Out of Darkness (2024) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Beyah mercy killed Adem to end his suffering after he was gravely injured during his solo hunt for the creature that abducted Heron. Adem returned from the woods with fatal wounds, and in a moment of compassion, Beyah made the difficult decision to spare him from further pain. This act was motivated by mercy rather than cruelty, reflecting the desperate circumstances they faced.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Adem insisted on tracking the creature alone despite the group's concerns, setting the stage for his fatal injury.

• adem
• beyah
• mercy killing
• injury
• survival

The group faced extreme starvation in the harsh, frozen landscape with no food sources available. After Adem died, the remaining members, except for Geirr, made the desperate choice to consume his body to survive. This act reflects the dire circumstances and extreme desperation of the survivors rather than any inherent cruelty.

Foreshadowing: The opening establishes the group as struggling to find food in a harsh, frozen landscape.

• cannibalism
• starvation
• survival
• adem
• desperation

The creature that abducted Heron was a female Neanderthal, not a supernatural monster as the group initially believed. She had taken Heron to her cave, where he remained unharmed throughout his captivity. The Neanderthals were simply trying to survive in their own territory, much like the human group.

Foreshadowing: The creature was described as haunting the dark woods, creating fear and mystery around its true nature.

• neanderthal
• heron
• creature
• cave
• abduction

Odal became convinced that a demon was pursuing them and blamed Beyah's menstrual cycle for their misfortunes. In his paranoid state, he suggested sacrificing Beyah as a ritual offering to appease whatever force he believed was hunting them. This reflects the group's desperation and the superstitious fear that took hold amid their suffering.

Foreshadowing: The group had already experienced tragedy, loss, and starvation, creating an environment where irrational beliefs could flourish.

• odal
• beyah
• sacrifice
• ritual
• superstition

Avé broke Odal's ankle to defend herself when he attacked her during the sacrifice attempt. When Odal stabbed Avé believing she would be a suitable offering, she fought back and managed to injure him severely enough to break his ankle, though she was ultimately unable to prevent her own death.

Foreshadowing: Odal had already targeted Beyah for sacrifice, and the situation escalated when he turned his attention to Avé.

• ave
• odal
• attack
• self-defense
• injury

Beyah killed the female Neanderthal because she believed the Neanderthals were monsters responsible for killing her people. When the female tried to follow them through the narrow escape passage, Beyah made the agonizing decision to kill her with a rock. However, Heron's words, 'They are like us,' later caused Beyah to realize the Neanderthals were simply frightened people trying to survive, just like them.

Foreshadowing: The discovery of the Neanderthal cave and the realization that they had taken Avé's body foreshadowed their true nature as sentient beings.

• beyah
• neanderthal
• killing
• heron
• realization

Heron meant that the Neanderthals were not monsters or demons but rather human-like beings with the same capacity for emotion, care, and survival instincts. His time with the female Neanderthal showed him that they were simply trying to protect their territory and family, much like his own group. This realization contrasted with Beyah's view of them as killers.

Foreshadowing: The female Neanderthal had kept Heron unharmed in her cave, suggesting protective rather than predatory intent.

• heron
• neanderthals
• empathy
• understanding
• monsters

The Neanderthals prepared Avé's body for burial because, despite being from a different group, they possessed the same capacity for compassion and ritual mourning as modern humans. When Beyah and Heron found Avé's body, it was meticulously prepared for a funeral, demonstrating that the Neanderthals understood dignity and respect for the dead, proving Heron's point that they were indeed 'like us.'

Foreshadowing: The female Neanderthal was shown watching Avé's body under the aurora borealis before taking it.

• ave
• neanderthals
• burial
• ritual
• compassion

Adem insisted on tracking the creature alone because his son Heron had been abducted, and as the leader, he felt responsible for rescuing him. Despite the unease of the other group members, his paternal duty drove him to pursue the creature into the dangerous forest alone, ultimately leading to his fatal injury.

Foreshadowing: Adem was established as the steadfast leader of the group, and his bond with Heron was evident from the start.

• adem
• heron
• hunt
• creature
• pursuit

The conflict arose from fear and misunderstanding on both sides. The humans viewed the Neanderthals as dangerous monsters haunting the dark woods, while the Neanderthals were simply defending their territory and family. Neither group understood the other, leading to violent confrontation. The film suggests this conflict was tragic because both groups were just trying to survive.

Foreshadowing: The mysterious creature was first encountered in the dark woods, immediately setting up the humans as intruders in Neanderthal territory.

• conflict
• fear
• misunderstanding
• territory
• survival

Beyah's final message 'We try again' signifies hope and resilience despite the tremendous loss they endured. After losing nearly everyone in their group, Adem, Geirr, Avé, and the Neanderthals, Beyah and Heron decide to move forward, applying the lessons they learned. They claim the cave as their new home, representing a new beginning for what Beyah calls 'the first of a new people.'

Foreshadowing: The film opened with the group arriving in search of a brighter future, and the ending fulfills that search despite the tragic cost.

• ending
• hope
• survival
• new beginning
• resilience