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The Crucifixion (2017) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 90 min · English
Echo score 40
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Directed by
Xavier Gens
Starring
Javier Botet, Mathew Zajac, Sophie Cookson, Iván González, Ada Lupu, Brittany Ashworth

A priest is imprisoned after being implicated in the death of a nun, following an exorcism he performed on her. A journalist investigates the case, seeking to uncover the truth behind the tragic events and the circumstances that led to the nun's death and the priest's subsequent arrest. The investigation promises to reveal unsettling secrets and explore the complexities of faith and suspicion.

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 Crucifixion
  6. 6 Every angle
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15 events in order · contains spoilers

The Crucifixion Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Crucifixion (2017) 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. The Exorcism Begins

    In 2004, in Bucharest, Father Dumitru and a group of nuns initiated a violent exorcism on Sister Adelina Marinescu, who was believed to be possessed by the demon Agares. The atmosphere was tense as they desperately battled the malign influence for three harrowing days.

    When
    2004
    Where
    Bucharest
  2. Tragic Outcome

    The exorcism ended tragically with Adelina's untimely death, sending shockwaves through the community and leading to severe repercussions for Dumitru and his team. They faced murder charges due to the horrific outcome of their botched attempt to save the nun.

    Where
    Bucharest
  3. Nicole's Investigation Begins

    Determined to uncover the truth, journalist Nicole Rawlins embarked on an investigation into the sensational story surrounding Adelina's death. Despite warnings from her editor to keep her personal struggles separate, she pressed forward, starting with an interview with Father Dumitru.

  4. Interview with Father Dumitru

    In a cell interview, Father Dumitru claimed that Bishop Gornick's interference had disrupted the exorcism and was ultimately responsible for Adelina's tragic fate. His statements raised further questions about the events leading up to the nun's demise.

    Where
    Prison Cell
  5. Meeting Sister Vaduva

    Nicole attended Adelina's funeral, where she met Sister Vaduva, a close friend of Adelina who adamantly rejected the notion that her death was caused by murder. Their conversation hinted at deeper secrets surrounding Adelina’s life and death.

  6. Exploring the Monastery

    Driven by her curiosity, Nicole ventured into the monastery's secretive corridors, capturing haunting images tied to Adelina's last moments. This exploration, however, was abruptly halted when Bishop Gornick confronted her, demanding she leave.

    Where
    Monastery
  7. Bishop Gornick's Revelation

    After a follow-up interview at St. Joseph's Cathedral, Bishop Gornick shocked Nicole by stating that Adelina was not possessed but rather struggled with mental illness. This revelation intensified Nicole's skepticism and unease about the entire situation.

    Where
    St. Joseph's Cathedral
  8. Encounter with Tavian

    Outside the cathedral, Nicole met Tavian, a mute gypsy boy whose presence added complexity and mystery to her investigation. His enigmatic behavior hinted at deeper connections to the dark occurrences surrounding Adelina's death.

    Where
    St. Joseph's Cathedral
  9. Strange Occurrences Begin

    As Nicole immersed herself in the investigation, she began experiencing strange occurrences, including vivid dreams that appeared to guide her toward the truth. These unsettling visions started to blur the lines between reality and supernatural.

  10. Adelina's Love Life Revealed

    Nicole had moments of solace with Sister Vaduva, who recounted the tragic narrative of Adelina's doomed love life, suggesting that her desperation may have attracted the malevolent forces that ultimately led to her demise. This revelation added depth to Nicole's understanding of the tragedy.

  11. Father Anton's Amends

    Father Anton sought to comfort Nicole by sharing a fine bottle of wine during an emotionally charged evening. Their intimate conversation opened up feelings and visions linked to Anton's desires, but left Nicole feeling abandoned when he departed unexpectedly.

    Where
    Hotel
  12. Consulting Dr. Funar

    Nicole reached out to Dr. Funar, the doctor who had diagnosed Adelina with schizophrenia. He shared a particularly disturbing incident involving Adelina encountering a demonic vision, further complicating Nicole’s understanding of the events.

  13. The Cemetery Connection

    As Nicole drove through winding roads, memories of her mother's whispers filled her thoughts, drawing her to the cemetery where Father Gabrielle had been buried. The timing aligned eerily with her mother's passing, compelling her to reflect on the interconnectedness of these tragic stories.

