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The Day of the Lord (2020) movie poster

Plot Summary

The Day of the Lord (2020) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 93 min · Spanish
Echo score 38
JustWatch #23,785 7
Directed by
Santiago Alvarado Ilarri
Starring
Dolores Heredia, Hector Illanes, Juli Fàbregas, Oscar Gordillo, Ximena Romo

A troubled father turns to a disillusioned former priest, Menéndez, hoping for guidance and salvation. However, Menéndez is wrestling with his own lost faith and haunted by his past. As the two men navigate their struggles, they confront a growing darkness, blurring the lines between faith, despair, and the unknown.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like The Day of the Lord
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Day of the Lord (2020)

Where can you watch The Day of the Lord? 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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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in The Day of the Lord: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of The Day of the Lord (2020) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

A former Catholic priest named Menéndez finds himself released from prison and assigned to a new residence, grappling with the heavy burden of his past. His incarceration followed a traumatic incident during an exorcism that led to the tragic death of a boy. Plagued by guilt, Menéndez is frequently tormented by dreams featuring both the boy and his mother, Marisa, for whom he harbors complicated feelings. As Marisa visits him regularly, she proves to be a source of comfort, devoid of any blame towards him for her son's demise, often tidying up his home in a nurturing gesture.

Amidst his turmoil, a friend from prison, Sebas, reaches out for help, convinced that his daughter Raquel may be under demonic possession. Initially hesitant, Menéndez ultimately agrees to meet this rebellious young woman. Raquel vehemently denies her father's claims, indulging in taunts that provoke varying responses from the conflicted priest—half of him drawn to her audacity while the other recoils in disapproval. Throughout these encounters, Menéndez often converses on the phone with a mysterious caller, addressing them as if they are God, further challenging his wavering faith.

As he starts to believe in Raquel's possession, Menéndez invites Sebas to join him in a desperate attempt to perform an exorcism. Their methods quickly spiral into darkness as they resort to torturing Raquel to extract the demon's identity. When their efforts reach a breaking point, Sebas collapses into despair, embracing his daughter and apologizing for their actions, catalyzing the demon's dramatic manifestation. The creature overwhelms both men, binding them as it confronts a heartbroken Sebas.

In a frenzied turn of events, Menéndez escapes, and they manage to restrain Raquel once more. With heightened determination, the duo perseveres in their exorcism, successfully forcing the demon into a physical form. Menéndez discovers with horror that it mirrors the entity that once tormented Marisa's son. Utilizing a makeshift cross, he finally conquers the demonic force, which flees in defeat. As a grateful Sebas and Raquel depart, Menéndez, covered in blood, relays his triumph to the enigmatic caller. Yet, as the phone ominously reveals itself to be disconnected, a ghostly, nun-like figure glides toward a satisfied Menéndez, leaving his fate uncertain.

Last updated: November 16, 2024 at 12:23

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Plot questions answered

The Day of the Lord Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about The Day of the Lord (2020): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why was Menéndez released from prison?

Menéndez was a former Catholic priest who served time in prison after a traumatic incident during an exorcism that led to the death of a boy under his care. This tragic event left him plagued by guilt and haunted by nightmares.

Foreshadowing: Earlier references to his traumatic past and dreams about the boy establish the reason for his imprisonment from the beginning.

  • menendez
  • prison
  • exorcism
  • boy death
  • priest
Q2

Why does Marisa visit Menéndez despite her son's death?

Marisa is the mother of the boy who died during Menéndez's exorcism. She visits him regularly without blaming him for her son's demise, providing emotional support and even tidying his home. This suggests she has forgiven him or believes the tragedy was not solely his fault.

Foreshadowing: Menéndez's dreams featuring both the boy and Marisa hint at his complicated emotional connection to this family.

  • marisa
  • visits
  • forgiveness
  • support
  • boy mother
Q3

What makes Menéndez believe Raquel is actually possessed?

Initially skeptical of Sebas's claims, Menéndez begins to believe in Raquel's possession after continued interactions with her. The timeline shows a shift in his belief, though the exact triggers are not detailed. His own spiritual crisis and vulnerability likely make him more susceptible to believing in demonic activity.

Foreshadowing: His conversations with the mysterious caller (whom he addresses as God) challenge his faith and may prime him to believe in possession.

  • raquel
  • possession
  • belief
  • menendez
  • demon
Q4

Why did the exorcism turn into torture?

Menéndez and Sebas resorted to torturing Raquel to extract the demon's identity from her. Their methods spiraled into darkness, suggesting desperation and a departure from proper exorcism practices. This reflects the film's theme of blurring lines between faith and violence.

Foreshadowing: Menéndez's wavering faith and the dark nature of his past actions foreshadow his willingness to use extreme measures.

  • exorcism
  • torture
  • raquel
  • methods
  • darkness
Q5

What triggered the demon's dramatic manifestation?

