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Timeline

Mandrake (2022) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2022 · 85 min · English
Echo score 61
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Directed by
Lynne Davison
Starring
Ian Beattie, Nigel O'Neill, Paul Kennedy, Cailum Carragher, Deirdre Mullins, Derbhle Crotty

Probation officer Cathy Madden is assigned to rehabilitate Mary Laidlaw, a woman known as "Bloody" Mary, and confront her own buried past in the process. When two children mysteriously disappear near Mary’s farm, Cathy begins to question her belief in redemption and the possibility of forgiveness. The disappearances force her to confront the potential for darkness within both Mary and herself, blurring the lines between good and evil.

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 Mandrake
  6. 6 Every angle
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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Mandrake Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Mandrake (2022) 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. Cathy Takes Over Supervision

    Cathy Madden, a probation officer, is assigned to supervise Mary Laidlaw, who has just been released from prison after serving twenty years for the murder of her husband. Cathy learns that Mary has been labeled as a witch due to her mysterious and tragic past, prompting her to delve deeper into Mary's life and situation.

  2. Mary's Tragic Past Revealed

    Cathy's chief, Bill, shares Mary’s backstory, detailing a history of abuse where her husband brutally attacked her. The story reveals that in an act of revenge, Mary eventually killed her husband after he set her on fire, leaving Cathy to grapple with her sympathy for Mary.

  3. Monitoring Mary

    Cathy visits Mary to install a monitoring tag to keep track of her activities, reflecting her commitment to aiding Mary on her path to redemption. However, the environment around Mary's home indicates her involvement in dark practices, raising concerns for Cathy's safety.

    Where
    Mary's House
  4. Suspicion of Murders

    As Cathy continues her supervision, the suspicion surrounding Mary grows stronger with accusations of her involvement in the murder of two children and a man named Duggan. Cathy, however, remains unconvinced of Mary’s guilt, despite the community's increasing outrage.

  5. Confrontation at Mary's Home

    Following pressure from the victims' families, Cathy visits Mary to confront her about the allegations. During this visit, Cathy uncovers dark secrets about Mary's practices and the dangerous nature of her powers, leading to a terrifying encounter.

    Where
    Mary's House
  6. Kidnapping and Torture

    Mary and her son Thomas capture Cathy, chaining her and subjecting her to brutal torture in the moss forest. This highlights Mary's descent into madness and her desperate desire to complete her dark rituals involving the mystical Mandrake.

    Where
    Moss Forest
  7. Uncovering the Mandrake's Secrets

    While imprisoned, Cathy learns about the Mandrake root and its connection to Mary's dark rituals. As Cathy digs up the root under duress, she realizes the horrifying intentions behind Mary’s actions and the sacrifices made to awaken evil.

    Where
    Moss Forest
  8. Realization of Witchcraft

    After an intense ordeal, Cathy awakens to the horrifying truth about Mary being a witch, having sacrificed her husband to the Devil. This discovery connects all the ominous events and murders surrounding Mary, which Cathy now fully understands.

  9. Attempted Escape

    Desperate to escape from Mary’s clutches, Cathy utilizes a phone to call for help. However, before she can strategize her exit, Mary captures her, further complicating her chances of fleeing.

    Where
    Mary's House
  10. Tragedy Strikes

    Cathy witnesses the tragic death of Jason, her estranged husband, as he tries to confront Mary. This event deepens Cathy's sense of urgency to save herself and her son while highlighting the dangers posed by Mary.

    Where
    Mary's House
  11. Luke's Disappearance

    In a frantic moment, Grace, Cathy's friend, realizes her son Luke is missing, leading to a frantic search. The search culminates in the discovery that Luke has been taken by Thomas, reinforcing the perilous situation Cathy faces.

    Where
    Moss Forest
  12. Cathy's Final Confrontation with Thomas

    In a desperate bid, Cathy confronts Thomas, knocking him unconscious to reclaim her son Luke. This pivotal moment shifts the course of her fight for survival against the horrors unleashed by Mary.

    Where
    Moss Forest
  13. Mob Justice

    The grieving parents of the murdered children, along with Grace, enact their vengeance on Thomas in the woods. They hang him alive, showcasing the deep-rooted fear and anger Mary has instigated within the community.

    Where
    Moss Forest
  14. Return to Safety

    Cathy flees with Luke, finally escaping the horrors of Mary's twisted world. However, the baby-shaped Mandrake root they inadvertently carry signifies that the evil unleashed by Mary may still haunt them.

    Where
    Cathy's Home
  15. Mary's Demise

    In a final act of desperation, Mary confronts the loss of her son Thomas and is seen either committing suicide or igniting a fiery rage in the forest. This moment encapsulates the tragedy of her life and the darkness she brought upon herself and others.

    Where
    Moss Forest

Last updated: November 25, 2024 at 19:24

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Timeline questions answered

Mandrake Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Mandrake (2022): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Mary kill her husband?

Mary killed her husband in self-defense after he brutally attacked her. Upon discovering Mary with another man, he doused her in petrol and set her on fire. In retaliation, Mary killed him, which led to her 20-year prison sentence for murder.

  • mary husband murder
  • self defense
  • abuse
  • fire
Q2

What is the Mandrake and why does Mary want it?

The Mandrake is a mythological plant associated with witchcraft. Mary believes the Mandrake root contains mystical powers that can save her son Thomas, who suffers from a mysterious illness. She attempts to harvest its blood-like liquid through dark rituals to unleash evil and potentially heal Thomas.

