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Timeline

The Banishing (2021) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2021 · 97 min · English
Echo score 58
JustWatch #19,786 8
Directed by
Christopher Smith
Starring
Adam Hugill, Sean Harris, John Lynch, Jessica Brown Findlay, John Heffernan, James Swanton

In 1930s England, a reverend and his family settle into a new home, unaware of the dark secrets it holds. As unsettling events unfold, the reverend, Linus, finds his faith challenged and must seek help from an occult specialist. Together, they investigate the escalating disturbances and work to protect his daughter from a powerful, malevolent presence. Their investigation reveals a terrifying history connected to the manor and the sinister events plaguing the family.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like The Banishing
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Banishing (2021)

Where can you watch The Banishing? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Philo, Shudder and Hoopla: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

The Banishing Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Banishing (2021) 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. Tragic Murder at Morley Hall

    In the charming English countryside during the year 1935, a shocking event occurred when the local vicar, driven by intense jealousy, brutally murdered his wife. Following his heinous act, he took his own life, leaving Morley Hall shrouded in tragedy and sorrow.

    When
    1935
    Where
    Morley Hall
  2. Cover-Up Conspiracy

    In the aftermath of the shocking murders, Bishop Malachi colluded with the town physician to conceal the truth about what transpired at Morley Hall. They worked tirelessly to silence the rumors and whispers among the unsettled townsfolk, ensuring that the dark events remained buried.

  3. New Beginnings

    Years later, a new vicar named Linus Forster arrived at Morley Hall with his young bride, Marianne, and her seemingly innocent daughter, Adelaide. Unbeknownst to Linus, Adelaide was not who she appeared to be, and secrets loomed over their fresh start.

    Where
    Morley Hall
  4. Strain and Secrets

    As the newlyweds settled into their new life, Linus struggled with intimacy, believing it to be sinful. The strains in their relationship were exacerbated by Adelaide's hidden truths and her role in the mystery enveloping Morley Hall.

    Where
    Morley Hall
  5. Supernatural Events Begin

    While acclimating to their new home, the couple began experiencing eerie occurrences at Morley Hall. Adelaide started interacting with invisible presences and eerie dolls, while strange reflections appeared in the estate’s mirrors, creating an unsettling atmosphere.

    Where
    Morley Hall
  6. Marianne's Dark Visions

    As the disturbances continued, Marianne began encountering unsettling visions—shadowy figures that hinted at a violent fate for their deaf housekeeper, Betsy. These ominous signs pointed toward deeper, darker truths buried within the hall's history.

    Where
    Morley Hall
  7. Harry Reed's Warning

    The occultist Harry Reed approached Linus with a dire warning about the malevolent past of Morley Hall, formerly home to the cruel Minassian Order. Harry’s foreboding message hinted that the estate had a way of turning its residents against each other.

  8. Tensions Rise

    As tensions escalated in the household, Harry became a source of intrigue for Marianne, drawing her closer to him. He urged her family to escape the looming dangers of Morley Hall, but Linus was fixated on uncovering the truth surrounding his predecessor’s mysterious demise.

    Where
    Morley Hall
  9. Bishop Malachi's Threat

    An unsettling confrontation with Bishop Malachi revealed him as the true guardian of Adelaide. His chilling threats underscored the lengths to which he would go to maintain control, warning Marianne against any thoughts of leaving Morley Hall.

  10. Adelaide's Disappearance

    The situation escalated when Adelaide vanished after wandering into a mirror, prompting a frantic search led by Marianne. Linus, in a drunken haze, dismissed her frantic pleas for help, driving a wedge between the couple.

    Where
    Morley Hall
  11. Betsy's Corpse Discovered

    Helped by Harry, Marianne returned to Morley Hall only to uncover the bloody corpse of Betsy, slain by Linus in a trance-like state. This gruesome revelation mirrored the haunting visions that Marianne had endured and deepened the sense of foreboding in the house.

    Where
    Morley Hall
  12. A Vengeful Spirit

    Harry explained that Adelaide’s abduction was tied to a vengeful spirit of a slain pregnant woman, a casualty of the Minassian monks’ dark rituals. As Marianne intensified her efforts to find Adelaide, she was forced to confront the estate's terrifying past.

    Where
    Morley Hall
  13. Confronting the Past

    Amid the chaos, Marianne found solace in Linus's newfound support, as he employed ancient rituals and mystical texts to combat the dark forces. Together, they prepared for a climactic confrontation with the spirits that haunted Morley Hall.

