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Killing Ground (2017) movie poster

Timeline

Killing Ground (2017) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 88 min · English
Echo score 70
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Directed by
Damien Power
Starring
Aaron Glenane, Aaron Pedersen, Harriet Dyer, Stephen Hunter, Maya Stange, Tara Jade Borg
Budget
$1.3M

Seeking an escape from city life, Sam and Ian retreat to a secluded beachside location. Their relaxing weekend is shattered by the discovery of an abandoned campsite and a distressed child. This unsettling find triggers a terrifying sequence of events, as they become the targets of two dangerous locals who initiate a violent and chaotic confrontation, forcing them to fight for their lives.

Thriller Horror Cast, crew & box office
On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Killing Ground
  6. 6 Every angle
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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Killing Ground Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Killing Ground (2017) 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. Ian and Sam's Romantic Getaway

    Ian Smith and his girlfriend, Samantha 'Sam' Shaw, embark on a romantic trip to a secluded beach to celebrate New Year's Eve. Their journey begins with excitement and anticipation as they leave behind the bustling city for some tranquility.

    When
    New Year's Eve
    Where
    Secluded Beach

  2. Meeting Scotty 'German' Shepherd

    During the journey, Ian and Sam meet a local resident, Scotty 'German' Shepherd, who captivates them with enchanting stories about a nearby stunning waterfall. This encounter adds an air of intrigue to their trip and sets the stage for the unfolding events.

    Where
    Near the Beach

  3. Setting Up Camp

    Upon arriving at their destination, Ian and Sam set up camp near an abandoned locality. They take care to leave no trace of the previous inhabitants, which reflects their desire to enjoy nature responsibly.

    Where
    Abandoned Locality

  4. Discovering the Lost Toddler

    As they settle into their trip, Ian and Sam's sense of unease grows when they come across a toddler wandering alone in the woods. This unsettling discovery signals that their journey may take a turn for the worse.

    Where
    Woods

  5. Chook Intervenes

    Chook captures Ian and Sam's attention when he intercepts them at the campsite parking area, revealing that their car has a flat tire. He persuades Ian to explore nearby areas for a missing family while Sam stays back with the child.

    Where
    Campsite Parking Area

  6. Voss-Baker Family's Trip Takes a Dark Turn

    Just three days before, the Voss-Baker family enjoyed their own camping experience on the beach. Their idyllic trip turns horrific when German and Chook kidnap them, unaware that their infant son Ollie is hidden away.

    When
    Three days earlier
    Where
    Beach

  7. The Horrific Truth

    Ian is led by Chook to a gruesome scene where the bodies of the Voss-Baker family have been left by German. To Ian's shock, he finds that Margaret survived, igniting a desperate race against time to save her.

    Where
    Grave Site

  8. Inevitability of Violence

    In a moment of desperation, despite Ian's efforts, Chook coldly shoots Margaret. This shocking act reveals the darker intentions of Chook, highlighting the true danger that Ian and Sam are in.

    Where
    Grave Site

  9. Sam Fights Back

    While Ian is embroiled in a fight with Chook, German finds Sam alone with Ollie and attempts to abduct her. Sam shows remarkable bravery, fighting back fiercely and escaping with Ollie.

    Where
    Campsite

  10. A Critical Mistake

    As Ian continues his search for Chook, he mistakenly confronts German, believing he is performing an act of mercy. However, the chaos leads to the revelation of Ollie's location as Ian hears cries, exposing their hiding spot.

    Where
    Woods

  11. Chook's Tragic Capture

    Chook seizes the opportunity to capture Sam after overpowering Ollie. He taunts Ian with the horrific plans he has for Sam, escalating the tension and urgency of the situation.

    Where
    Woods

  12. Desperate Police Plea

    Ian rushes to the local police station to plead for help, returning with two officers to the campsite. However, their efforts are met with gunfire from Chook, resulting in chaos and injury.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Local Police Station

  13. Sam's Brave Escape

    In a turn of events, Sam courageously commandeers Chook's vehicle, leading them into a monumental crash. The wreckage sets the stage for a final confrontation that leaves both Sam and Chook fighting for their lives.

