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Timeline

The Devil You Know (2013) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2013 · 72 mins · English
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Directed by
James Oakley
Starring
Dean Winters, Jennifer Lawrence, Rosamund Pike, Lena Olin, Bern Cohen, Alan Coates

Kathryn Vale, a former movie star living in seclusion, harbors a dark secret and has a daughter who dreams of following in her footsteps. Seeking a career resurgence, Kathryn finds herself targeted by an anonymous blackmailer, which forces her to face unsettling truths about her past and the people in her life. The escalating situation reveals hidden relationships and long-buried secrets within her family.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (12)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle
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12 events in order · contains spoilers

The Devil You Know Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Devil You Know (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. Opening: Zoe on set, tension rises

    The movie opens with Zoe Hughes peering through bushes, her expression enigmatic and unsettling. The film crew appears disgruntled by her performance, their mood shifting when Zoe's mother arrives. This early tension foreshadows the rivalry between generations of actresses and the pressure to live up to a famous name.

    When
    Opening scene
  2. Kathryn Vale's visit disrupts the set

    Zoe's legendary mother, Kathryn Vale, makes an unexpected visit that instantly changes the room's mood. The intrusion of old fame and high expectations intensifies the rivalry between mother and daughter. The moment signals the high-stakes dynamic that will define Zoe's attempt to step out from Kathryn's shadow.

    When
    Early in the film
  3. Zoe lies to provoke jealousy

    Zoe pretends to surpass her mother's success by lying about a new audition. Kathryn's reaction is unexpectedly proud, which gives her the confidence to return to showbiz. Zoe's ruse backfires in a way that deepens her resentment toward Kathryn.

    When
    Soon after Kathryn's arrival
  4. Zoe's affair with Jake

    Zoe's affair with Kathryn's new husband, Jake, surfaces, revealing that he does not miss Zoe when he's with his wife. The affair adds a layer of betrayal and fuels Zoe's mounting resentment toward the family. Zoe's jealousy thickens as she braids romance, manipulation, and ambition into the feud.

    When
    Shortly after Jake's visit
    Where
    Zoe's apartment
  5. Threats loom as Jake confronts Zoe

    Kathryn receives a threat about the suspicious death of her former husband. Jake confronts Zoe, accusing her of sending the threat, but Zoe denies involvement. The tension within the triangle tightens as trust frays and old wounds reopen.

    When
    Evening
  6. The retreat to the woods

    Harassing mail continues to arrive, pushing Kathryn to retreat to a secluded mansion in the woods for safety. Edie, Kathryn's loyal assistant, joins her, and Jake and Zoe soon follow. The remote setting deepens isolation and provides fertile ground for manipulation and plotting.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Mansion in the woods
  7. Flashbacks reveal motive and plots

    Flashbacks reveal Zoe seducing and killing Kathryn's former husband to spite her. Edie and Zoe conspire to destroy Kathryn's new marriage by casting doubt on Jake's innocence in the threatening letters. The past and present collide as the mansion becomes a crucible for deception.

    When
    During the woods retreat
    Where
    Mansion / flashback scenes
  8. Gunshots and the interrogation

    Gunshots awaken the house, and Edie rushes to Zoe's limp body while Jake, barely seeing the crime, hurries to shield Kathryn. Kathryn rounds on Edie and Jake, demanding answers and forcing a confrontation about loyalty and truth. The investigation exposes fragile alliances and the widening rift between the remaining players.

    When
    Midnight
    Where
    Mansion interior
  9. Zoe returns and eliminates Jake

    Zoe reveals that she is alive and, during the interrogation, kills Jake. Her victory is cold and calculating, as she taunts Kathryn with the notion that she could have doubted the wrong man all along. Zoe escapes into the night, while the police close in on the scene.

    When
    Immediately after the confrontation
    Where
    Mansion interior
  10. Kathryn cuts ties and watches Zoe's fall

    Kathryn, exhausted and embittered, refuses to protect Zoe any longer as the police close in. Zoe pleads with her mother for help, but Kathryn walks away with a smirk, leaving her daughter to face consequences alone. The moment cements a permanent rift between them and marks the end of their direct alliance.

    When
    Just after Jake's death / pursuit
    Where
    Outside the mansion
  11. One year later: a return to fame

    One year passes and Kathryn and Edie ride in the back of a limo, basking in the glory of Kathryn's return to the big screen. A radio announces Kathryn Vale's Oscar nomination, signaling a sympathy-fueled comeback in the eyes of the public. The scene closes on a note of vindication and the enduring price of the feud.

