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My Best Friend's Exorcism (2022) movie poster

Timeline

My Best Friend's Exorcism (2022) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2022 · 97 min · English
Echo score 30
JustWatch #18,192 5
Directed by
Damon Thomas
Starring
Elsie Fisher, Cathy Ang, Nathan Anderson, Erin Ownbey, Amiah Miller, Chris Lowell

In 1988, the close friendship of Abby and Gretchen is challenged when Gretchen begins to exhibit disturbing behavior. As they grapple with the complexities of teenage life, love, and the trends of the era, Abby discovers a demonic force has taken hold of her best friend. Determined to save Gretchen, Abby seeks help from an unusual exorcist, embarking on a desperate fight against evil and struggling to maintain their bond amidst the escalating supernatural threat.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 The book behind the movie
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like My Best Friend's Exorcism
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch My Best Friend's Exorcism (2022)

Where can you watch My Best Friend's Exorcism? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video Free: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

My Best Friend's Exorcism Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of My Best Friend's Exorcism (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. Sleepover Begins

    Abby, Gretchen, and their classmate Glee arrive at Margaret's lake house for what starts as a fun sleepover. The atmosphere is light-hearted, and excitement fills the air as they settle in for the night.

    Where
    Margaret's Lake House
  2. The Ouija Board

    The friends decide to play with a Ouija board, curious about the supernatural. Unbeknownst to them, this decision will lead to disastrous consequences as they inadvertently summon an evil spirit.

    Where
    Margaret's Lake House
  3. LSD Experience

    Margaret's boyfriend Wallace arrives, and the group decides to try LSD together. This psychedelic experience heightens their perceptions but also opens the door to terrifying events to come.

    Where
    Margaret's Lake House
  4. Eerie Exploration

    Under the influence of LSD, Abby and Gretchen venture into an abandoned building nearby. Their exploration takes a sinister turn as they encounter strange and frightening occurrences.

    Where
    Abandoned Building
  5. Gretchen's Attack

    While exploring, Gretchen is abruptly attacked by a supernatural force, leaving Abby terrified and concerned for her friend's well-being. This incident marks the beginning of Gretchen's dramatic transformation.

    Where
    Abandoned Building
  6. Gretchen's Odd Behavior

    After the attack, Gretchen begins to exhibit strange and alarming behaviors. Abby notices her friend's transformation, especially when Gretchen has a bizarre episode involving Wallace.

  7. Seeking Help

    Abby grows increasingly worried about Gretchen's state and decides to seek help from her parents and school authorities. Despite her earnest concerns, Abby is met with skepticism and disbelief.

  8. Discovery of Andras

    Determined to uncover the truth, Abby returns to the haunted building and finds the name 'Andras' inscribed on the wall. This revelation sparks tension with her friends as she confronts Wallace.

    Where
    Abandoned Building
  9. Betrayal and Humiliation

    As Abby's accusations against Wallace cause friction, Gretchen feels betrayed and distances herself from Abby. This rift culminates in public humiliation for Abby, leading to the end of their friendship.

  10. Gretchen's Dark Influence

    Despite their fallout, Gretchen becomes more manipulative and begins to threaten the well-being of their friends, particularly targeting Margaret and Glee. Abby observes the chaos and continues to investigate.

  11. Margaret's Illness

    Abby visits Margaret and discovers that she has fallen gravely ill, a consequence of Gretchen's nefarious actions. This prompts Abby to act swiftly in search of a solution.

  12. Exorcism Plan

    Abby seeks help from Christian, who confirms that Gretchen is possessed. In a desperate bid to save her friend and others affected, he agrees to perform an exorcism at the lake house.

    Where
    Margaret's Lake House
  13. Climactic Confrontation

    At the lake house, the group initiates the exorcism, but as the demon reveals itself as Christian's mother, he panics and flees, leaving Abby to confront the evil alone.

    Where
    Margaret's Lake House
  14. Battle against the Demon

    In a desperate move to save her friend, Abby resorts to stabbing Gretchen in an effort to drive out the demon. This intense battle culminates in the defeat of the malevolent spirit.

    Where
    Margaret's Lake House
  15. Friendship Resumed

    Weeks after the harrowing events, Gretchen relocates but her friendship with Abby remains intact. They continue their annual trips to the lake house, honoring the bond they forged through their experiences.

    Where
    Lake House

Last updated: November 03, 2024 at 12:20

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Timeline questions answered

My Best Friend's Exorcism Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

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

Q1

Why does Gretchen change after the lake house?

