Monster Trucks (2017) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Terravex was conducting a fracking operation in North Dakota to tap into underground oil resources. CEO Reece Tenneson was unaware that the drilling would breach a cavern where three squid-like creatures had been living underground for millions of years.

Foreshadowing: Early in the film, geologist Jim Dowd mentions that the drilling operation could have unintended consequences, hinting at the creatures' presence.

• terravex
• fracking
• drilling
• oil
• underground creatures

The creatures originated from deep beneath the earth where they had lived for eons in underwater tunnels. They are an ancient species that thrives on oil, which served as their primary food source in the subterranean environment.

Foreshadowing: The creatures' ability to consume oil is established early on when Creech makes a nest in Tripp's truck hood.

• creatures
• underground
• squid-like
• oil
• origin

Creech was attracted to the truck because it contained oil from its previous engine use. After escaping into the wild, the creature sniffed out the truck at the junkyard and made a nest in the hood, drawn to the oil residue that sustained him.

Foreshadowing: This moment explains why Creech first appeared at the junkyard where Tripp worked.

• creech
• truck
• oil
• junkyard
• creature

Tripp ingeniously modified his pickup truck by creating a makeshift engine setup that allowed Creech to serve as a living engine component. The modification gave Creech mobility by enabling the creature to use the vehicle as a sort of wheelchair, powering the truck while riding inside it.

Foreshadowing: This creative solution stems from Tripp's mechanical skills developed from working at the junkyard.

• tripp
• truck modification
• creech
• engine
• mechanical

Wade, Tripp's father, sold his son and Meredith to mercenary Burke for money. The betrayal appears to be motivated by financial desperation, as Wade was willing to turn against his own child when approached by Burke.

Foreshadowing: Wade's willingness to betray his son was not heavily foreshadowed, making it a shocking plot twist.

• wade
• betrayal
• burke
• tripp father
• money

Geologist Jim Dowd recognized that the creatures possessed profound intelligence, emotions, and a hive-mind connection capable of shared learning. Having witnessed their sentience firsthand, he opposed Tenneson's plan to kill them and chose to help Tripp free the creatures.

Foreshadowing: Dowd's objections to Tenneson's poisoning plan established his empathy toward the creatures.

• dowd
• creatures
• intelligence
• hive-mind
• rescue

Dowd modified additional trucks to be controlled by Creech's parents, using a similar principle to Tripp's original truck modification. The creatures' high intelligence and hive-mind abilities allowed them to operate the vehicles and coordinate their escape from Terravex.

Foreshadowing: This ability connects back to the established hive-mind connection that lets creatures share knowledge.

• creatures
• trucks
• control
• hive-mind
• dowd

During the climactic chase, Tripp and Creech worked together to overturn Burke's truck, destroying the poison machine inside it. Burke's vehicle was then consumed by the heavy machinery, apparently eliminating the threat he posed.

Foreshadowing: Burke's aggressive pursuit throughout the film built to this violent confrontation.

• burke
• death
• chase
• poison machine
• destroyed

Creech saved Tripp because of the deep bond they formed throughout their adventure. After the battle, Tripp was in danger of drowning, and Creech pulled him to safety, demonstrating the genuine friendship that developed between human and creature.

Foreshadowing: Their partnership throughout the film established a mutual trust emotional and connection.

• creech
• tripp
• saving
• drowning
• friendship
• bond

After the creatures exposed Terravex's atrocities, including the poisoning attempts and the capture of intelligent beings, CEO Reece Tenneson was arrested for his crimes. The company was held accountable for its illegal activities and unethical experiments.

Foreshadowing: Tenneson's escalating desperate measures throughout the film led to his inevitable downfall.

• tenneson
• arrest
• terravex
• exposed
• justice

The creatures possess a hive-mind that allows them to share knowledge and communicate telepathically with each other. This explains how Creech could sense his family's location at Terravex headquarters and how the parents could learn to operate the trucks quickly.

Foreshadowing: Creech's urgent feeling about his captured family members demonstrates this connection.

• creatures
• hive-mind
• telepathic
• connection
• communication