    When
    One year later
    Where
    Back of limo / on the road
  12. Oscar nomination seals the comeback

    The nomination cements Kathryn Vale's comeback and highlights the complexity of fame, motherhood, and revenge in the public eye. Edie shares a quiet smile with Kathryn, recognizing the long road that led to this moment. The film closes with Kathryn poised at the height of renewed stardom, haunted by the past as much as it celebrates it.

    When
    One year later
    Where
    Limo / red carpet segment

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:23

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Timeline questions answered

The Devil You Know Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

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

Q1

Why did Zoe kill Kathryn's former husband?

Flashbacks reveal that Zoe seduced and murdered Kathryn's former husband when she was younger, driven by a reckless urge to outshine her mother. The killing was an act of revenge and a twisted attempt to take something precious from Kathryn, fueled by years of resentment over living in her mother's shadow. This earlier crime becomes the foundation for the blackmail scheme that unfolds later in the film.

Foreshadowing: The tension between Zoe and Kathryn in the opening scene hints at deep-seated rivalry that predates the present timeline.

  • zoe hughes
  • kathryn vale
  • murder
  • former husband
  • revenge
  • flashback
Q2

Who was sending Kathryn the threatening letters?

Zoe and Edie Fontaine, Kathryn's own assistant, were the ones sending the threatening letters. They orchestrated the blackmail scheme together, using the letters to push Kathryn into isolation and frame Jake as the culprit. Their goal was to destroy Kathryn's new marriage by casting doubt on Jake's innocence.

Foreshadowing: Early tension between Edie and Zoe at the mansion hints at a secret alliance that isn't immediately obvious.

  • threatening letters
  • blackmail
  • edie fontaine
  • jake
  • frame job
Q3

Why does Kathryn retreat to the secluded mansion?

Kathryn retreats to the mansion in the woods because the threatening letters escalate to the point where she fears for her safety. The harassment about the suspicious death of her former husband forces her to leave her normal life and hide in isolation. Edie joins her there, and the remote location becomes the setting for the film's climax.

Foreshadowing: The buildup of threatening mail creates visible fear in Kathryn before she makes the retreat.

  • mansion
  • woods
  • kathryn vale
  • retreat
  • threats
  • safety
Q4

What is the nature of Zoe's affair with Jake?

Zoe is having an affair with Jake, Kathryn's new husband. The affair is characterized by deep resentment and emotional manipulation, Zoe feels drawn to Jake but also rejected by him, as he makes it clear he does not miss Zoe when he is with his wife. This betrayal adds dangerous tension to the family dynamic and becomes part of the wider scheme to destroy Kathryn's marriage.

Foreshadowing: The tension between Zoe and Jake is visible in early scenes, creating suspicion about their relationship.

  • zoe hughes
  • jake
  • affair
  • betrayal
  • marriage
Q5

How does Zoe survive the gunshots at the mansion?

The gunshots at the mansion are part of Zoe's calculated plan. Edie rushes to Zoe's seemingly lifeless body, but Zoe was never actually dead, she faked her death to draw out Jake and Kathryn. During the confusion and interrogation that follows, Zoe reveals she is alive and uses the moment to kill Jake, eliminating him as part of her revenge.

Foreshadowing: The abrupt gunshots create sudden chaos that disrupts the established order at the mansion.

  • gunshots
  • mansion
  • zoe survival
  • fake death
  • jake death
Q6

Why does Kathryn walk away from Zoe at the end?

Kathryn chooses to walk away from Zoe because she has finally reached her limit after years of manipulation and betrayal. When Zoe pleads for help as police close in, Kathryn is exhausted and embittered by her daughter's actions, including the murder of her former husband and now Jake. She chooses to let Zoe face justice, leaving with a cold smirk that signifies a permanent rupture in their relationship.

Foreshadowing: The entire film builds toward this moment of ultimate rejection, as Kathryn has been gradually disillusioned by Zoe's deceptions.

  • kathryn vale
  • zoe hughes
  • walk away
  • police
  • abandonment
  • daughter
Q7

What does Kathryn's Oscar nomination signify at the end?

