Sacrifice

Sacrifice

Year: 2020

Runtime: 77 mins

Language: Japanese

Director: Taku Tsuboi

Echo Score: 58
MysteryDramaThriller

Seven years after a startling prediction of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and her involvement with a doomsday cult, college student Midori experiences recurring visions through unusual powers. At the same school, another student, Toko, feels trapped and suspects her classmate Okita is responsible for a series of disturbing events, including the killings of cats and a fellow student. As Midori struggles to understand her abilities, Toko’s suspicions deepen, leading to a tense and unsettling investigation.

Sacrifice (2020) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Sacrifice (2020) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a modest college campus haunted by the memory of a 2011 catastrophe, Midori lives with the lingering echo of a prophecy that once predicted the Great East Japan Earthquake. Seven years later, she discovers that the unsettling vision that saved a nation has left her with an uncanny, recurring ability to glimpse fragments of future turmoil. As she tries to reconcile these vivid impressions with the ordinary rhythms of student life, the weight of her past involvement with a shadowy doomsday cult adds an undercurrent of dread, suggesting that the world she thought she understood may be far more fragile than it appears.

Across the same hallways, Toko feels trapped in a routine that offers little escape. She becomes increasingly convinced that her classmate Okita is linked to a series of disturbing incidents that have rattled their study group, ranging from the mysterious disappearance of pets to the unsettling loss of a peer. Her growing suspicion fuels a quiet, relentless investigation, drawing her deeper into a maze of whispers and half‑seen motives. The tension between her need for certainty and the ambiguity of the clues creates a palpable atmosphere of unease that permeates the campus.

The film balances an introspective, almost lyrical tone with a subtle, creeping suspense, inviting viewers to linger on the spaces between what is seen and what is felt. Midori’s struggle to understand her inexplicable powers intersects with Toko’s quest for truth, forming a delicate dance of parallel narratives that hover on the edge of the uncanny. As the story unfolds, the audience is left to wonder whether the visions and the investigations are converging toward something larger, or if the answers lie buried in the ordinary shadows of everyday life.

Last Updated: October 11, 2025 at 19:38

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Claustrophobic psychological thrillers like Sacrifice

Stories where suspicion and paranoia trap characters in a tightening web.If you liked the unsettling, paranoid tension of Sacrifice, this thread collects movies with a similar psychology-first approach to suspense. Find more stories where characters are trapped by suspicion and sinister influences, perfect for fans of dark, slow-burn thrillers where the mind is the main battleground.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow a protagonist who senses a hidden danger that others dismiss. As they investigate, their own sanity and perception are called into question. The plot unfolds through a series of disturbing revelations that create a sense of inescapable psychological confinement, leading to a confrontation that is often as morally complex as it is tense.

Why These Movies?

They are grouped by their shared focus on internal dread over external action, a steady pacing that builds suffocating tension, and a dark tone that explores themes of manipulation, isolation, and fractured reality. The viewing experience is defined by a constant, unsettling suspicion.

Movies about cults and sinister influence like Sacrifice

Tales exploring how manipulative groups prey on the vulnerable and isolated.For viewers who found the cult elements and themes of psychological manipulation in Sacrifice compelling, this list features similar stories. Discover films that explore the dynamics of sinister groups, the grooming of vulnerable individuals, and the heavy emotional weight of breaking free from such control.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern often begins with a character in a vulnerable state being offered solace or purpose by a group. The story reveals the gradual process of indoctrination, the enforcement of loyalty, and the escalating control exerted by the leaders. The climax typically involves a violent or traumatic event that forces a realization and a desperate attempt at escape, often with bittersweet or tragic consequences.

Why These Movies?

These films share a deep exploration of cult psychology, the trauma of manipulation, and the devastating impact on personal relationships. They are united by a dark, heavy tone, a steady pacing that mirrors the methodical nature of indoctrination, and a focus on the profound emotional and psychological damage inflicted.

Unlock the Full Story of Sacrifice

Don't stop at just watching — explore Sacrifice 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 Sacrifice is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Sacrifice Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Sacrifice, 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.

Sacrifice Summary

Sacrifice Timeline

Track the full timeline of Sacrifice with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Sacrifice Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Sacrifice

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

Characters, Settings & Themes in Sacrifice

More About Sacrifice

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

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