Nine Dead (2010) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

They were all complicit in the wrongful imprisonment of Wade Greeley. Each person played a role: Christian committed the robbery but someone else took the blame; Mrs. Chan misidentified Greeley in a lineup; Kelley fabricated evidence to secure the conviction; Jackson falsified evidence as a police officer; Coogan sexually assaulted Greeley in prison, infecting him with AIDS; Sully was Christian's loan shark; Eddie denied Greeley experimental HIV treatment due to his criminal record; and Father Francis heard Christian's confession about the robbery. Wade Greeley's father orchestrated the kidnapping to seek revenge for his son's suffering and death.

Foreshadowing: Early in the game, the kidnapper warns they are there 'for a reason' and must discover their connection to survive.

• wade greeley
• kidnapping
• connection
• revenge
• wrongful conviction

The masked man is Wade Greeley's father. He reveals his identity near the end when he removes his mask. His son was wrongfully imprisoned for a robbery he didn't commit, was assaulted in prison where he contracted AIDS, and eventually died from the disease. The father spent years planning his revenge, believing the nine people in that room were responsible for his son's suffering and death.

Foreshadowing: The kidnapper demonstrates intimate knowledge of each victim's crimes and shows no mercy, suggesting a deeply personal motive.

• masked man
• wade greeley father
• kidnapper
• revenge
• father

Christian was killed because he was the actual robber of Mrs. Chan's store, yet Wade Greeley took the blame for his crime. Christian had confessed to Father Francis about committing the robbery, but Mrs. Chan mistakenly identified Greeley during the lineup. Christian's guilt and cowardice, letting an innocent man suffer for his crime, made him a target. The kidnapper systematically killed those responsible for Greeley's wrongful conviction.

Foreshadowing: Christian mentions he previously borrowed money from Sully, hinting at his financial desperation and criminal background.

• christian
• first death
• robbery
• misidentification

Coogan was a pedophile and rapist who assaulted Wade Greeley in prison. During that assault, he infected Greeley with AIDS, which ultimately caused Greeley's death. When Coogan realizes why he's been selected, he accepts his fate and asks to be shot, knowing his crimes contributed directly to Greeley's suffering and death.

Foreshadowing: Coogan admits to repeated imprisonments for his crimes early in the film, establishing his violent criminal history.

• coogan
• aids
• prison assault
• sexual assault
• wade greeley

Although Mrs. Chan was not the robber, her mistaken identification of Wade Greeley as the culprit directly led to his wrongful conviction. When she read a note in Chinese that revealed the kidnapper's motive, rooted in her false identification, she was executed. The kidnapper held her responsible for the chain of events that destroyed Greeley's life, even though her error was unintentional.

Foreshadowing: The group realizes early on that Mrs. Chan was involved in a past robbery case that Kelley handled, hinting at her role in the wrongful conviction.

• mrs chan
• chinese store
• mistaken identification
• lineup
• wade greeley

Wade Greeley was wrongfully convicted of robbing Mrs. Chan's store based on her mistaken identification and Kelley's fabricated evidence. In prison, he was sexually assaulted by Coogan, who infected him with AIDS. Greeley later applied for experimental HIV treatment through Eddie's company but was denied because of his criminal record. He eventually died from AIDS, having spent years suffering for a crime he didn't commit.

Foreshadowing: Father Francis hints that Greeley might not be the real culprit, setting up the revelation of his innocence.

• wade greeley
• aids
• wrongful imprisonment
• death
• prison assault

Eddie was a health insurance executive who denied Wade Greeley's application for experimental HIV treatment. Despite Greeley being a potential candidate for the treatment, Eddie's company rejected him solely because of his criminal record stemming from the wrongful conviction. This denial likely contributed to Greeley's death from AIDS, making Eddie complicit in the chain of events that led to his suffering.

Foreshadowing: Eddie mentions working for a company that handles experimental treatments, creating the foundation for his involvement.

• eddie
• hiv treatment
• health insurance
• denial
• wade greeley

Kelley was an Assistant District Attorney who fabricated evidence to secure Greeley's conviction. She admits to falsifying evidence in multiple cases to boost her career and win trials. In Greeley's case, her fabricated evidence, combined with Mrs. Chan's mistaken identification, led to an innocent man's imprisonment. Kelley also reveals she had killed someone in self-defense before, showing her willingness to bend or break the law for personal gain.

Foreshadowing: Kelley and Jackson share a past as lovers, and early tension suggests she has secrets to hide.

• kelley
• assistant district attorney
• fabricated evidence
• prosecutor
• wrongful conviction

After Greeley's father removes his mask and releases the remaining survivors, Kelley reveals her true nature. Rather than face justice or allow her crimes to be exposed, she shoots and kills Greeley's father (who is wearing a bulletproof vest that initially protects him), Eddie, and Jackson. She then escapes into the chaos as police arrive. This final act demonstrates her ruthless willingness to do anything to survive and avoid accountability for her actions.

Foreshadowing: Kelley admits to fabricating evidence and killing in self-defense, establishing her capacity for violence and deception.

• kelley
• betrayal
• shooting escape
• moral descent
• police arrival

The nine victims are connected through a chain of events that destroyed Wade Greeley's life. Christian robbed Mrs. Chan's store but escaped conviction. Mrs. Chan mistakenly identified Greeley as the robber. Kelley used fabricated evidence to convict Greeley. Jackson helped falsify evidence as a police officer. Sully financed Christian's criminal activities as a loan shark. Coogan assaulted Greeley in prison, infecting him with AIDS. Eddie denied Greeley experimental HIV treatment. Father Francis heard Christian's confession but couldn't prevent the injustice. Each person's action, or inaction, contributed to Greeley's suffering and death.

Foreshadowing: The kidnapper states they are there 'for a reason' and must uncover their connections to survive.

• connection
• chain of events
• linked to wade greeley
• responsibility

Jackson was a police officer who falsified evidence in Wade Greeley's case, helping Kelley secure the wrongful conviction. As a law enforcement officer, he abused his power to help convict an innocent man. His actions, combined with Kelley's fabricated evidence and Mrs. Chan's misidentification, directly led to Greeley's imprisonment and subsequent suffering.

Foreshadowing: Jackson shares a past with Kelley as former lovers, and early interactions hint at their history in the justice system.

• jackson
• police officer
• falsified evidence
• wade greeley
• law enforcement

Greeley's father wore a bulletproof vest because he planned to kill all nine people responsible for his son's suffering and death. The vest protected him when Kelley shot him initially, allowing him to survive the first shots. He only removes his mask and vest after declaring everyone has been watching and revealing his identity, prepared to accept his fate after completing his revenge.

Foreshadowing: The kidnapper demonstrates careful planning and preparation throughout the game, suggesting he anticipated violent resistance.

• bulletproof vest
• greeley father
• confrontation
• final showdown