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Timeline

In the Shadow of the Moon (2019) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 115 min · English
Echo score 48
JustWatch #16,335 6
Directed by
Jim Mickle
Starring
Rachel Keller, Bokeem Woodbine, Michael C. Hall, Boyd Holbrook, Sarah Dugdale, Al Maini

When a serial killer terrorizes Philadelphia, reappearing every nine years, Officer Thomas Lockhart becomes obsessed with catching him. His relentless pursuit of justice consumes him, leading him to sacrifice everything. As he delves deeper into the investigation, the truth becomes increasingly complex, and Lockhart's sanity begins to unravel, blurring the line between reality and obsession.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like In the Shadow of the Moon
  6. 6 Categories
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch In the Shadow of the Moon (2019)

Where can you watch In the Shadow of the Moon? 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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15 events in order · contains spoilers

In the Shadow of the Moon Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of In the Shadow of the Moon (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. Mysterious Deaths in 1988

    In 1988, a chilling wave of mysterious incidents breaks out in Philadelphia as individuals suffer horrific hemorrhages and fatal blood loss. Multiple victims are found with identical puncture wounds, prompting a frantic investigation by local authorities.

    When
    1988
    Where
    Philadelphia
  2. Investigation Begins

    Police officer Thomas Lockhart, along with his partner Maddox and brother-in-law Detective Holt, launches an inquiry into the gruesome killings. They find evidence of an unstable isotope injected into the victims, raising more questions than answers.

    Where
    Philadelphia
  3. Encounter with the Assault Victim

    Lockhart and Maddox encounter a woman who has been assaulted and bears the same injuries as the victims. Before succumbing to a hemorrhage, she provides a chilling description of her attacker, setting the stage for a tense manhunt.

    Where
    Philadelphia
  4. Confrontation with the Suspect

    In a dramatic scene, Lockhart and Maddox confront the suspect, a woman with intimate knowledge of Lockhart's life. She foreshadows her own fate, leading to a shocking struggle that results in her tragic death on train tracks.

    Where
    Philadelphia
  5. Personal Tragedy Strikes

    Following the chaotic events, Lockhart faces unbearable personal tragedy as his wife dies during childbirth. This loss leaves a deep emotional scar, compounding the woes he struggles with from the investigation.

  6. Resurgence of Killings in 1997

    Fast forward to 1997, and a new series of killings mirror the horrific events from 1988, prompting Lockhart, now a detective, to reopen the investigation. He finds himself grappling with the lack of connections among the new victims.

    When
    1997
  7. Discovery of Past Evidence

    While revisiting the clues from the earlier incidents, Lockhart uncovers shocking camera footage of the original suspect, which creates renewed urgency. This revelation leads him to theorize the possibility of time travel.

  8. Second Encounter with the Suspect

    Lockhart's investigation leads him to a confrontation at an airfield with the same suspect, who unexpectedly ends Maddox's life. This shocking turn forces Lockhart to further delve into the enigma surrounding the time-bending events.

    Where
    Airfield
  9. Isolation and Obsession by 2006

    By 2006, Lockhart's obsession with the unresolved case has grown, leading him to become a private investigator. His fixation causes a rift between him and his daughter Amy, who has moved in with Holt.

    When
    2006
  10. Connection to Militia

    Lockhart meets with Arlene, the wife of a recently uncovered victim, who reveals her husband was involved with a white nationalist militia. This information prompts Lockhart to connect the dots to the murders spanning different years.

  11. The Time-Travel Theory

    Lockhart presents his theory about a time-traveling killer targeting militia members in reverse order to Holt, but his ideas are met with ridicule. Undeterred, Lockhart takes significant risks to pursue justice.

  12. Chase and Injury

    In his relentless pursuit of the suspect, Lockhart manages to wound her during another frantic chase. This encounter leads him to uncover a hidden time machine, further complicating the tangled web of his investigation.

  13. Reunion with Rya in 2015

    Fast forward to 2015, Lockhart awaits a fateful meeting at the beach, where he ultimately reunites with his granddaughter Rya. The moment is filled with emotional weight as they confront the implications of her dangerous mission.

    When
    2015
    Where
    Beach
  14. Rya's Mission Revealed

    Rya reveals her objective to prevent a catastrophic civil war instigated by her former allies. Overwhelmed by his realization of her perilous path, Lockhart experiences a whirlwind of emotions as he tries to persuade her against it.

  15. Sequel of Events in 2042

    In the year 2042, the fatal injections executed by Rao target Rya's former adversaries, leading to tragic consequences for Rya. This resonates through the timeline, as the cycle of violence continues, and Lockhart's family grapples with the aftermath.

