Sundown

Sundown

Year: 2022

Runtime: 83 min

Language: English

Director: Michel Franco

Drama

A wealthy family's vacation in Mexico is unexpectedly cut short by an unfolding crisis, forcing them to confront long-held tensions. As the Bennetts struggle to adjust to the sudden change, carefully constructed family dynamics are disrupted. Secrets and lies surface, threatening to unravel their unity and expose the fragile foundation of their relationships. The unfolding events force them to examine the hidden truths within their clan.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Sundown (2022)

Trace every key event in Sundown (2022) 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

Arrival in Acapulco and luxurious vacation

The Bennett family arrives in Acapulco and checks into a luxurious hotel, enjoying meals at fancy restaurants and a range of resort activities. Neil, however, remains withdrawn and detached from the vacation vibe. The setup establishes privilege while hinting at Neil's growing unease.

Day 1 Acapulco, Mexico
2

Family vacation versus Neil's unease

While Alice and the kids revel in the resort's offerings, Neil drifts apart, watching but not participating in the fun. His mood contrasts with the others’ enthusiasm, underscoring his sense of disconnection from the family’s privileged life. The vacation continues, but Neil’s inner weather remains stormy.

During vacation Acapulco, Mexico
3

Phone call about their mother

Alice receives a phone call informing their mother is in the hospital, and the family prepares to cut the trip short. They rush to make arrangements to return home, facing an urgent family crisis. The vacation begins to feel like a pause before a much heavier burden.

Day 2-3 Acapulco
4

Second call confirms mother's death

A second call confirms that their mother has died, and Alice bursts into tears while Neil stays calm. The news shifts the emotional balance of the trip and accelerates the departure toward the airport. The moment demonstrates a stark contrast in how they process tragedy.

Moment of news En route to airport
5

Neil stays behind, claims passport lost

At the airport, Neil claims he left his passport at the hotel, causing the rest of the family to depart without him. In truth, he has chosen to stay in Acapulco, seeking anonymity and distance from his obligations. The decision marks the start of a new life far from their wealth.

Departure moment Airport, Acapulco
6

Neil stays, befriends Jorge Campos

Neil stays in Acapulco and befriends a taxi driver, Jorge Campos, who helps him relocate to a smaller hotel. He begins living a low-key life, cutting ties with his glamorous former existence. The change signals a growing detachment from his old family.

Shortly after decision to stay Acapulco; small hotel
7

Neil's new routine and romance

He fills his days with cheap meals and beach visits, slowly embracing a simpler routine. He also starts dating a friendly local named Berenice, signaling a new emotional focus. The romance marks a clear break from his prior detachment.

Weeks after Acapulco
8

Belongings vanish; emotional numbness

Returning to his room, Neil finds his belongings missing, presumably stolen, and he shows no emotional reaction. The incident reinforces his drift away from his former life and the people who care about him. The lack of response highlights his alienation.

Following weeks Small hotel room
9

Witnessing a drive-by shooting

The next day, Neil witnesses a drive-by shooting and remains apathetic, unshaken by the violence around him. This moment underscores how numb he has become to danger and personal concern. It also foreshadows the escalating tension with his sister's side of the family.

Next day Acapulco streets
10

Alice confronts Neil; relinquishment of assets

Alice returns to Acapulco and confronts Neil about abandoning her during a family crisis. The confrontation pivots to business matters as they discuss the family company. Neil signs a document relinquishing his assets and inheritance in the presence of the family lawyer, Richard.

After confrontation Acapulco
11

Alice is killed; Neil arrested

Criminals driven by Jorge shoot Alice, killing her, and the police arrest Neil, believing he ordered the assassination. He bursts into tears only after learning of his sister's death, revealing the emotional impact of the tragedy. The murder marks a turning point in how others view him.

After signing Acapulco
12

Company inheritance and prison release

Neil's representatives inform him that the family company is now his, and Richard helps secure his release from prison. Back at his hotel, he resumes seeing Berenice and continues his life by the beach. The legal and personal developments pull him between past loyalty and newfound power.

After release Prison then hotel, Acapulco
13

Confrontation with siblings; signing over rights

Richard, Colin, and Alexa confront Neil in his room, and Alexa hits him in the head with a glass bottle. Neil signs over the rights to the company to Colin and Alexa, in exchange for a monthly pension and a £100,000 upfront payment. The scene cements his new, compromised position within the family.

Later Hotel room, Acapulco
14

Neil's collapse and brain cancer diagnosis

A few days later, Neil falls down a set of stairs and is taken to the hospital, where doctors reveal he has brain cancer. After Berenice sleeps by his side, he leaves her and walks alone through Mexico City’s streets at night. The film shifts from quiet despair to an uncertain medical prognosis.

A few days after confrontation Hospital; Mexico City
15

Final image: alone at dawn

The closing shot shows Neil wandering the streets as waves crash on a beach at dawn, with his clothes and a beer left unattended on a chair. The world appears bright and empty, underscoring a solitary, inconclusive future. The final beat leaves his fate realistically open.

Following night to morning Mexico City to beach

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 20:07

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Sundown Summary

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Sundown Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Sundown

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Sundown

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Sundown Spoiler-Free Summary

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