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Timeline

Thale (2013) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

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 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline 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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14 events in order · contains spoilers

Thale Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Thale (2013) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Arrival at Crime Scene

    Two men, Elvis and Leo, arrive at a crime scene dressed in plastic biohazard suits. They prepare to clean up the aftermath of a gruesome incident, emphasizing the gravity of their task.

  2. Elvis' Discomfort

    As Leo begins mopping up congealed blood on the floor, Elvis experiences severe nausea and begins to vomit into a bucket. His inexperience in this line of work is highlighted by his reaction to the gruesome scene.

  3. The Phone Call

    Leo's cell phone rings, and Elvis, in panic, answers it for him while still holding the phone to Leo's ear. Leo's nonchalant greeting and acceptance of the next job reveal his familiarity with this distressing line of work.

  4. Moving to the Next Job

    After dealing with the phone call, the two men head to their new job location by a lake in a heavily wooded area. Elvis is visibly less than thrilled as they transition from one crime scene to the next.

    Where
    Wooded Area by the Lake
  5. Details of the Next Job

    Leo informs Elvis that their next cleaning job involves an elderly man whose body has been partially recovered. They will need to deal with the complications posed by wild animals scattering the remains.

  6. Setting the Scene

    A cabin can be seen in the background, establishing the eerie setting for their next task. The isolation of the location adds tension to the atmosphere as they prepare for the grim job ahead.

    Where
    Cabin
  7. Swaying in the Breeze

    Elvis seems to zone out, swaying in the wind with his eyes closed. His demeanor underscores the absurdity of their situation as he and Leo share a moment of tranquility amidst their chaotic work.

    Where
    Lake
  8. Finding the Other Half

    Leo communicates the urgency of their task, explaining that they must find the other half of the elderly man's body. Their conversation reveals the harrowing nature of their profession, yet they maintain a calm demeanor.

  9. Preparing to Work

    Leo encourages Elvis to get ready as they face the challenge of tearing up the outhouse floor. This moment not only highlights the grotesque nature of their job but also the camaraderie between the two men.

    Where
    Outhouse
  10. Clearing the Outhouse

    Inside the outhouse, Elvis begins to throw out assorted clutter to make space for their grim duties. His actions reflect both the physical and mental preparation required for such a macabre task.

    Where
    Outhouse
  11. Physical Challenges

    As they work, the reality of the situation becomes clearer to Elvis. He grapples with the physical and emotional demands of cleaning up such a horrific scene, showcasing the contrast between his naivety and Leo's composure.

    Where
    Outhouse
  12. Emotional Toll

    Elvis's gagging and vomiting illustrate the emotional toll that this line of work can take. The dichotomy between the absurd and the tragic becomes evident as they proceed with the task.

  13. Maintaining Professionalism

    Despite the gruesomeness of their work, Leo's demeanor remains calm and collected. His professionalism serves as a stark contrast to Elvis's inexperienced reaction, emphasizing the harsh realities of their job.

  14. Completion of the Task

    As they begin to uncover and process the remains, both men come to terms with the nature of their work. Completing this task signifies more than just a job; it reflects an unsettling aspect of human life.

    Where
    Outhouse

Last updated: May 12, 2025 at 07:04

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Timeline questions answered

Thale Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Thale (2013): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with 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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