Prison of the Dead

Prison of the Dead

Year: 2000

Runtime: 73 mins

Language: English

Director: David DeCoteau

Horror

The eccentric rich teen Kristof lures his former high‑school friends to a fake funeral, hoping to reunite them. They spend the night in an abandoned witch‑prison, where a Ouija session unintentionally raises three vengeful executioners. The Crypt Keepers launch a killing spree, finishing everyone before dawn, while the black‑clad friends must survive.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Prison of the Dead (2000)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Prison of the Dead (2000). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The events take place in a contemporary setting with twenty-somethings returning to a funeral and engaging in a modern-era paranormal contest. The lore blends modern youth culture with legends of Puritan horrors, centering on the Talon Key and an ancient gate beneath the house.

Location

Hawthorne Funeral Home, Blood Prison

The Hawthorne Funeral Home sits on the remote site of the Blood Prison, a former Puritan jail designed for torture and execution. A portion of the prison's dungeon remains beneath the current building, linking the living to a centuries-old history of punishment. The setting blends a somber funeral atmosphere with a secret, dangerous past connected to the Talon Key.

🏚️ Haunted location 🧭 Remote site 🗝️ Hidden dungeon

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:37

Main Characters – Prison of the Dead (2000)

Meet the key characters of Prison of the Dead (2000), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Calvin

Calvin is alive after faking his death to lure his old friends back together. He orchestrates the reunion and part of a larger plan tied to the Talon Key, leveraging his charisma to keep the group engaged. He is eventually killed by the executioners, a victim of the very danger he helped summon.

🗝️ Manipulative 🧭 Charismatic 🕯️ Haunted past

Kat

Kat is among the group from school who is possessed by a witch's spirit during the Ouija session. The possession pushes her to betray or react unpredictably as the danger escalates. She is ultimately killed when Scythe cuts her throat.

👁️ Possessed 🕯️ Fearless 🧭 Loyal

Bill

Bill is a friend who helps setup the scare but is part of the group from school. He becomes caught in the possession saga and is killed when Sickle cuts his throat.

🎭 Prankster 🧭 Skeptic

Michele

Michele is part of the group, involved with Rory; she has sex with Rory and is later killed by Mace. She is a casualty of the escalating horror.

💔 Casualty 🩸 Victim

Kristof St. Pierce

Kristof is the mastermind behind the reunion and the Talon Key quest, seeking validation and a prize. He manipulates Bill and the others and becomes the target of the vengeful spirits after triggering the haunting.

🏷️ Ambition 🗝️ Key hunter 🧩 Strategist

Allie

Allie is temporarily possessed by a witch's spirit during the Ouija session and later appears shaken but unharmed, before suffering a grim fate as she endures the hauntings.

👁️ Possessed 🕯️ Survivor

Rory

Rory is Michele's partner in the group who engages with the others, has a sexual encounter with Michele, and is later killed by Scythe; his death contributes to the group's spiral into horror.

💔 Affection 🩸 Victim

Jeff

Jeff is part of the group from school who arrives with Bill and Kat. He is possessed and decapitated by Sickle during the possession sequence.

👁️ Possessed 🗡️ Sacrificed

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:37

Major Themes – Prison of the Dead (2000)

Explore the central themes of Prison of the Dead (2000), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕯️ Supernatural

A Ouija board summons the dead and reawakens the prison's executioners. Possession, decapitation, and other supernatural acts escalate as the spirits are unleashed. The Talon Key represents the lure of unlocking a hidden evil beneath the funeral home.

🎭 Deception

Calvin's apparent death was faked to reunite the friends and fuel a dangerous contest. Kristof manipulates the group, turning a scavenger hunt into a life-or-death ordeal. The line between prank and horror collapses as real threats emerge.

💥 Consequences

Pursuit of status and curiosity costs lives, dissolving friendships and spilling blood. The group members pay for past choices with fatal consequences, including betrayals and the unleashing of the executioners. In the end, the supposed prank is revealed to have enduring, deadly repercussions.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:37

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Prison of the Dead Summary

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Prison of the Dead Summary

Prison of the Dead Timeline

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Prison of the Dead Timeline

Prison of the Dead Spoiler-Free Summary

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Prison of the Dead Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Prison of the Dead

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Prison of the Dead (2000) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Prison of the Dead (2000) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Prison of the Dead (2000) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow