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Plot Summary

Thale (2013) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2013 · 76 min · Norwegian
JustWatch #17,924 16
Directed by
Aleksander Nordaas

While cleaning a secluded cabin, two crime scene cleaners discover a mysterious creature, revealing a dark secret. As they investigate further, they are drawn into a chilling mystery that forces them to confront unsettling truths and the hidden darkness within themselves. The discovery leads them on a suspenseful journey filled with unexpected horrors.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Thale
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Thale (2013)

Where can you watch Thale? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on XLTV Amazon Channel , Hoopla and Cineverse: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Thale: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Thale (2013) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Two men clad in plastic biohazard suits are busy working as a cleaning crew at a gruesome crime scene. Among them is Elvis, who is struggling to cope with the sights and sounds of his surroundings, frequently vomiting into a bucket, showcasing his lack of experience in this grisly line of work. Conversely, his partner, Leo, remains surprisingly calm and collected as he diligently mops up a large pool of congealed blood on the floor with handfuls of paper towels. Just then, Leo's cell phone rings, and as Elvis attempts to help by answering it, he unwittingly holds the phone up to Leo's ear while Leo is still gloved and engaged in his task. Leo's voice is steady as he introduces himself in a rather unorthodox manner: "No shit cleaning service, Leo speaking."

While Leo listens intently to the details of their next cleaning job, Elvis can't help but steal a glance at the horrifying crime scene, which sends him double over in nausea once more, leading him to drop Leo's phone right into the bloodied mess. Unperturbed, Leo kneels down, leans in to retrieve the phone, and calmly completes the call to get the address for their next assignment. Once the conversation wraps up, he nonchalantly informs Elvis, "lunchtime."

Excitedly, Elvis responds with a cheerful, "great!" The scene transitions to a serene lakeside in a secluded wooded area where Elvis stands swaying gently in the wind with his eyes closed. Leo approaches him with grave news about their upcoming task — they are to clean up after an elderly man whose remains have been scattered across the woodland. Leo shares that the police managed to recover only half of the body due to the presence of wild animals in the vicinity. Still swaying with his eyes closed, Elvis queries, "so we have to find the other half?"

Leo, with his typical nonchalance, shrugs off the macabre details of their job, while Elvis elaborates on his current state of bliss, stating that he’s simply enjoying the breeze. Leo then joins in, closing his eyes and swaying alongside Elvis. The duo prepares for the next gruesome task at hand, ensuring they will have to tear up the outhouse floor to search for the remaining human remains that have been buried beneath the surface. Inside the outhouse, Elvis starts tossing out various bits of clutter, making room for the grim work that lies ahead as they dive deeper into their next job.

Last updated: May 12, 2025 at 07:04

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Plot questions answered

Thale Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Thale (2013): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why is Elvis vomiting at the crime scene?

Elvis is vomiting because he is inexperienced in crime scene cleanup work. The gruesome nature of the scene, with its congealed blood and violent aftermath, overwhelms him physically and emotionally. This contrasts sharply with his partner Leo, who remains calm and professional despite the horrific setting.

  • elvis
  • vomiting
  • crime scene
  • nausea
  • inexperience
Q2

Why does Leo stay so calm during cleanup?

Leo appears calm because he is experienced in this line of work. His nonchalant behavior, including making phone calls while knee-deep in blood and casually greeting clients as "No shit cleaning service," shows he has become desensitized to the gruesome reality of crime scene cleanup.

  • leo
  • calm
  • crime scene cleaner
  • experience
  • professional
Q3

What do crime scene cleaners actually do?

Crime scene cleaners like Elvis and Leo handle the aftermath of violent or traumatic deaths. Their job involves removing biohazardous materials, cleaning blood and bodily fluids, and properly disposing of human remains. In this case, they must recover scattered body parts from an outdoor location compromised by wild animals.

  • crime scene cleaners
  • biohazard
  • cleanup
  • body removal
  • profession
Q4

Why do they need to find the other half of the body?

The police only recovered half of the elderly man's remains because wild animals had scattered the rest across the woodland. Elvis and Leo's job is to locate and recover the remaining body parts, which requires them to tear up the outhouse floor where remains have been buried beneath the surface.

