Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Temple (2017) movie poster

Spoiler-Free Summary

Temple (2017) Spoiler-Free Summary – What It's About

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 78 min · English
Echo score 36
Loading streaming availability…
Directed by
Michael Barrett
Starring
Naoto Takenaka, Logan Huffman, Brandon Sklenar, Asahi Uchida, Natalia Warner

Set in 1920s London, the story follows two roommates, Rehal and Arul, as they grapple with personal identity and the lingering effects of colonialism. Rehal harbors an unrequited love for Arul, which fuels a growing sense of unease and foreboding. The film is a haunting exploration of queer experience, delving into the secrets and hidden desires that shape their lives and the shadows of the past that surround them.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What it is about
  3. 3 Is it worth watching?
  4. 4 After you watch
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like Temple
  7. 7 Every angle
Loading streaming availability…

Spoiler-free summary · safe to read

What Is Temple About? (No Spoilers)

The plot of Temple (2017) without spoilers: what it is about, who it follows and where it takes place, told without the twists or the ending. Enough to decide whether it is your next watch, not enough to ruin it.

In the fog‑laden streets of 1920s London, the city itself feels like a living relic, its soot‑blackened alleys and grand, weathered institutions whispering of an empire that still clings to its former glory. Within this world of tea‑rooms and soot‑capped rooftops, the everyday bustle masks a deeper, quieter pulse of longing and unspoken history. The film’s atmosphere is both intimate and haunting, blending the muted elegance of the era with an undercurrent of unease that suggests the past is never truly buried.

The story centers on two roommates sharing a cramped flat above a bustling market. Rehal, a thoughtful and introspective soul, wrestles with a yearning that borders on the forbidden, his affection for his companion casting shadows over his everyday life. Across from him, Arul carries the weight of his own heritage, navigating the lingering dissonance of a colonial legacy that colors every interaction, from the way strangers glance to the expectations placed upon him by family and society. Their bond is a fragile tapestry woven from friendship, suppressed desire, and the constant negotiation of identity in a world that offers little room for nuance.

Together, they navigate the social salons, dimly lit pubs, and the austere halls of academia, each setting highlighting the tension between outward conformity and inner truth. The city’s architecture—stately Georgian facades juxtaposed with cramped tenements—mirrors their inner conflict: the grandeur of an imperial past and the cramped reality of personal revelation. As they move through crowded streets and quiet moments behind closed doors, an ever‑present sense of foreboding lingers, hinting at secrets that could unravel both their lives and the fragile stability of their world.

The film balances melancholy with fleeting moments of quiet hope, allowing the audience to feel the weight of history pressing against the softness of newfound affection. It is a meditation on how love, memory, and the ghosts of empire intertwine, inviting viewers to linger in the gray spaces between what is spoken and what is left unsaid.

Last updated: October 05, 2025 at 16:53

Was this helpful?

What to expect

Is Temple Worth Watching? What It Feels Like

Is it dark, sad, slow, intense or confusing? The mood of Temple (2017) in a few tags, without a word about how it ends. Each tag opens a list of movies that feel the same.

After you watch

Seen Temple? Now Read the Spoilers

Once you have watched Temple (2017), come back for the full story: the plot summary with spoilers, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning.

Movie threads

More Movies Like Temple, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Temple tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Psychological Supernatural Siege movies like Temple

Characters are trapped and tormented by a relentless supernatural force linked to past sins. If you liked the intense survival horror and psychological breakdown in Temple, explore more movies where characters are besieged by a vengeful supernatural force. These films often feature groups tested by a curse, a claustrophobic setting, and a bleak outcome, creating a similar sense of foreboding and inevitable doom.

  • claustrophobic
  • foreboding
  • paranoid
  • desperate
  • hostile
  • vengeful
  • Tone: tense, dark, bleak
  • Pacing: steady, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread begin with a group entering a place marked by a dark history. A supernatural entity, often tied to a specific past crime or curse, becomes active, trapping the characters. The threat escalates steadily, forcing secrets into the open and testing loyalties, ultimately leading to a high-stakes survival scenario with tragic consequences.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their core premise of a supernatural siege that is intrinsically linked to character psychology. They share a high-tension, high-intensity atmosphere, a steady pacing that builds dread, and a focus on the collapse of sanity and relationships under extreme pressure, resulting in a heavy emotional weight and often a bleak resolution.

Bleak Queer Gothic horror films similar to Temple

Haunting stories where queer desire and identity are shrouded in repression and supernatural dread. For viewers who appreciated Temple's exploration of queer identity and unrequited love within a tense, historical horror framework, this section highlights similar movies. These stories blend themes of repressed desire, cultural or societal shadows, and a pervasive sense of dread, often culminating in tragic or bittersweet outcomes.

  • repressed
  • melancholic
  • atmospheric
  • secretive
  • haunting
  • tragic
  • Tone: tense, melancholic, foreboding
  • Pacing: steady, atmospheric
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern centers on characters grappling with queer identity in a hostile or unaccepting world, frequently a repressive historical setting. Secrets and desires fuel a growing tension, which is amplified by a gothic atmosphere—a haunted house, a cursed legacy, or a general sense of decay. The story unfolds with a steady, deliberate pace, leading to an emotionally heavy conclusion that underscores the cost of repression.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are united by their fusion of queer themes with gothic horror sensibilities. They share a specific mood: tense, melancholic, and foreboding, driven by the conflict between personal truth and external pressure. The pacing is often steady, allowing the psychological unease and atmospheric dread to build towards a consequential, typically heavy-hearted ending.

If you liked this

Movies Like Temple

Similar movies to Temple: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Temple (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Temple in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app