Rigor Mortis

Rigor Mortis

Year: 2014

Runtime: 105 min

Language: Chinese

Director: Juno Mak

ActionDramaHorror

A troubled actor, struggling with inner demons, finds himself trapped in a decaying apartment building where the boundary between the living and the dead has blurred. He confronts vengeful spirits and a determined vampire hunter as he battles his own despair and the escalating supernatural threats within the building's eerie atmosphere.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Rigor Mortis yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Rigor Mortis (2014)

Trace every key event in Rigor Mortis (2014) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Chin's despair drives him to move into the haunted building

After his wife and young son leave him, Chin Siu-ho sinks into despair and relocates to a dilapidated apartment. He resolves to disconnect, but that night he attempts suicide by hanging, setting in motion a troubling haunting. Twin girl ghosts begin to haunt his room, signaling the supernatural trouble to come.

Night Dilapidated apartment building
2

The twins seize Chin's body

The twin girls torment Chin and eventually possess his body, turning him into a vessel for their vengeance. The haunting intensifies as his movements seem controlled by the spirits.

Night Chin's room
3

Yau intervenes and frees Chin from possession

Neighbor Yau bursts into the room, cuts the noose to break the possession, and drives the spirits from Chin's body. The exorcism gives Chin a temporary reprieve, but the danger remains.

Late night Chin's room
4

Yau explains jiangshi hunters and Chin's new ally

Chin visits Yau's restaurant where Yau explains that his family are jiangshi hunters, and that their world includes vampires and curses. He warns Chin about the dangers within the apartment and suggests he consider banishing the ghosts.

Evening Yau's restaurant
5

Chin meets Yang and Pak; learns their tragedy

Chin meets Yang Feng and her son Pak in the building and learns their backstory from Uncle Yin. Yang's husband allegedly abused one of the twins and another twin stabbed; the remaining twin hanged herself, driving Yang to flee.

Evening Apartment unit
6

Chin vows to banish the ghosts

Motivated to help Yang and Pak, Chin resolves to banish the twin ghosts from the building so they can relocate with him. He seeks a way to end the haunting once and for all.

Night Chin's room
7

Gau ambushes Chin and summons the twins

Gau, a black magician living in the building, ambushes Chin in his room and performs a ritual that summons the twin ghosts back into Chin's body, renewing the threat.

Night Chin's room
8

Exorcism seals the twins in a cabinet

Yau and Gau stage a counter-exorcism that drives the twins from Chin and binds their souls inside a cabinet. Gau pretends to burn the cabinet but secretly keeps it, ensuring the twins remain trapped.

Night Chin's room
9

Virgin blood and Uncle Yin's death

Meiyi complains that Tung hasn't resurrected and Gau hints virgin blood might speed the process. Uncle Yin, suspicious of Gau, confronts him and Meiyi; Meiyi strikes Yin with a pot and kills him.

Night Gau's apartment
10

Pak visits Meiyi; Tung revives and murders Pak

Pak visits Meiyi alone, and Meiyi locks him in the bathroom with Tung's disfigured corpse. After removing Tung's warding mask, Tung revives and murders Pak, deepening the crisis in the apartment.

Night Meiyi's apartment
11

Yang opens the cabinet; twins escape

Yang searches for Pak and unwittingly opens the cabinet, freeing the twins who escape invisibly. She encounters Pak, now a ghost, and is killed while trying to defend herself against Tung.

Late night Yang's apartment
12

Dawn arrives, the trap, and the fall of the jiangshi

As dawn approaches, Yau helps Chin set a trap that binds Tung and weakens him. The sunlight burns the jiangshi and drives the twin spirits from Tung's body, while Meiyi slits her own throat in despair.

Dawn Courtyard of the building
13

The twist: it was all in Chin's dying mind

In the final sequence, it is revealed that Chin actually died by suicide, and the events unfolded in his dying mind as rigor mortis set in. The neighbors are revealed as misperceived versions of people he encountered on the way to his apartment.

End Chin's mind
14

The morgue reveal: the real-world aftermath

At the morgue, Chin's adult son identifies the body, and the medical examiner is Dr. Gau, recasting Gau as the coroner rather than a living ally. The twist reframes the ordeal as a final hallucination before death.

After death Morgue

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:17

Unlock the Full Story of Rigor Mortis

Don't stop at just watching — explore Rigor Mortis in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Rigor Mortis is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Rigor Mortis Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Rigor Mortis, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Rigor Mortis Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Rigor Mortis

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Rigor Mortis. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Rigor Mortis

Rigor Mortis Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Rigor Mortis that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Rigor Mortis Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Rigor Mortis

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Rigor Mortis: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Rigor Mortis

Similar Movies to Rigor Mortis

Discover movies like Rigor Mortis that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.