Jennifer

Jennifer

Year: 1978

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: Brice Mack

Horror

Rejected by her elite boarding school peers because of her rural, impoverished background, a scholarship student endures relentless bullying that drives her to desperate vengeance. Using her unique psychic ability to command snakes, she turns the terror she endures into a deadly retaliation.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Jennifer (1978)

Trace every key event in Jennifer (1978) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

7-year-old incident and exile

When Jennifer was seven, the snakes she handled killed the town preacher's son, revealing the dangerous extent of her power. The scandal forces her family to leave West Virginia and start over elsewhere. Luke, her father, is mentally disabled and Bible-obsessed, and Jennifer becomes his guardian as they move to California.

Age 7 West Virginia (origin) and California
2

Relocation and Luke's life in California

Jennifer and Luke relocate to California, where Luke runs a pet store and relies on her to manage daily life. Jennifer continues her studies with a scholarship while hoping to keep her abilities hidden. Luke often encourages her to use her power again, despite the danger it might bring.

After move California
3

Enrollment at Green View School

Jennifer enters Green View School on scholarship and immediately feels like an outsider among the wealthy students. The headmistress, Mrs. Calley, shields the privilege class and keeps tensions under wraps. Her only real friends are Martha, the lunch lady, and Jeff Reed, the one teacher who sees through the corruption.

Start of term Green View School
4

Sandra Tremayne’s cheating exposure

Jennifer exposes Sandra Tremayne for stealing exam answers, triggering Sandra's fury. Although Sandra's father, a U.S. senator, makes a large donation to the school and avoids consequences, Jennifer becomes a target of pranks and harassment. The bullying escalates as Sandra hopes to push Jennifer to transfer.

Early in term Green View School
5

Jane challenges the cruelty

Jane, an overweight student on the fringe of Sandra's circle, speaks out against the cruelty toward Jennifer. Her protest risks her alliance with Sandra, placing her in the middle of the social storm. The school climate grows tense as the conflict deepens.

During early bullying period Green View School
6

Locker room incident and pool humiliation

After finishing her shift in the cafeteria, Jennifer showers in an empty gym locker room. Sandra and friends steal her clothing, hanging them on pipes in the pool room. When Jennifer climbs a ladder to retrieve her belongings, Dayton snaps a flashbulb photo, causing her to fall into the pool.

Afternoon Gym locker room and pool area
7

Dayton rapes Jane in an elevator

Dayton corners Jane in an elevator and, knowing she is attracted to him, rapes her. The assault reveals the brutality of the cruelty Jennifer faces, further motivating her to act. The incident compounds the tension within the campus's toxic dynamic.

Shortly after the locker incident Elevator
8

Kitten killed and hung in Jennifer’s locker

That night, Sandra buys a kitten from Jennifer's father's pet store, then kills it and hangs the dead animal inside Jennifer's locker. The act shatters any remaining control Jennifer had over her fear and prompts her to finally reclaim power.

That night Jennifer's locker, Green View School
9

Jennifer embraces snakes and confronts Jane

That night, Jennifer invokes a swarm of snakes, signaling a dramatic shift in her personality. She confronts Jane about Sandra's crime, forging an alliance that positions them against their tormentors. The plan marks a turning point as Jennifer embraces her power more openly.

That night Green View School / pet store
10

Planning retaliation with Jane

Jennifer and Jane agree to retaliate against Dayton and confront the group that has tormented them. They begin to plot a response, setting the stage for a reckoning. The school remains a pressure cooker as their plan forms.

After confrontation Green View School area
11

Nighttime kidnapping and rooftop attack

During a nighttime kidnapping, Sandra abducts Jennifer from her home and drives her to a dim parking garage. Dayton places Jennifer in the trunk and the group follows, leading to a chaotic rooftop confrontation. Jennifer unleashes snakes that attack her tormentors, and Dayton is killed when he is hurled to his death.

Night Parking garage rooftop
12

Sandra’s death in the car wreck

Sandra attempts to escape in her car, but a giant snake materializes, causing a crash that leaves the car in flames. Sandra dies in the wreck, eliminated as Jennifer's vendetta reaches its horrifying climax. The cause of the event remains unclear to witnesses.

Moments after kidnapping Parking garage / crash site
13

Mrs. Calley’s confrontation and death

Back at the school, Mrs. Calley tries to pin the chaos on Jennifer, threatening her with consequences. Jennifer's guilt remains unwitnessed, as none of the witnesses recall what happened. Later, Mrs. Calley is found dead by a snake she discovers in her desk drawer.

After the school chaos Mrs. Calley’s office
14

Escape and laughter

Jennifer and Jane hear Mrs. Calley’s screams as they leave the campus. They share a dark, knowing laughter that signals their freedom from the school's tyranny. The film closes with the two walking away from Green View School.

Immediately after Outside Green View School

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 09:11

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Jennifer Summary

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Jennifer Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Jennifer

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