    Where
    Cemetery
  14. Uncovering Gabrielle's Records

    While revisiting the monastery, Nicole uncovered Gabriel's records, revealing that his final appointment was with Tavian, who had sought an exorcism for his father previously. This chilling discovery heightened suspicion about the demon's pervasive influence.

    Where
    Monastery
  15. Confrontation and Exorcism

    In a climactic twist, chaos broke out as Nicole faced the demon Agares and was seen levitating under the curse's power. Father Anton rushed to her aid, conducting an exorcism that forced Nicole to confront her lost faith and reclaim her strength against malevolent forces.

    Where
    Farmhouse

Last updated: November 19, 2024 at 17:00

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Timeline questions answered

The Crucifixion Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of The Crucifixion (2017): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why was Father Dumitru arrested after the exorcism?

Father Dumitru was arrested and charged with murder after Sister Adelina Marinescu died during a three-day exorcism he performed on her in Bucharest. The botched exorcism resulted in Adelina's death, leading to severe legal consequences for Dumitru and the nuns involved in the procedure.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes early on that Dumitru blamed Bishop Gornick's interference for disrupting the ritual and causing Adelina's death.

  • father dumitru
  • arrest
  • exorcism
  • death
  • nun
  • murder charges
  • bucharest
Q2

Was Sister Adelina actually possessed by a demon?

No. Bishop Gornick revealed that Sister Adelina was not demonically possessed but struggled with mental illness, specifically schizophrenia. Dr. Funar, who had diagnosed her, recounted disturbing episodes where she experienced demonic visions, but these were symptoms of her psychiatric condition rather than actual possession.

Foreshadowing: The film's ambiguity between mental illness and supernatural evil is set up early through conflicting perspectives from the Church.

  • sister adelina
  • possession
  • demon
  • mental illness
  • schizophrenia
  • bishop gornick
Q3

Why did Nicole start experiencing visions and strange occurrences?

Nicole began experiencing vivid dreams and unsettling visions because the demon Agares was targeting her. Father Anton warned her that her lost faith and painful personal history made her vulnerable to demonic influence. The visions were actually the demon guiding her deeper into the investigation while preparing to possess her.

Foreshadowing: The strange occurrences began shortly after Nicole visited the monastery's secret corridors where Adelina died, drawing the demon's attention.

  • nicole
  • visions
  • dreams
  • demon
  • agares
  • possessed
Q4

What was Tavian's connection to the demonic events?

Tavian was a mute gypsy boy who had previously sought an exorcism for his father, who was tormented by malevolent forces urging violence against the family. Records revealed that Father Gabrielle's final appointment before his death was with Tavian, suggesting the demon used Tavian as a conduit to reach other victims.

Foreshadowing: Tavian's mysterious presence outside the cathedral early in the film hints at his deeper role in the demon's operations.

  • tavian
  • gypsy boy
  • exorcism
  • father gabrielle
  • demon
Q5

How did Nicole become possessed by the demon?

Nicole became possessed by Agares because her weakened state from grief over her mother's death and her lost faith made her an easy target. During her investigation at the farmhouse, the demon successfully took control of her, causing her to levitate. Father Anton had to perform an emergency exorcism to expel the demon from her body.

Foreshadowing: Father Anton warned Nicole about becoming an easy target for the demon due to her painful past and lost faith.

  • nicole
  • possession
  • agares
  • levitate
  • exorcism
  • father anton
Q6

What happened to Father Gabrielle and how was he connected?

Father Gabrielle was another priest who had been killed by the same demon Agares that claimed Sister Adelina. Nicole discovered this connection when she realized the timing of her mother's death matched Gabrielle's burial. His records revealed his final appointment was with Tavian, the gypsy boy who had sought an exorcism for his father.

Foreshadowing: Nicole's visit to the cemetery where Gabrielle was buried, prompted by her mother's whispered words, directly led her to uncover this connection.

  • father gabrielle
  • death
  • demon
  • agares
  • tavian
  • cemetery
Q7

Why was Sister Adelina targeted by the demon?

Sister Vaduva revealed that Adelina's doomed love life created desperation, which inadvertently attracted the malignant force into her life. This emotional vulnerability, combined with her underlying mental illness, made her susceptible to the demon Agares's influence.

Foreshadowing: The film hints early that Adelina's personal struggles preceded her possession, though the full details emerge later.

