The Darkness (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Mikey discovers the black rocks with mysterious symbols after falling into the canyon. Unlike a typical fall that would cause injury, he walks away unscratched and is intrigued by the etched symbols on the rocks. He pockets them without fully understanding their significance, which sets in motion the chain of supernatural events that plague his family.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Andrew told a spooky tale about the Grand Canyon being haunted by legendary guardians of the spirit world, foreshadowing the cursed nature of the canyon.

• mikey
• black rocks
• canyon
• symbols
• cursed objects

The rocks are revealed to be connected to the Anasazi Indians, an ancient civilization. A revelation explains that the rocks carry a curse from the Anasazi, and the family must return them to the canyon to dispel the darkness that has enveloped their home. This connection provides the mythological basis for the supernatural threat.

• anasazi
• rocks
• curse
• indians
• ancient

The paranormal events start once the family returns home because Mikey brought the cursed black rocks into the house. The rocks carry the malevolent force tied to the Anasazi curse, and bringing them into the family's living space awakens or activates the darkness that then manifests as strange noises, markings, and increasingly dangerous incidents.

Foreshadowing: The spooky tale about the Grand Canyon's haunted guardians hints at the spiritual danger lurking in that location.

• cursed rocks
• supernatural
• haunting
• return home
• activation

Jenny is the imaginary friend Mikey claims lives within the walls of the house. As the supernatural activity increases, Mikey becomes increasingly fixated on strange sounds coming from the attic, which he attributes to Jenny's presence. This imaginary friend represents Mikey's young mind trying to make sense of the terrifying paranormal phenomena he is experiencing, and his fixation grows as the curse intensifies.

Foreshadowing: Mikey's claim that Jenny lives in the walls precedes the discovery of sinister markings appearing around the house.

• jenny
• imaginary friend
• mikey
• attic
• paranormal

Mikey declares "I'm not afraid" and steps up to fight for his family's safety, becoming a beacon of hope for the family. United together, they confront their fears and successfully cleanse their home from the sinister spirit. The family must also return the cursed rocks to the canyon to lift the Anasazi curse, allowing them to overcome the supernatural threat.

Foreshadowing: The Anasazi connection earlier revealed that returning the rocks would dispel the darkness.

• final battle
• mikey
• family unity
• defeat
• darkness

Mikey's obsession with the mysterious black rocks leads to a disastrous fire in his room. This incident marks a turning point where his mother's desperation to protect him intensifies, prompting her to actively seek answers about the rocks and their connection to the strange occurrences plaguing the family.

Foreshadowing: Mikey's increasingly erratic behavior and fixation on the rocks foreshadows this destructive incident.

• fire
• mikey room
• rocks
• destruction
• turning point

Sinister markings begin appearing in various places around their home, particularly surrounding Stephanie's personal space. These markings are manifestations of the curse and the growing supernatural presence. Their concentration around Stephanie suggests the darkness is targeting her specifically, adding to the family's growing fear and urgency to find a solution.

Foreshadowing: The eerie occurrences multiply as time passes, with the markings representing the curse spreading through the house.

• markings
• stephanie
• room
• cursed house
• supernatural signs

The family seeks help from Teresa, a spiritual healer, and her translator Gloria. They embark on a journey to cleanse the home of the supernatural forces. However, the dark forces retaliate violently against this attempt, throwing the family into further chaos and testing their unity before they ultimately prevail.

• teresa
• gloria
• spiritual healer
• cleansing
• exorcism

Mikey's erratic behavior stems from both his existing autism and the influence of the cursed rocks. His father Peter grapples with the weight of Mikey's autism while also sensing a creeping danger. The curse intensifies Mikey's fixation on the rocks and his connection to the supernatural, making his behavior increasingly unpredictable and disturbing.

Foreshadowing: Peter's frustration with Mikey's autism is established early, making it difficult to distinguish between his usual behavior and behavior caused by the curse.

• mikey
• autism
• erratic behavior
• cursed influence
• family struggle

The film concludes with a serene family picnic, symbolizing a stark contrast to the chaos and terror they previously faced. This peaceful ending represents their renewed familial bond and the successful overcoming of their struggles together. Despite the dark journey involving supernatural terror and internal family conflicts, the picnic signifies they have emerged stronger and more united.

Foreshadowing: Mikey's declaration "I'm not afraid" and the family's united stand foreshadows their ability to overcome and restore peace.

• ending
• picnic
• family unity
• renewal
• happy ending

The movie description mentions an 8-year-old girl named Briana who disappears, but this plot element does not appear in the main summary. The actual story focuses on Mikey discovering cursed rocks and the supernatural terror that follows, rather than a missing child scenario. The description may refer to a different film or be a misleading marketing element.

• briana
• missing girl
• description
• movie discrepancy