    Where
    Road

  14. Sam Triumphs

    Despite the brutality of the encounter, Sam ultimately prevails by delivering a fatal blow to Chook with a rock, ending his reign of terror. This moment signifies her transformation from a victim to a fierce survivor.

    Where
    Crash Scene

  15. Aftermath and Uncertainty

    Sam awakens in a hospital bed, discovering that Ian is also recovering close by. However, the fate of Ollie remains uncertain, leaving a heavy sense of concern over what happened during their harrowing ordeal.

    Where
    Hospital

Last updated: November 21, 2024 at 13:17

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Timeline questions answered

Killing Ground Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Killing Ground (2017): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why didn't German and Chook know about Ollie when they kidnapped the Voss-Baker family?

German and Chook kidnapped Robert, Margaret, and Emily without realizing that infant Ollie was hidden away during the chaos. They only discovered Ollie's existence later when they found a photograph of him on Emily's phone, which prompted their desperate search for the baby.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, the Voss-Baker family is described as enjoying their camping trip completely unaware of the danger approaching.

  • ollie
  • voss-baker family
  • kidnap
  • missing baby
  • photograph
Q2

Why did Chook shoot Margaret after Ian found her still alive?

Chook shot Margaret coldly to prevent her from revealing anything or surviving to identify them. This act demonstrated the killers' complete lack of humanity and their determination to leave no witnesses.

Foreshadowing: The timeline establishes that German and Chook had already murdered Robert and Emily before leaving the scene.

  • margaret
  • chook
  • shooting
  • witness
  • murder
Q3

How did Sam escape from German at the campsite?

When German attempted to abduct Sam, she fought back fiercely and managed to injure him with a knife or object, then escaped with Ollie into the woods while Ian was still engaged with Chook.

Foreshadowing: Sam was established as being alone with the toddler at the campsite while Ian was led away by Chook.

  • sam
  • german
  • escape
  • campsite
  • fight
Q4

What happened to Ollie at the end of the movie?

Ollie's fate remains uncertain and ambiguous in the film. When Sam asks if Ollie is alright, she receives the heartbreaking news that he was never with Ian, leaving viewers uncertain whether Chook harmed the infant or if he somehow survived.

Foreshadowing: Chook captured Ollie earlier, using the child as leverage to draw Ian out of hiding.

  • ollie
  • fate
  • baby
  • ending
  • uncertainty
Q5

Why did Ian kill German thinking it was a mercy?

Ian encountered German in the woods and believed that German was already dying or suffering, so Ian killed him believing it was an act of compassion rather than murder.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Ian finds German injured and incapacitated after Sam's escape attempt.

  • ian
  • german
  • mercy kill
  • mistake
Q6

How did Sam manage to overpower Chook in the final confrontation?

After crashing the vehicle, Sam engaged Chook in a brutal physical confrontation and ultimately defeated him by striking him with a rock, delivering a fatal blow that ended his reign of terror.

Foreshadowing: Sam had already demonstrated courage and fighting spirit when she escaped from German earlier.

  • sam
  • chook
  • fight
  • rock
  • fatal blow
Q7

Why did Ian go to the police station alone instead of staying with Sam?

Ian rushed to the local police station desperate for help after Chook shot the officers and Ian himself was wounded. He returned with two officers to rescue Sam, but the situation quickly turned violent.

Foreshadowing: The timeline shows Ian being shot and taken hostage before he could reunite with Sam.

  • ian
  • police
  • officers
  • help
  • wound
Q8

What was the relationship between German and Chook?

German and Chook were accomplices who worked together as partners in their criminal activities. German was the more talkative one who interacted with travelers, while Chook handled the violent confrontations.

Foreshadowing: German shares information about the couple with his accomplice Chook, showing their established partnership.

  • german
  • chook
  • accomplices
  • partners
  • team
Q9

How did Sam end up with her hands bound to the steering wheel?

During the chaotic car crash and struggle with Chook inside the vehicle, Sam was bound to the steering wheel, likely by Chook as a way to control her during the confrontation.

Foreshadowing: The timeline describes a fierce battle inside the vehicle that culminates in a catastrophic crash.

