The Day of the Triffids

The Day of the Triffids

Year: 1000

Runtime: 180 mins

Language: English

Director: Ken Hannam

DramaHorror

Following mysterious bright lights in the sky, the human race is rendered blind and helpless. The survivors find themselves stalked by sentient flesh-eating plants.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Day of the Triffids (1000)

Trace every key event in The Day of the Triffids (1000) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Meteor shower blinds humanity

In late 20th century Great Britain, a spectacular meteor shower blinds most of the population overnight. Bill Masen, who is in hospital with his eyes bandaged, remains unaware of the catastrophe at first. As the city descends into chaos, the absence of sight leaves people vulnerable and frightened.

Night of the shower Hospital, Britain
2

Bill perceives the scale of the disaster

Bill tentatively removes his bandages and discovers the scale of the disaster around him. He sees a world suddenly deprived of sight and law, as panic and confusion spread through the hospital and beyond. The collapse of civilization begins to unfold.

Soon after the shower Hospital vicinity, Britain
3

Bill rescues Jo; she remains sighted

Bill rescues Josella 'Jo' Playton from her blind captor and learns she slept through the meteor shower and still retains her sight. They form a bond as they begin to navigate an increasingly dangerous world. This rescue marks the start of their shared journey.

Shortly after the shower Hospital vicinity and surrounding area
4

Sighted survivors plan a new settlement

Bill and Jo join a small group of sighted survivors who plan to leave London and establish a new settlement to rebuild civilisation. They aim to shelter the blind and create a safer future beyond the city. This moment shifts the story from mere survival to community-building.

Shortly after the shower London area and surrounding countryside
5

Jack Coker opposes the exodus

The group is opposed by sighted Jack Coker, who wants them to stay in London and help the blind rather than abandon them. He frames a plan that would keep authority centralized and dependent on the old order. The disagreement sets up a moral conflict that drives later action.

Soon after formation London
6

Capture and restraint during conflict

When the group resists, Jack and a few supporters capture several members, including Bill and Jo. Bill is handcuffed to two of his charges to prevent him from leaving them. The incident strains the fragile alliance and escalates tensions.

Shortly after the capture London outskirts
7

Triffids rampage through the blind

The triffids break loose and roam through the blind population, slaughtering and feeding on them. The survivors scramble to stay alive as the plants spread and chaos deepens. The world grows deadlier as both disease and predators devastate communities.

Soon after the capture British countryside and urban areas
8

Journey continues amid factional splits

Bill and Jack drive through the countryside and encounter a faction that left London. They discover a split in morality: Miss Durrant's group resists polygamy as a means to repopulate. The division shapes the path of the survivors as they search for safety.

In the weeks that follow British countryside
9

Bill teams up with Susan

Bill meets a young sighted girl, Susan, who becomes a companion on the road. She joins their efforts to stay alive and navigate the new world.

During the journey Countryside
10

Reuniting with Jo in the Sussex Downs

Bill recalls Jo's mention of a place in the Sussex Downs and is eventually reunited with her there. They establish a safe farm, erect a protective fence to keep out the triffids, and begin raising a family.

Several years after the disaster Sussex Downs
11

Six years later: arrival and factional change

Six years pass and Jack arrives in a helicopter. Miss Durrant's group has been wiped out by disease, while the other faction has secured the Isle of Wight and destroyed the local triffids there. The survivors face a shifting balance of control as they search for safety.

Six years after the initial events Sussex Downs / Isle of Wight
12

Armoured men, feudal order, and flight

Uniformed men arrive in an armoured car, proposing a feudal society with sighted aristocracy and plans to assign more blind to Bill and Jo. They take Susan away to learn how to care for others. Bill gets the soldiers drunk and sabotages their vehicle, and the group drives away, leaving the gates open for the approaching triffids.

The next day Farm near Sussex Downs

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 16:00

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Day of the Triffids

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