Gretchen undergoes a dramatic personality shift because she becomes possessed by a demon named Andras after the group plays with a Ouija board and explores an abandoned building while under the influence of LSD. The demon's presence causes her to exhibit erratic behavior, including violent outbursts, manipulative tendencies, and physical symptoms like projectile vomiting. Her transformation into a cruel and calculating person is directly tied to the supernatural possession, not her own choices.

Foreshadowing: The attack by a supernatural force in the abandoned building directly precedes Gretchen's behavioral changes.

  • gretchen possession
  • demon behavior change
  • lake house
  • abandoned building
Q2

How did the Ouija board summon the demon?

The friends unknowingly summon the demon when they use the Ouija board during their sleepover at Margaret's lake house. While under the influence of LSD, Abby and Gretchen venture into an abandoned building where they encounter the evil spirit, which then attaches itself to Gretchen. The Ouija board serves as the gateway, but it's their drugging and exploration of the building that allows the demon to choose Gretchen as its host.

Foreshadowing: The Ouija board session is the first supernatural event that sets the chain of possession in motion.

  • ouija board
  • summoning
  • demon
  • possession
  • abandoned building
  • lake house
Q3

Why does Abby think Gretchen was sexually assaulted?

Abby initially believes Gretchen was sexually assaulted because she doesn't yet understand that her friend is actually possessed by a demon. When Gretchen confides about the traumatic experience at the lake house and describes the frightening attack she suffered in the abandoned building, Abby interprets these disturbing events through the lens of sexual violence. This misdirection causes Abby to seek help from Gretchen's parents and school authorities, leading to her accusations against Wallace.

Foreshadowing: Abby's misinterpretation of the attack leads her to confront Wallace and make accusations that strain her friendships.

  • abby
  • assault
  • misunderstanding
  • wallace
  • accusation
Q4

Who is Christian and how does he perform an exorcism?

Christian Lemon is a fitness influencer who recognizes that Gretchen is possessed by a demon when he sees her. Unlike the adults and other students, Christian has knowledge of supernatural phenomena and agrees to perform an exorcism on Gretchen at the lake house where the possession began. His ability to identify and attempt to combat the demon suggests he has personal experience or knowledge of such entities, though his motivations remain somewhat mysterious.

Foreshadowing: Christian's disturbed reaction to Gretchen early in the film hints at his awareness of demonic presence.

  • christian lemon
  • exorcism
  • fitness influencer
  • possessed
  • lake house
Q5

What happens during the exorcism at the lake house?

During the exorcism at Margaret's lake house, Christian attempts to rid Gretchen of the demon Andras. However, when the demon manifests and reveals itself as Christian's own mother, he panics and flees the scene, abandoning Abby to confront the evil alone. This leaves Abby to finish the exorcism by herself in a desperate physical confrontation with Gretchen.

Foreshadowing: Christian's earlier disturbance at Gretchen's presence foreshadows his personal connection to demonic entities.

  • exorcism
  • lake house
  • christian mother
  • demon
  • flee
  • confrontation
Q6

Why does Abby stab Gretchen during the exorcism?

Abby stabs Gretchen as a desperate measure to expel the demon when Christian abandons the exorcism. With no other options available, Abby resorts to this violent act believing it is necessary to destroy the demonic entity possessing her friend. The stabbing represents the physical and emotional toll of the battle against evil, and it ultimately succeeds in banishing the demon, though it leaves Gretchen physically injured.

Foreshadowing: The desperation of the situation, with Christian fleeing, sets up Abby's extreme decision to use violence against her possessed friend.

  • abby stabbing
  • exorcism
  • violence
  • demon banishment
  • desperate act
Q7

What is Andras and why does it want Gretchen?

Andras is the name of the demon that possesses Gretchen. Abby discovers the name inscribed on a wall in the abandoned building where Gretchen was first attacked. The demon targets Gretchen specifically, likely because she was vulnerable during the LSD experience and the Ouija board session, making her an accessible host for the supernatural entity.

Foreshadowing: The discovery of Andras's name gives Abby the key information she needs to understand and eventually combat the demonic presence.

  • andras
  • demon
  • name
  • possession
  • abandoned building
  • wall inscription
Q8

How does Abby defeat the demon possession?

