Kill or Be Killed (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Nixon dies overnight after the gang leaves Goebel's house. The other gang members suspect each other of poisoning him, but Barbee insists Nixon died of natural causes, likely due to his age and the stress of the journey. This incident allows Barbee to take leadership of the gang.

• nixon death
• gang leader
• natural causes

Willie is killed off-screen after Pearl takes Barbee's map to the gold. While the gang suspects Pearl, Barbee himself suggests a 'crazed native American' killed Willie. The killer is never definitively identified in the film.

• willie death
• ventriloquist boy
• map theft

Pearl, a former prostitute who joined the gang, becomes Barbee's lover. She takes the map to the gold and tips off Sheriff Everheart about their location. Her motivation appears to be simple greed - she wants the gold for herself and is willing to betray Barbee to get it.

• pearl betrayal
• gold map
• sheriff everheart

Davis' throat is slit while Barbee sleeps after they camp following the shootout with Everheart and Peak. The killer reveals himself to be one of Rudy Goebel's sons, seeking revenge for Barbee killing his father. At Davis' request, Barbee mercy-kills him as he bleeds out.

Foreshadowing: Barbee killed Goebel after Goebel tortured Davis, establishing the motive for Goebel's son to seek revenge.

• davis death
• goebel son
• mercy kill

The gang takes refuge at the Wilberforce farm after robbing a whorehouse. There, Frank Jackson rapes and murders the Wilberforces' daughter. When the father tries to kill Jackson for revenge, Barbee reluctantly shoots and kills him, but stops the gang from murdering the rest of the family. They flee after stealing horses.

• wilberforce
• jackson rape
• daughter murder

After Nixon dies, Barbee assumes de facto leadership. Since Nixon was the original leader who balked at the journey to retrieve the gold, his death removes the main obstacle. The remaining gang members (Barbee, Jackson, Davis, and later Spotswood) fall under Barbee's command as they continue toward the gold.

• barbee leadership
• nixon
• gang command

Rudy Goebel had at least two sons. After Barbee kills Goebel (who had tortured Davis), the sons pursue revenge. One son kills Davis by slitting his throat while Barbee sleeps. The other son, a twin, ambushes Barbee at the well, wounds him, and pushes him into the well where Pearl's corpse already lies.

Foreshadowing: Barbee killed Goebel after Goebel tortured Davis, establishing the sons' vendetta against the gang.

• goebel sons
• twin
• revenge

After killing Everheart and mercy-killing Davis, Barbee reaches the well where the gold is buried. He kills a bounty hunter who attacks him, then is wounded by Goebel's remaining son. The boy pushes the wounded Barbee into the deep well, where he discovers Pearl's corpse at the bottom. Barbee is left dying in the well, calling out as the boy walks away.

Foreshadowing: Barbee's nightmares of a 'bestial man' hunting his gang foreshadows the Goebel sons' revenge attacks.

• barbee death
• well
• gold
• final scene

Pearl's corpse is found at the bottom of the well where the gold is hidden. She apparently made it to the well before being killed, likely by the Goebel sons who were tracking the gang. Her body is discovered only when Barbee is pushed into the well himself, adding to the film's bleak conclusion.

• pearl death
• well
• gold location

Barbee is haunted by nightmares of a 'bestial man' who hunts his gang. These nightmares begin after Spotswood dies and continue until the end. The bestial man imagery foreshadows the Goebel sons, who pursue revenge against Barbee and his gang for killing their father Rudy.

Foreshadowing: The nightmares predict the Goebel sons' attacks on the gang members.

• nightmares
• bestial man
• foreshadowing

Spotswood is killed off-screen shortly after Willie's death. While the gang suspects the man they kill for attacking a woman (thinking he was Spotswood's killer), the actual killer is never clearly identified. Barbee suggests a 'crazed native American' may be responsible, but this is never confirmed.

• spotswood death
• killer

During their journey toward the gold, the gang passes through a town and decides to rob a local church. The robbery results in the deaths of several townspeople and leaves Davis wounded. This act draws the attention of Sheriff Everheart and Deputy Peak, who begin pursuing the gang.

• church robbery
• everheart
• peak