    Where
    Morley Hall
  14. A Heart-Wrenching Promise

    In the midst of the turmoil, Marianne made a solemn promise to the murdered woman and her unborn child to ensure they received a proper burial. This vow symbolized her commitment to facing the dark truths of Morley Hall and seeking redemption.

    Where
    Morley Hall
  15. The Sinister Revelation

    The film reached a chilling climax when Bishop Malachi was seen exhuming bodies for Nazi officials in Stuttgart. This shocking revelation about Morley Hall's sinister history left Marianne and the audience with a profound sense of dread and unease.

Last updated: November 17, 2024 at 22:37

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Timeline questions answered

The Banishing Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of The Banishing (2021): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did the original vicar kill his wife at Morley Hall?

The original vicar was overcome by intense jealousy and driven into madness, which led him to brutally murder his wife before taking his own life. This tragic event occurred in 1935 and became the dark foundation for the evil that would later plague Morley Hall.

Foreshadowing: The tragic events of 1935 are referenced early in the film as the dark origin of Morley Hall's sinister history.

  • original vicar
  • murder
  • jealousy
  • 1935
  • morley hall
Q2

What is Adelaide's true identity and why is she at Morley Hall?

Adelaide is not Marianne's niece as she pretends to be. Bishop Malachi reveals himself as Adelaide's true guardian, having orchestrated Marianne's introduction to Linus and their appointment at Morley Hall to keep Adelaide close to the estate.

Foreshadowing: Adelaide's mysterious behavior and interactions with unseen forces hint that she is more deeply connected to Morley Hall than a simple ward.

  • adelaide
  • identity
  • bishop malachi
  • guardian
Q3

Why does Linus kill the housekeeper Betsy?

Linus kills Betsy while in a trance-like state, mirroring the haunting visions that had plagued Marianne. This violent act occurs after Adelaide's disappearance and during Linus's deterioration, as the dark forces of Morley Hall influence him.

Foreshadowing: Marianne's unsettling visions of shadowy figures and predictions of violence toward Betsy foreshadow this tragic event.

  • linus
  • betsy
  • killed
  • trance
  • morley hall
Q4

What was the Minassian Order and why does it matter?

The Minassian Order was a secretive group that once occupied Morley Hall, carrying out cruel rituals and relentless punishments on those they deemed sinners. The vengeful spirit of a pregnant woman they killed in their efforts to erase her unborn child is central to the supernatural threat facing the current inhabitants.

Foreshadowing: Harry Reed's warning about Morley Hall's dark history hints at the brutal practices of the Minassian Order that continue to haunt the estate.

  • minassian order
  • rituals
  • sinners
  • morley hall
Q5

What is Bishop Malachi's connection to the Nazis?

In the chilling climax, Bishop Malachi is revealed to be exhuming bodies from Morley Hall and delivering them to Nazi officials in Stuttgart. This sinister revelation exposes his collaboration with Nazi Germany and explains why he worked so hard to cover up the dark history of Morley Hall.

Foreshadowing: Bishop Malachi's threat against Harry Reed and his dubious affiliations throughout the film hint at his true, sinister nature.

  • bishop malachi
  • nazis
  • stuttgart
  • bodies
  • exhume
Q6

Why does the vengeful spirit abduct Adelaide?

The spirit of a pregnant woman slain by the Minassian monks abducts Adelaide. The monks had brutally killed her in their effort to erase her unborn child, and the spirit seeks something in return, eventually Marianne makes a promise to ensure both mother and child receive proper burial.

Foreshadowing: Adelaide's interactions with an unseen force she claims as her real mother prepare viewers for this revelation.

  • spirit
  • abduction
  • pregnant woman
  • adelaide
  • minassian
Q7

What is Marianne's secret past that is uncovered?

Marianne discovers through disturbing visions that the estate's dark forces are connected to long-buried secrets from her own flawed past. These revelations emerge as she confronts the supernatural threats and work to uncover the truth about Morley Hall.

Foreshadowing: The film builds toward this revelation as Marianne's visions intensify and connect her personal history to the estate's tragedy.

  • marianne
  • past
  • secrets
  • visions
Q8

Why does Linus struggle with intimacy in his marriage?