Kathryn's Oscar nomination one year later represents a sympathy-fueled comeback, engineered through the public's ignorance of her true role in the events. While Zoe faces justice, Kathryn achieves professional victory by capitalizing on the narrative surrounding her husband's death and daughter's crimes. The ending is bittersweet, Kathryn succeeds professionally but at the profound cost of abandoning her own child.

Foreshadowing: The entire film traces Kathryn's journey from isolation to renewed stardom, culminating in this moment of public vindication.

  • oscar nomination
  • comeback
  • kathryn vale
  • fame
  • ending
  • victory
Q8

Why does Kathryn decide to return to acting?

Kathryn's return to acting is sparked by Zoe's lie about surpassing her mother's success, which triggers unexpected pride in Kathryn and renews her confidence in show business. The blackmail and the dramatic events that follow ultimately provide the publicity needed for her comeback. By the end, her Oscar nomination cements this return, though it comes after significant personal destruction.

Foreshadowing: Kathryn's initial reaction to Zoe's lie shows her vulnerability to the entertainment industry's validation.

  • kathryn vale
  • acting comeback
  • return
  • oscar
  • career
Q9

What is Edie and Zoe's conspiracy against Kathryn?

Edie and Zoe conspire together to destroy Kathryn's marriage to Jake and drive her into isolation. They orchestrate the threatening letters to frame Jake for the blackmail, hoping Kathryn will believe her husband is guilty. The plan backfires in part, as the confrontation at the mansion reveals the truth, but the conspiracy demonstrates the depth of manipulation within the household.

Foreshadowing: Edie's loyalty to Kathryn is revealed to be a facade as her true alliance with Zoe emerges.

  • edie fontaine
  • zoe hughes
  • conspiracy
  • frame
  • jake
  • blackmail
Q10

What drives the conflict between Kathryn and Zoe?

The conflict between Kathryn and Zoe stems from years of rivalry and resentment caused by Kathryn's overwhelming fame. Zoe has spent her life living in her mother's shadow, desperate to carve out her own identity. This drives Zoe to extreme measures, including murder, to hurt Kathryn. Kathryn, in turn, struggles between maternal instinct and eventual rejection of her daughter's destructive behavior.

Foreshadowing: The opening scene immediately establishes the tense, competitive dynamic between mother and daughter.

  • kathryn vale
  • zoe hughes
  • mother daughter
  • conflict
  • rivalry
  • fame

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Devil You Know, by Mood & Story

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

Thrillers about dark family secrets like The Devil You Know

Stories where the most dangerous threats come from within the family. If you liked the psychological manipulation and hidden agendas within Kathryn Vale's family in The Devil You Know, you'll appreciate these movies. This list features similar films where familial bonds are a source of tension, blackmail, and dark truths that steadily unravel.

  • claustrophobic
  • manipulative
  • tense
  • unsettling
  • dark
  • melancholic
  • Tone: dark, unsettling, manipulative
  • Pacing: steady, escalating tension
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically centers on a central figure, often in a position of power or secrecy, who is systematically targeted and undermined by a close relative. The plot unfolds as a tense investigation into the past, revealing how long-buried secrets and toxic relationships fuel a present-day psychological war, often culminating in a devastating confrontation.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on domestic settings as breeding grounds for high-stakes psychological conflict. They share a dark tone, a steady pacing that builds dread, and a heavy emotional weight derived from the betrayal of trust within a family unit.

Movies with bittersweet endings about costly success like The Devil You Know

Narratives where achieving a goal comes at a profound personal cost. Fans of The Devil You Know's ending, where professional victory is paired with personal ruin, will find these films compelling. Explore similar stories where characters achieve their goals but are left to grapple with the heavy moral and emotional price of their actions.

  • bittersweet
  • melancholic
  • heavy
  • thought-provoking
  • dark
  • unsettling
  • Tone: bittersweet, melancholic, dark
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a protagonist's ambitious or desperate drive towards a clear goal. As they overcome obstacles, their methods become increasingly questionable, or collateral damage mounts. The climax delivers the desired outcome (e.g., fame, safety, revenge), but the resolution emphasizes the hollowness of this victory, highlighting the relationships destroyed or the integrity lost along the way.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their complex emotional payoff. They share a bittersweet or bleak ending feel, a heavy emotional weight, and a thematic focus on the consequences of ambition and moral compromise, creating a thought-provoking and resonant viewing experience.

Every angle

The Devil You Know (2013) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Devil You Know 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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