  • mandrake root
  • witchcraft
  • ritual
  • thomas illness
Q3

Did Mary actually kill the children?

Yes, Mary is revealed to have killed the two children and Shawn Duggan. Cathy discovers this horrifying truth after witnessing Mary's witch powers and understanding the pattern of murders that have surrounded her.

  • children murder
  • shawn duggan
  • murders
Q4

Why did Mary target Cathy?

Mary targeted Cathy because she could read her mind and learned about Cathy's personal life, including her son Luke and estranged husband Jason. Mary needed someone to help with her Mandrake ritual and saw Cathy as vulnerable. Additionally, Mary may have viewed Cathy as a way to get closer to a child for her dark purposes.

  • cathy kidnap
  • mind reading
  • luke
Q5

What happened to Jason in the film?

Jason, Cathy's estranged husband, enters Mary's lair seeking help but falls victim to her illusionary powers. Mary creates an illusion making Jason believe he is with his pregnant wife Grace, and he is killed during this terrifying encounter.

  • jason death
  • illusion
  • grace
Q6

What supernatural powers does Mary have?

Mary possesses witchcraft abilities including mind reading, which allows her to access people's deepest secrets and memories. She can also create powerful illusions, perform dark rituals involving the Mandrake plant, and reportedly made a pact with the Devil, sacrificing her husband.

  • witch powers
  • mind reading
  • devil pact
  • illusions
Q7

Does the evil persist at the end of the film?

The ending suggests the evil may indeed persist. As Cathy escapes with her son Luke, they inadvertently carry a baby-shaped Mandrake root from Mary's garden. This ominous detail implies the curse and darkness Mary unleashed may continue to haunt them.

Foreshadowing: The Mandrake plant is introduced early as a symbol of evil Mary seeks to cultivate.

  • ending
  • curse
  • baby root
  • sequel
Q8

Why does Thomas help Mary with the rituals?

Thomas, Mary's son, assists her because he is suffering from a mysterious illness that Mary desperately wants to cure. He participates in capturing Cathy and helps with the Mandrake ritual, believing it might save his life. His illness appears to be the driving force behind Mary's increasingly desperate dark acts.

  • thomas
  • illness
  • mother son
  • ritual help
Q9

What happens to Thomas at the end?

Thomas is killed by a mob of grieving parents from the community who have come to seek vengeance for the murdered children. They hang him alive in the moss forest, viewing him as complicit in his mother's crimes.

  • thomas death
  • mob justice
  • hanging
Q10

Why is Mary called Bloody Mary?

Mary earned the nickname "Bloody Mary" because of her violent past and the murders associated with her. She killed her husband decades ago and is suspected of murdering two children and Shawn Duggan, earning her the reputation of a dangerous killer and witch.

  • bloody mary nickname
  • reputation
  • murders
Q11

How does Cathy escape from Mary?

Cathy manages to free herself during the chaos of the ritual confrontation. She fights Thomas, knocking him unconscious to reclaim her son Luke. In the ensuing confusion, she escapes with Luke from the forest, fleeing back to her home.

  • escape
  • fight thomas
  • luke rescue

Movie threads

More Movies Like Mandrake, by Mood & Story

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

Folk horror movies with ancient evil like Mandrake

Stories where modern skepticism clashes with ancient, rural malevolence. If you liked the rural witchcraft and sinister rituals in Mandrake, explore more movies like it. This thread features folk horror stories where characters uncover dark secrets in isolated settings, confronting supernatural forces tied to the land. Fans of unsettling, atmospheric dread will find similar chilling tales here.

  • folk horror
  • sinister
  • eerie
  • oppressive
  • ancient evil
  • rural setting
  • Tone: dark, sinister, ominous
  • Pacing: steady, methodical build
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives typically follow an investigator or skeptic entering a remote, often rural, environment where they dismiss local superstitions as folklore. As disturbing events escalate, they are forced to acknowledge a genuine, malevolent power, leading to a climactic confrontation that often blurs the lines between psychological breakdown and supernatural reality.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared foundation in folkloric terror, a steady, oppressive atmosphere, and the central theme of rational minds being undone by forces older than civilization. They evoke a specific kind of dread that feels deeply rooted and inescapable.

Maternal horror survival stories like Mandrake

A mother's protective instincts are tested by forces beyond comprehension. For viewers who appreciated the heavy emotional weight of a mother fighting for her child in Mandrake, this thread collects similar movies. Discover stories where maternal instincts are pushed to the limit by supernatural evil, blending deep emotional stakes with high-intensity horror. Find more films about desperate parental love in the face of darkness.

  • maternal horror
  • desperate
  • harrowing
  • child in peril
  • supernatural threat
  • protective mother
  • Tone: dark, desperate, harrowing
  • Pacing: steady, tense progression
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot revolves around a mother who discovers her child is in grave danger from a supernatural entity. Her journey is one of escalating terror and determination, as she must often overcome her own disbelief or fear to engage in a brutal, psychologically taxing battle where the survival of her family is the only goal.

Why they belong together: These films are united by the powerful combination of maternal love as a driving force and the high-stakes horror of a supernatural threat. The emotional weight is consistently heavy, and the intensity is personal and visceral, making the terror feel immediate and deeply affecting.

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Movies Like Mandrake

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Every angle

Mandrake (2022) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Mandrake 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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