Linus struggles with intimacy because he perceives it as a sinful indulgence, reflecting his rigid religious views as a vicar. This internal battle creates strain in his relationship with Marianne and affects their ability to connect emotionally.

Foreshadowing: This psychological struggle is established early and contributes to the tension between the newlyweds as supernatural events escalate.

  • linus
  • intimacy
  • marriage
  • sin
  • religion
Q9

Why did Bishop Malachi cover up the original murders?

After the vicar murdered his wife and himself, Bishop Malachi colluded with the town's physician to silence the rumors among townsfolk. This cover-up ensured the dark events remained buried, allowing Malachi to later use Morley Hall for his sinister purposes, including his Nazi collaboration.

Foreshadowing: The cover-up sets the stage for the film's central mystery and explains why so much effort is spent hiding the truth.

  • bishop malachi
  • cover-up
  • murder
  • physician
Q10

What happens when Adelaide disappears into the mirror?

Adelaide vanishes after wandering into a mirror, leaving Marianne desperately searching for answers. This disappearance is actually an abduction by the vengeful spirit of the pregnant woman killed by the Minassian monks, who claims Adelaide as her child.

Foreshadowing: Adelaide's earlier interactions with invisible presences and her claim that the unseen force is her real mother foreshadow this pivotal moment.

  • adelaide
  • mirror
  • disappearance
  • abduction
  • spirit
Q11

Who is Harry Reed and why does he warn the family?

Harry Reed is an occultist who is well-acquainted with the sinister history of Morley Hall. He approaches Linus with warnings about the Minassian Order's evil past and urges the family to escape, understanding that the estate has a way of turning inhabitants against each other.

Foreshadowing: Harry's warnings about Morley Hall's destructive nature establish him as a crucial ally despite his own wounds from confronting the evil before.

  • harry reed
  • occultist
  • warning
  • escape
  • morley hall
Q12

What does Marianne's vision about Betsy predict?

Marianne experiences unsettling visions of shadowy figures and precognition that hint at a violent end for their deaf housekeeper, Betsy. These visions ultimately come true when Linus, under the influence of the dark forces, kills Betsy in a trance-like state.

Foreshadowing: The film foreshadows Betsy's violent death through Marianne's troubling visions, creating dread before the grim discovery.

  • marianne
  • betsy
  • vision
  • death
  • shadowy figures

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Banishing, by Mood & Story

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

Movies about historical horrors in gothic settings like The Banishing

Stories where a haunted past violently intrudes upon the present. If you liked the way The Banishing wove a dark history into its supernatural terror, you'll find similar chills here. This collection groups movies where a gothic manor or estate holds sinister secrets from the past, and characters must uncover a legacy of evil to understand the haunting they face.

  • gothic
  • sinister
  • historical
  • investigative
  • oppressive
  • haunting
  • Tone: dark, sinister, bleak
  • Pacing: steady, investigative
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern revolves around a new arrival at an old, imposing location who experiences escalating supernatural events. The story becomes a mystery, peeling back layers of a hidden, often violent history connected to the place. The climax typically involves a confrontation with the residual evil, revealing a conspiracy or cover-up that leaves a lasting sense of dread.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared setting—the gothic manor as a character—and their plot driver: a historical evil that permeates the present. They blend supernatural horror with a detective-like investigation into a dark past, creating a specific type of intellectual and atmospheric dread.

Psychological horror movies about crises of faith like The Banishing

Stories where belief systems are shattered by confronting undeniable evil. For viewers who appreciated the psychological torment and挑战 to faith in The Banishing, this list features similar stories. These films focus on characters whose sanity and belief systems are pushed to the brink by confronting a malevolent force, resulting in a heavy, emotionally draining experience.

  • psychological
  • anxious
  • unsettling
  • oppressive
  • melancholic
  • crisis of faith
  • Tone: dark, anxious, heavy
  • Pacing: steady, psychological build
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a steadfast believer or rationalist who is confronted with phenomena that defy their worldview. The story charts their descent into doubt, fear, and psychological fragmentation as they are forced to accept a terrifying new reality. The conflict is internal as much as external, with the climax often resolving the physical threat but leaving the character's spirit broken or fundamentally altered.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their central theme of psychological and spiritual collapse. The similarity lies in the intense focus on a character's internal battle against an external force that targets their identity and beliefs, creating a deeply heavy and unsettling viewing experience.

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Every angle

The Banishing (2021) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Banishing 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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