases the dragon.

  • dragon
  • portal
  • follows
  • hazen
  • present day
  • tervon dead
Q6

Why do the men who hired Hazen want to kill him after he returns?

The men who initially hired Hazen to kidnap the royal daughters turn against him upon his return. They now want to eliminate him, likely because he has failed to deliver the girls as promised and has potentially exposed their criminal operation through his unexpected time-travel adventure.

  • henchmen
  • employers
  • kidnap
  • turn against
  • hazen
Q7

How does Hazen survive the dragon attack while escaping with the girls?

During the chaotic escape, one henchman is snatched away by the dragon, but Hazen manages to fight through the danger and safely return the royal daughters to their family. The father's gratitude allows Hazen to leave peacefully, suggesting he survived through a combination of combat skills and the dragon's focus on other targets.

  • hazen
  • dragon
  • escape
  • girls
  • survive
  • royal family
Q8

Why does Hazen want to leave his life of crime behind?

The summary describes this as Hazen's 'final assignment' - indicating he deliberately chose this last job as his exit from the criminal underworld. His transformation from cold-hearted assassin to heroic protector of the kingdom and rescue of the girls represents his redemption arc and desire to leave his criminal past behind.

  • hazen kaine
  • assassin
  • redemption
  • leave crime
  • final job
Q9

Why does Arabella urge Hazen to rescue the girls he kidnapped?

Arabella recognizes that Hazen's original mission involved kidnapping the two royal daughters, and she urges him to make things right by rescuing them. This reflects her moral compass and desire for Hazen to complete his transformation from villain to hero.

  • arabella
  • girls
  • rescue
  • hazen
  • kidnap
  • redemption
Q10

What does the dragon flying in the closing scene signify?

The closing scene shows the dragon soaring majestically through the sky in the modern world. This serves as a visual reminder of Hazen's extraordinary adventure and hints at potential future storylines. The dragon's freedom in the present day suggests new adventures and challenges may lie ahead.

  • dragon
  • ending
  • scene
  • flying
  • future
  • adventure

Movie threads

More Movies Like In the Name Of, by Mood & Story

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

Clergy in Crisis dramas like In the Name Of

Stories about religious figures confronting faith-shattering personal and moral dilemmas. Explore movies like In the Name Of that focus on the internal battles of religious figures. If you were captivated by the story of a priest grappling with hidden desires, you'll find similar intense character studies here. These films offer a deep look into the collision of faith, duty, and personal truth.

  • introspective
  • tense
  • serious
  • contemplative
  • emotional conflict
  • psychological
  • Tone: tense, serious, contemplative
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a dedicated member of the clergy whose ordered world is disrupted by an internal or external force, forcing a confrontation with repressed aspects of their identity or belief system. The journey is introspective, marked by moments of doubt, temptation, and a painful search for reconciliation between their human nature and divine calling.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the psychological and spiritual unraveling of a religious protagonist. They share a tense, serious tone, a steady to slow pacing that allows for deep character exploration, and a high emotional intensity stemming from the fundamental conflict between spirit and flesh.

Movies about forbidden desires like In the Name Of

Tense dramas about hidden longings threatening a carefully constructed life. Discover films similar to In the Name Of that explore the theme of secret longings within restrictive settings. If you enjoyed the tense atmosphere of a hidden sexuality disrupting a priest's life, you'll appreciate these stories of concealed passions and the high stakes of their discovery.

  • tense
  • forbidden love
  • psychological
  • repressed desires
  • secretive
  • dramatic
  • Tone: tense, dramatic, psychological
  • Pacing: steady build, suspenseful
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives often unfold in isolated settings like religious institutions, remote communities, or rigid social structures. A protagonist who has built an identity on control and repression finds their stability shattered by an undeniable attraction or truth. The plot revolves around the escalating tension of concealment versus the desperate need for authenticity, leading to a climactic confrontation.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their central theme of clandestine passion and the psychological tension it creates. They share a consistently tense tone, a pacing that steadily builds unease, and a high intensity derived from the high-stakes personal conflict and the ever-present risk of exposure.

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Movies Like In the Name Of

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Every angle

In the Name Of (2013) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about In the Name Of 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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