When Sebas collapsed into despair, embraced Raquel, and apologized for their torturous actions, this moment of genuine emotional vulnerability and fatherly love somehow catalyzed the demon's dramatic manifestation. The emotional sincerity appeared to trigger the supernatural event.

Foreshadowing: Sebas's earlier desperation to help his daughter and his willingness to confront the supernatural set up this pivotal moment.

  • demon
  • manifestation
  • sebas
  • apology
  • emotional
Q6

Why did the demon take the form of the boy who died earlier?

When the demon was forced into physical form, Menéndez discovered it mirrored the entity that had tormented Marisa's son years before. This suggests the same demon that killed the boy had now possessed Raquel, or it deliberately took that familiar form to psychologically torment Menéndez further.

Foreshadowing: Menéndez's recurring dreams about the boy and the parallel between the two possession cases establish this connection.

  • demon
  • form
  • boy
  • mirror
  • marisa son
Q7

Who was Menéndez talking to on the phone throughout the film?

Menéndez engaged in phone conversations with a mysterious caller whom he addressed as God, using these calls to process his faith crisis. However, at the end, when he tries to report his victory, the phone is revealed to be disconnected, meaning he was never actually talking to anyone, suggesting these conversations were entirely in his mind.

Foreshadowing: His wavering faith and psychological state make the nature of these calls ambiguous throughout the story.

  • phone
  • caller
  • god
  • disconnected
  • mental
Q8

What does the ghost at the end represent?

After the phone is revealed as disconnected, a ghostly nun-like figure glides toward a satisfied Menéndez. This ambiguous ending leaves his fate uncertain, whether the apparition is real, a hallucination, a spiritual reward, or a final manifestation of evil remains open to interpretation.

Foreshadowing: The unresolved nature of his faith and the presence of evil throughout the film set up this unsettling conclusion.

  • nun
  • ghost
  • ending
  • ambiguous
  • fate
Q9

Why does Menéndez dream about Marisa?

Menéndez is haunted by dreams featuring both the boy who died and his mother Marisa. The text notes he harbors complicated feelings toward her. These dreams represent his guilt over the boy's death, his need for forgiveness, and possibly romantic or emotional attachment given her continued support despite his role in her son's demise.

Foreshadowing: His discomfort and emotional turmoil during her visits hint at the complexity of their relationship.

  • marisa
  • dreams
  • guilt
  • feelings
  • forgiveness
Q10

How did Menéndez finally defeat the demon?

Using a makeshift cross, Menéndez confronted the physical manifestation of the demon with fierce resolve. This traditional religious symbol, though improvised, proved effective in defeating the evil force, causing it to flee in defeat.

Foreshadowing: The film's exploration of faith and religious symbolism sets up the cross as the ultimate weapon against evil.

  • cross
  • demon
  • defeat
  • victory
  • religious

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Day of the Lord, by Mood & Story

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

Faith-based horror movies like The Day of the Lord

Stories where characters confront evil while grappling with lost or broken faith. If you liked the spiritual torment and religious horror of The Day of the Lord, explore these movies. They feature protagonists wrestling with faith while confronting demonic forces, blending psychological drama with supernatural terror in an oppressive, heavy atmosphere.

  • oppressive
  • tormented
  • somber
  • uncanny
  • religious
  • psychological
  • Tone: dark, tormented
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread follow a protagonist, often a religious figure, whose belief system is shattered by a personal tragedy or a direct encounter with evil. Their journey is one of psychological descent and brutal spiritual battle, where the line between divine intervention and damnation is blurred.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared focus on religious trauma, the psychological weight of guilt, and the confrontation with supernatural evil through the lens of a fractured faith. They create a uniquely oppressive and intellectually challenging form of horror.

Psychological torment movies like The Day of the Lord

A steady, claustrophobic build of psychological pressure leading to an uncertain resolution. Find movies similar to The Day of the Lord that deliver a slow, steady burn of psychological torture. These stories feature high emotional weight, claustrophobic tension, and often end on an ambiguous note, leaving a lasting sense of unease.

  • claustrophobic
  • anxious
  • somber
  • psychological
  • unsettling
  • heavy
  • Tone: dark, anxious
  • Pacing: steady, slow burn
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a linear but deeply psychological progression where a character's sanity or morality is systematically tested. The pacing is deliberate, focusing on the gradual erosion of the protagonist's psyche rather than sudden shocks, culminating in a finale that questions the nature of their victory or survival.

Why they belong together: They share a cohesive vibe defined by a steady pacing that builds palpable dread, a high level of psychological intensity, and a heavy emotional weight. The ambiguous endings ensure the unsettling feeling lingers long after the movie ends.

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Movies Like The Day of the Lord

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Every angle

The Day of the Lord (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Day of the Lord 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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