Abby defeats the demon through a combination of confronting it at the lake house where it was summoned and physically attacking Gretchen when the exorcism fails. After Christian flees, Abby's improvised assault on Gretchen's body proves effective in driving out the entity. The demon is ultimately destroyed, freeing Gretchen from its grip, though the victory comes at the cost of violence and trauma.

Foreshadowing: The climactic battle at the lake house where everything began serves as the ultimate confrontation with the evil force.

  • demon defeated
  • exorcism
  • battle
  • abby
  • possession broken
  • lake house
Q9

Why doesn't anyone believe Abby about Gretchen?

Adults and authority figures dismiss Abby's concerns because her description of Gretchen's behavior and the alleged attack sounds like teenage drama or fabrication. When Abby tries to explain that Gretchen is possessed by a demon, her claims sound impossible and hysterical to adults like Sister Kathleen and Brother Morgan at school, as well as Gretchen's parents. Without evidence of supernatural activity, they attribute Gretchen's changes to typical teenage behavior or possible substance abuse.

Foreshadowing: Abby's failed attempts to get help from adults establish the isolation she faces in combating the demonic threat.

  • adults
  • disbelief
  • authority
  • sister kathleen
  • brother morgan
  • parents
Q10

Do Abby and Gretchen stay friends after the exorcism?

Yes, Abby and Gretchen remain best friends despite the traumatic events. Even though Gretchen must relocate to start fresh after the possession, their bond survives the ordeal. The film ends with them continuing their annual tradition of returning to the lake house together, demonstrating that their friendship was ultimately strengthened by surviving the demonic threat together.

Foreshadowing: The film's closing scenes confirm that the friendship endures despite the physical separation and trauma they experienced.

  • friendship
  • reunion
  • relocation
  • annual trip
  • lake house
  • bond
Q11

Why does Gretchen target her own friends after being possessed?

Once possessed by Andras, Gretchen systematically targets her friends, particularly Margaret and Glee, as part of the demon's malicious influence. She exploits Margaret's insecurities and poisons Glee, demonstrating the corrupting nature of demonic possession. These cruel actions are not Gretchen's own choices but rather the demon using her body to spread harm to those around her, including those she once loved.

Foreshadowing: Gretchen's transformation into a manipulative bully directly follows her possession and escalates the danger to everyone around her.

  • gretchen attacks friends
  • margaret
  • glee
  • poison
  • manipulation
  • demon influence

Movie threads

More Movies Like My Best Friend's Exorcism, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes My Best Friend's Exorcism tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about friendship battling evil like My Best Friend's Exorcism

Stories where the bond between friends is a weapon against a terrifying force. If you liked seeing Abby fight for Gretchen in My Best Friend's Exorcism, you'll find similar stories here. These movies feature loyal friends facing down demons, monsters, or supernatural threats, where the emotional core is the survival of their bond amidst the horror.

  • desperate
  • tense
  • loyal
  • frantic
  • anxious
  • traumatic
  • Tone: dark, desperate
  • Pacing: fast, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically begin with a strong, established friendship that is shattered by an external, often supernatural, incursion. The plot follows the protagonist's desperate journey to save their friend, encountering skepticism and danger, culminating in a high-stakes confrontation where love and loyalty are the ultimate weapons.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here because they share a specific emotional core: the theme of unconditional friendship as a source of strength in the face of overwhelming horror. They blend heavy emotional weight with high-intensity thrills, focusing on the characters' emotional journey as much as the supernatural plot.

Fast-paced 80s-style horror movies like My Best Friend's Exorcism

Fast-paced horror stories steeped in nostalgic settings but driven by relentless dread. Fans of the frantic, nostalgic horror in My Best Friend's Exorcism will enjoy this selection. These are high-tension thrillers and horror films that evoke a specific retro era, often the 80s, combining coming-of-age elements with a fast, desperate pace and disturbing themes.

  • frantic
  • anxious
  • nostalgic
  • disturbing
  • tense
  • gritty
  • Tone: dark, gritty, nostalgic
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a quick descent from normalcy into chaos, with little time for characters or the audience to breathe. The period setting provides a layer of recognizability and comfort that is systematically dismantled by a sudden, violent supernatural or psychological threat that accelerates towards a brutal climax.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their unique blend of a distinct nostalgic aesthetic and a consistently fast, high-anxiety pacing. They deliver a specific viewing experience: a comforting sense of familiarity quickly overwritten by frantic, gritty, and disturbing horror action.

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Every angle

My Best Friend's Exorcism (2022) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

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