Sister Death

Sister Death

Year: 2023

Runtime: 91 mins

Language: Spanish

Director: Paco Plaza

Echo Score: 77
DramaHorrorHorror the undead and monster classicsTerrifying haunted and supernatural horrorTwisted dark psychological thriller

Spain, 1949. Narcisa, a novice, arrives at an old convent, converted into a girls’ school, to work as a teacher.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Sister Death 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 & Setting – Sister Death (2023)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Sister Death (2023). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1939, post-Civil War Spain

The film begins in 1939 Spain, toward the end of the Civil War and the Red Terror. A decade later, Narcisa arrives at the convent-turned-school, and the story extends across subsequent decades as she grows older and the hauntings continue.

Location

Spain, Convent

Set in Spain, the story centers on a convent in a town that is later turned into a girls' school after the Red Terror. The atmosphere blends religious life with secrecy and fear rooted in the war’s traumas. The building—its chapel, confessional, and hidden rooms—becomes the stage for haunting visions and buried memories.

🇪🇸 Spain 🏰 Convent 🏫 School

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 09:56

Main Characters – Sister Death (2023)

Meet the key characters of Sister Death (2023), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Narcisa (Aria Bedmar)

Narcisa arrives at the reform-convent-turned-school with unsettling supernatural gifts and deep insecurities about her faith. She endures nightmares and experiences escalating hauntings, which draw her into the mystery of “the girl.” Her name on the blackboard and the visions she witnesses propel the plot toward a reckoning with the convent’s buried past.

🧭 Gifted 👁️ Psychic 🕯️ Faith under strain

Sister Socorro (Almudena Amor)

The spirit of Sister Socorro emerges from the past as a victim whose rape during the war birthed a hidden daughter. Through her haunting, Narcisa learns the tragic backstory: Socorro’s daughter died, and Socorro ultimately hanged herself, leaving a vengeful presence. Socorro’s appearance drives the confrontation that ends with her and her daughter reuniting in the afterlife.

👼 Past victim 🕯️ Spirit 🗝️ Secret

Sister Julia (Chelo Vivares)

Sister Julia is the convent’s stern authority who dismisses warnings and punishes Rosa. She embodies the intolerance and rigidity that fail to confront the convent’s traumas. She becomes a target of Socorro’s revenge and dies as the past erupts into the present.

🧭 Authority 🧱 Skeptic ⚖️ Complicity

Mother Superior (Luisa Merelas)

The Mother Superior welcomes Narcisa as the ‘holy girl’ and staunchly guards the convent’s secrets to preserve its reputation. She participates in concealing the truth about the war-era violence and the hidden child. Her demise comes when Socorro’s vengeance erupts, exposing the cost of secrecy.

🕊️ Authority 🤫 Cover-up 🔒 Secrecy

Rosa (Sara Roch)

A pupil who senses the danger around Narcisa, Rosa is frightened by Narcisa’s writings and the spirit’s manifestations. Her discovery of the haunted sabre-like letters foreshadows the danger in the convent. Rosa’s later death becomes a catalyzing moment that exposes the true horrors hidden in the walls.

👧 Student 💀 Tragedy 🗝️ Hidden fear

Verónica (Sandra Escacena)

Decades after Narcisa’s arrival, the elder Narcisa teaches a new class and Verónica is among the students who mock her as “Sister Death.” Verónica’s presence anchors the film’s meditation on memory and legacy, as she encounters Narcisa and the haunted past surfaces again.

👧 Student 🕯️ Witness to legacy 🎭 Survivor

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 09:56

Major Themes – Sister Death (2023)

Explore the central themes of Sister Death (2023), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👻 Haunting

The convent is haunted by the memories of past violence, and Narcisa’s visions pull the living into confrontations with that history. Apparitions and symbolic drawings mark the line between supernatural fear and buried truth. The hauntings reveal how trauma is kept alive within the walls of the religious community.

🙏 Faith and Guilt

Narcisa’s gifts test her faith, and the sisters’ rigid beliefs shield painful histories. Confession, doubt, and the pressure to maintain a saintly image collide with the truth of what happened during the war. The film probes how religious duty can mask complicity and guilt.

🗝️ Secrets and Revenge

Repressed secrets about the war-era violence surface as Socorro’s spirit seeks vengeance on those who concealed the truth. The revelation of the hidden child and Socorro’s suicide drives a vengeful arc that culminates in the killing of the Mother Superior and Sister Julia. Memory and retribution intertwine, ensuring the past cannot stay buried.

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 09:56

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of Sister Death

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

Sister Death Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Sister Death, 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.

Sister Death Summary

Sister Death Timeline

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

Sister Death Timeline

Sister Death Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Sister Death 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.

Sister Death Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Sister Death

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Sister Death: 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 Sister Death

Similar Movies to Sister Death

Discover movies like Sister Death 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.