    When
    2042

Last updated: November 15, 2024 at 15:53

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Timeline questions answered

In the Shadow of the Moon Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

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

Q1

Why does the killer target white nationalist militia members?

The killer, Rya, targets members of a white nationalist militia because they are planning a catastrophic civil war in the future. She kills them in reverse chronological order (starting from 1988 and moving forward) to prevent this disaster. Each victim was either directly involved in or connected to the militia group that would eventually trigger the civil war.

Foreshadowing: The 1988 victims are later revealed to be connected to the white nationalist militia through Arlene's revelation in 2006.

  • militia
  • white nationalist
  • killings
  • motive
  • civil war
  • time travel killer
Q2

How does time travel work in the movie?

The technology is developed by physicist Naveen Rao in the future. He creates a time machine and provides the unstable isotope that Rya uses in her killings. The time machine allows Rya to travel back to different years (1988, 1997, 2006, 2015), but her mission is one-way, she cannot return to her own time after completing it.

Foreshadowing: In 1997, Lockhart discovers camera footage of the suspect from 1988, leading him to theorize about time travel before meeting Rao.

  • time travel
  • time machine
  • isotope
  • rao
  • physics
Q3

Who is the woman with the wounded hand?

The woman is Rya, Thomas Lockhart's granddaughter. She travels back in time from the future to carry out her mission. During her confrontation with Lockhart in 1988, she knows intimate details about his life because she is his family, specifically, she is his daughter Amy's daughter.

Foreshadowing: In the 1988 confrontation, the woman mentions Lockhart's wife being pregnant, hinting at her knowledge of family details.

  • rya
  • granddaughter
  • lockhart family
  • attacker
  • suspect
Q4

Why does Rya kill in reverse chronological order?

Rya kills the militia members in reverse chronological order, starting with those who would die in 1988 and moving forward through time. This approach ensures that by the time the final targets are eliminated in the late 2000s/early 2010s, the causal chain is broken. Killing them earlier in the timeline before they can form the militia prevents the civil war from ever happening.

Foreshadowing: Lockhart notices the victims seem unconnected initially, but later realizes they are linked through the militia.

  • reverse order
  • killing timeline
  • militia members
  • causal chain
Q5

What happens to Rya at the end of the movie?

In 2042, Rao executes the fatal injections on Rya's former militia enemies, which erases Rya from existence. However, the timeline resets, Lockhart is shown in 2015 holding baby Rya, his granddaughter, with the charm bracelet she gave him. This indicates the future has changed and Rya now exists, though the reset timeline suggests her mission was completed.

Foreshadowing: Rya tells Lockhart her mission is one-way and cannot be stopped once she begins.

  • rya death
  • timeline reset
  • charm bracelet
  • granddaughter
  • future
Q6

Why does Lockhart's wife die during childbirth?

Lockhart's wife dies during childbirth shortly after the 1988 confrontation with Rya. The movie presents this as a tragic personal loss that compounds the trauma from the investigation. Her death is not directly caused by the time travel plot but serves as the pivotal personal tragedy that drives Lockhart's obsession with the case throughout the decades.

Foreshadowing: The assault victim in 1988 foreshadows this by knowing Lockhart's wife is pregnant.

  • wife death
  • childbirth
  • amy
  • lockhart family loss
Q7

What is the unstable isotope used in the killings?

The unstable isotope is the key component that enables the time travel technology. Developed by Rao in the future, it is injected into the victims' vertebrae and causes the fatal hemorrhages. The isotope serves dual purposes: it kills the targets and is connected to the time machine's operation. Rao provides this technology to Rya to power her mission.

Foreshadowing: Toxicology tests in 1988 reveal an unknown isotope, creating an early mystery that connects to the time travel reveal.

  • isotope
  • injection
  • hemorrhage
  • time travel technology
  • rao
Q8

What is Rao's role in the killings?

Naveen Rao is a physicist who develops the time travel technology and the fatal isotope. He supports Rya's mission by providing the equipment and justifying the killings as necessary to prevent a future catastrophe. However, in 2042, Rao betrays her, he executes the injections on the remaining targets, which paradoxically erases Rya from existence, though this action also prevents the civil war.

Foreshadowing: Rao charges Lockhart with time travel theories in 1997, establishing his scientific expertise.

  • rao
  • physicist
  • time travel
  • isotope
  • betrayal
  • technology
Q9

Why does Rya reveal her identity to Lockhart?