  • body remains
  • outdoor recovery
  • wild animals
  • police investigation
Q5

What is Elvis doing swaying in the wind by the lake?

Elvis is taking a moment of peace despite the macabre nature of their work. With his eyes closed, he simply enjoys the breeze, demonstrating an odd moment of tranquility and mindfulness amid their grim task. Leo even joins him briefly, creating a surreal contrast between their peaceful moment and the horrors of their job.

  • elvis
  • meditation
  • peace
  • moment
  • wind
Q6

What causes Elvis nausea beyond the graphic sight?

Elvis's nausea stems from both the visual horror of the crime scene and his psychological inability to cope with the reality of violent death. His repeated vomiting into a bucket highlights his raw emotional state and lack of适应 to this profession, making him physically ill from the combination of sights, sounds, and understanding of what happened.

  • psychological stress
  • trauma
  • nausea
  • emotional toll
  • desensitization
Q7

Why is the cabin setting important?

The secluded cabin by the lake represents extreme isolation, adding to the film's ominous atmosphere. This remote woodland location creates a sense of vulnerability for Elvis and Leo as they prepare to undertake their grim work away from any normal human contact, heightening the tension before whatever discovery awaits them.

  • cabin
  • isolation
  • location
  • atmosphere
  • woods
Q8

Why does Leo ignore the gruesome details of their job?

Leo deliberately dismisses the gruesome aspects of their work, such as when he shrugs off the macabre details of the elderly man's scattered remains. This emotional detachment appears to be a coping mechanism that allows him to function in his profession without being overwhelmed by the psychological weight of handling death daily.

  • detachment
  • coping mechanism
  • professionalism
  • emotional suppression
Q9

Why do they need to tear up the outhouse floor?

They must tear up the outhouse floor because the wild animals that scattered the elderly man's remains buried the remaining body parts beneath the outhouse structure. This requires physically dismantling part of the building to access and recover the buried human remains hidden underneath.

  • outdoor
  • outouse
  • floor
  • buried remains
  • recovery

Movie threads

More Movies Like Thale, by Mood & Story

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

Grim discovery movies like Thale

Stories where isolated settings become stages for unsettling and gruesome revelations. If you enjoyed the grim, isolated discovery in Thale, you'll find similar movies here. These films feature characters uncovering dark secrets or terrifying creatures in secluded settings, leading to suspenseful and atmospheric horror experiences.

  • atmospheric
  • claustrophobic
  • unsettling
  • grim
  • suspenseful
  • mysterious
  • Tone: dark, unsettling, grim
  • Pacing: slow, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a linear investigation pattern, often starting with a mundane task that spirals into horror. Characters are usually ordinary people forced to deal with extraordinary and gruesome circumstances, with the focus on the psychological impact of the discovery rather than fast-paced action.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here based on their shared core premise of a disturbing discovery in an isolated environment, a slow-burn pacing that emphasizes atmosphere, and a dark, heavy tone that prioritizes psychological dread over jump scares.

Atmospheric folk horror films similar to Thale

Slow-burning horror rooted in folklore, ancient secrets, and a pervasive sense of unease. For viewers who liked the folk horror elements and slow-building dread in Thale, this section features movies with a similar vibe. Discover other suspenseful stories where dark folklore, mythical beings, and an heavy atmosphere create a uniquely unsettling experience.

  • folk horror
  • atmospheric
  • unsettling
  • melancholic
  • mysterious
  • grim
  • Tone: dark, melancholic, mysterious
  • Pacing: slow burn, atmospheric
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread often involve outsiders or unsuspecting characters encountering a hidden, ancient truth tied to a specific place or culture. The conflict is less about overt monsters and more about the inexorable, eerie power of the folklore itself, leading to ambiguous or bleak conclusions.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their foundation in folk horror tropes, a consistently dark and atmospheric tone, a slow pacing that builds unease, and a focus on the psychological horror of confronting something old and unknowable.

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Movies Like Thale

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Every angle

Thale (2013) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Thale 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.

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