  • sister adelina
  • love
  • demon
  • vulnerability
  • desperation
Q8

How did Father Anton save Nicole from the demon?

Father Anton rushed to Nicole's aid at the farmhouse when she was possessed by Agares. He conducted an exorcism, urging her to reclaim her lost faith amidst the overwhelming darkness. The ritual successfully expelled the demon from her body, after which Nicole experienced a vision of her mother as a sign of spiritual renewal.

Foreshadowing: Earlier interactions between Nicole and Anton, including his gift of wine and emotional support, established his protective role toward her.

  • father anton
  • nicole
  • exorcism
  • faith
  • demon
  • agares
  • vision
Q9

Why did Bishop Gornick interfere with the exorcism?

Father Dumitru claimed that Bishop Gornick's interference disrupted the exorcism ritual and sealed Adelina's fate. However, Gornick's later revelation that Adelina suffered from mental illness rather than possession suggests his interference may have been an attempt to stop what he viewed as a dangerous and unauthorized procedure.

Foreshadowing: Dumitru's accusation against Gornick during Nicole's prison interview establishes the conflict between them from the start.

  • bishop gornick
  • interference
  • exorcism
  • father dumitru
  • church
Q10

Why was Nicole specifically targeted by the demon?

Nicole was targeted because her faith had been deeply shaken by her mother's death, making her psychologically vulnerable. Father Anton explained that demons seek out those with broken faith and painful emotional wounds. Her relentless investigation into demonic phenomena also drew Agares's attention.

Foreshadowing: Nicole's editor warned her to keep her personal struggles regarding faith and a lost mother separate from her objective reporting, establishing her vulnerability early.

  • nicole
  • faith
  • vulnerability
  • demon
  • target
  • mother
  • loss
Q11

What happened to Nicole at the end of the movie?

After the exorcism successfully expelled Agares, Nicole experienced a poignant vision of her mother, symbolizing spiritual renewal and reconciliation with her lost faith. She returned to New York but was irrevocably altered by her harrowing journey through demonic darkness, trauma, and her battle against supernatural evil.

Foreshadowing: The film's ending reflects Nicole's transformation from a skeptical journalist to someone who has personally confronted and overcome demonic influence.

  • nicole
  • ending
  • faith
  • new york
  • transformation
  • vision

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Crucifixion, by Mood & Story

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

Supernatural Investigation Movies like The Crucifixion

A determined investigator follows a dark trail into the unknown. If you liked the investigative drive in The Crucifixion, explore these movies where journalists and researchers uncover supernatural truths. These stories, like The Crucifixion, blend real-world inquiry with chilling paranormal events for a uniquely unsettling experience.

  • investigative
  • unsettling
  • paranoid
  • supernatural
  • methodical
  • faith vs doubt
  • Tone: dark, investigative, paranoid
  • Pacing: steady, procedural
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow a protagonist, often a journalist or academic, who begins with a position of skepticism. Through a steady, evidence-gathering process, they are confronted with increasingly undeniable supernatural occurrences, forcing a crisis of belief and a dangerous confrontation with hidden forces.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here because they share a common investigative framework, a steady pacing driven by uncovering clues, and a central theme of faith versus proof. The horror stems not just from the supernatural, but from the psychological unraveling of a rational protagonist.

Bittersweet Religious Horror Movies like The Crucifixion

Stories where confronting evil leaves deep, lasting scars. For viewers who appreciated the heavy emotional cost and spiritual themes of The Crucifixion, this list features similar religious horror films. These movies, like The Crucifixion, explore intense battles of faith that result in a pyrrhic victory, leaving characters forever changed.

  • somber
  • spiritually fraught
  • desperate
  • demonic
  • grief
  • trauma
  • Tone: dark, somber, spiritually fraught
  • Pacing: steady, building to a climax
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist facing a tangible evil, often demonic, that challenges their core beliefs. The climax resolves the immediate supernatural threat, but the ending focuses on the heavy psychological and spiritual toll paid by the characters, emphasizing that some wounds never fully heal.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their exploration of faith under extreme duress and their commitment to a tonally consistent, bittersweet conclusion. The focus is on the lasting impact of horror rather than a clean, happy resolution, creating a deeply resonant and heavy emotional experience.

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Every angle

The Crucifixion (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Crucifixion 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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