Rya reveals herself to Lockhart on the beach in 2015 because he is her grandfather and she wants him to understand why she must complete her mission. She hopes he might accept her reasoning, but she also acknowledges the impossible position it puts him in. The revelation is emotionally devastating for Lockhart, forcing him to confront that his lifelong pursuit has been hunting his own granddaughter.

Foreshadowing: The 1988 confrontation plants seeds of connection through her intimate knowledge of Lockhart's life.

  • rya identity
  • beach scene
  • grandfather
  • family reveal
  • emotional confrontation
Q10

What is the significance of the charm bracelet?

The charm bracelet is Rya's final gift to Lockhart before she departs on her one-way mission. She leaves it behind so he will remember her. In the reset timeline, the bracelet serves as the key visual element that confirms to Lockhart that the baby he is holding in 2015 is indeed his granddaughter Rya, the timeline has changed but she now exists.

Foreshadowing: Rya removes the bracelet and gives it to Lockhart as a parting gift, calling it something to remember her by.

  • charm bracelet
  • family
  • keepsake
  • timeline reset
  • rya baby
Q11

How does Lockhart's obsession affect his family?

Lockhart's obsession with catching the time-traveling killer consumes his life and destroys his relationship with his daughter Amy. By 2006, Amy has moved in with Holt (her uncle) because of her father's detachment. His single-minded pursuit costs him decades with his family, though the reset timeline at the end suggests he gets a chance to make amends.

Foreshadowing: The timeline shows Lockhart growing increasingly isolated from Amy from 1997 onward.

  • amy
  • family
  • obsession
  • divorce
  • holt
  • daughter relationship
Q12

Why can't Lockhart stop Rya from completing her mission?

Lockhart cannot stop Rya because her mission is one-way, once she begins traveling through time to kill the militia members, she cannot return to her own time. Additionally, he is emotionally paralyzed by the revelation that she is his granddaughter. While he pleads with her to stop, Rya is resolute that preventing the civil war justifies her sacrifice.

Foreshadowing: Rya explicitly tells Lockhart her mission is one-way during their beach confrontation.

  • stop rya
  • mission
  • one way
  • cannot return
  • sacrifice

Movie threads

More Movies Like In the Shadow of the Moon, by Mood & Story

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

Obsessive Detective Stories like In the Shadow of the Moon

Stories where a character's relentless pursuit leads to psychological ruin. If you were captivated by the decades-spanning obsession in In the Shadow of the Moon, you'll find similar movies here. These stories feature protagonists whose relentless pursuit of a goal fractures their reality, leading to gripping psychological thrillers and dark crime dramas where the cost of the quest is often sanity itself.

  • obsessive
  • paranoid
  • gripping
  • tragic
  • suspenseful
  • psychological
  • Tone: dark, paranoid, tragic
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow a linear or non-linear progression where the protagonist's initial dedication to a case or goal transforms into a harmful fixation. As they delve deeper, their grip on reality weakens, relationships deteriorate, and the film explores the dark psychological toll of an unyielding obsession.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared focus on a character's psychological disintegration fueled by a singular, consuming goal. They create a similar viewing experience of suspense, tragedy, and a deep dive into a fractured mind, often with a dark tone and heavy emotional weight.

Mind-Bending Time Travel Thrillers like In the Shadow of the Moon

Narratives where time travel creates inescapable, bittersweet cycles of sacrifice. For viewers who enjoyed the complex time paradox and tragic revelations of In the Shadow of the Moon, this section features similar sci-fi mysteries. These films explore fate, sacrifice, and existential dread through non-linear narratives, offering gripping and emotionally heavy stories where changing the past has dire consequences.

  • mind-bending
  • tragic
  • suspenseful
  • melancholic
  • futile
  • existential
  • Tone: dark, mind-bending, melancholic
  • Pacing: steady, puzzle-like
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread often feature a non-linear structure that reveals a painful truth: the protagonist's efforts to alter events are part of a predestined loop. The plot unfolds to show that victory comes at a great personal cost, challenging concepts of free will and culminating in a emotionally complex ending.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their use of time manipulation to tell inherently tragic and thought-provoking stories. They share a high-concept complexity, a dark and suspenseful mood, and an ending that feels bittersweet due to the heavy sacrifices made within the paradoxical narrative.

If you liked this

Movies Like In the Shadow of the Moon

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Categories

Movie Lists Featuring In the Shadow of the Moon

In the Shadow of the Moon appears in these hand-built movie categories. Each one groups movies by a specific mood, theme or story type, with their plot summaries and endings explained.

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Every angle

In the Shadow of the Moon (2019) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about In the Shadow of the Moon in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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