  • sam
  • bounds
  • steering wheel
  • car
  • crash
Q10

Why did Chook target and attack Sam and Ian?

Chook and German were dangerous criminals who preyed on unsuspecting travelers at isolated locations. They attacked Sam and Ian for the same reason they attacked the Voss-Baker family, to harm, kidnap, and potentially kill them, treating them as victims to exploit.

Foreshadowing: The couple encounters German first, who shares stories and information that ultimately aids in setting up the attack.

  • chook
  • motivation
  • attack
  • criminal
  • victims
Q11

What did Chook mean when he said he would wait at the site where the Voss-Baker family was killed?

Chook taunted Ian by saying he would wait at the exact location where German had left the Voss-Baker family's bodies. This was meant to draw Ian into a trap and continue his pattern of using the same gruesome location for his crimes.

Foreshadowing: The timeline shows Chook leading Ian to the grave site where the Voss-Baker family was murdered.

  • chook
  • grave site
  • location
  • trap
  • taunt

Movie threads

More Movies Like Killing Ground, by Mood & Story

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

Rural Isolation Horror Movies like Killing Ground

Stories where remote wilderness becomes a hunting ground for terror. If the remote, terrifying setting of Killing Ground gripped you, explore more movies like it. This list features similar survival horror stories where characters are hunted in secluded wilderness locations, facing backwoods terror and desperate fights for survival against overwhelming odds.

  • isolated
  • oppressive
  • desperate
  • survivalist
  • brutal
  • unsettling
  • Tone: dark, oppressive
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern typically involves characters seeking solitude or adventure in a rural or wilderness setting, only to discover they are not alone. The isolation quickly turns from peaceful to perilous, forcing them into a brutal fight for survival against locals, predators, or unknown entities who know the terrain far better than they do.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their central use of a remote, natural setting as a catalyst for horror. They share a mood of oppressive dread and vulnerability, a fast or steadily escalating pace, and themes of civilization versus savagery, where the comforts and rules of society are stripped away.

Wilderness movie poster

Wilderness

2006
Terror at Tenkiller movie poster

Terror at Tenkiller

1986
Lovely, Dark, and Deep movie poster

Lovely, Dark, and Deep

2024
Cold Prey movie poster

Cold Prey

2006
Whiskey Mountain movie poster

Whiskey Mountain

1977
High Lane movie poster

High Lane

2009
Isolation movie poster

Isolation

2005
The Burrowers movie poster

The Burrowers

2008

Brutal Survival Thrillers Similar to Killing Ground

Unflinching stories of ordinary people pushed to their absolute limits. For viewers who appreciated the relentless, high-intensity survival struggle in Killing Ground, this list curates similar movies. These thrillers and horrors feature graphic violence, heavy emotional weight, and a focus on the desperate, often traumatic fight for life against sadistic antagonists.

  • brutal
  • anxious
  • desperate
  • violent
  • horrifying
  • unrelenting
  • Tone: dark, desperate
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows characters who are suddenly thrust into a life-or-death situation against cruel and determined antagonists. The story focuses on the immediacy of the threat, the physical and psychological brutality of the conflict, and the moral compromises required to endure. The pacing is often fast and chaotic, with minimal respite from the tension.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their high intensity, dark tone, and focus on the raw, ugly reality of survival. They share a heavy emotional weight derived from graphic violence and traumatic events, featuring protagonists who must overcome impossible odds through sheer desperation and will.

Blood Trails movie poster

Blood Trails

2006
Deadly Prey movie poster

Deadly Prey

1987
Intensity movie poster

Intensity

1997
Hunter Hunter movie poster

Hunter Hunter

2020
The Hunt movie poster

The Hunt

2020
Wilderness movie poster

Wilderness

2006
Survival of the Dead movie poster

Survival of the Dead

2010
Survival Island movie poster

Survival Island

2002

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Long Weekend movie poster

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1979
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Kill Crazy

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Wolf Creek movie poster

Wolf Creek

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The Killing Kind movie poster

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The Deadly Camp

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Dying Breed movie poster

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Every angle

Killing Ground (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Killing Ground 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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