The First 7th Night

The First 7th Night

Year: 2009

Runtime: 100 mins

Language: Cantonese

Director: Herman Yau

HorrorThriller

Map King, a down‑on‑his‑luck taxi driver, is paid a large sum by the enigmatic Xiao Ma to take him to the deserted Chun Lei Motel, a building that burned thirty years earlier after thieves attacked its owner Ah Fang, her husband and son. The driver oddly knows the forgotten route, and the night’s tragedy resurfaces.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The First 7th Night (2009)

Trace every key event in The First 7th Night (2009) 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

Pony hires Map King for a long ride to Sun Moon Village

Pony hires Map King to drive him and his truck to Sun Moon Village, offering $2000 to seal the deal. Map King is reluctant but agrees to the six-hour ride, keeping in touch with Pony by radio. The two vehicles push onward along the long, winding road.

Present On the road to Sun Moon Village
2

Map King reveals the destination and the village's poverty

As they travel, Map King explains that the destination is the Chun Lei Restaurant and that the village is very poor. He recounts how the restaurant was left to Fong and her son, while Lian inherited the chicken coops. The story hints at a dark, unresolved history tied to the place.

Present Road to Chun Lei Restaurant
3

Thirty years ago: a summer at Chun Lei Restaurant

One summer, thirty years ago, four escaped convicts visited the restaurant carrying a case of gold. They stay the night as Fong lights a trail of candles to guide them through the night. The convicts argue, and the husband of Fong had recently died, setting the stage for the seventh night superstition.

Thirty years ago Chun Lei Restaurant (past)
4

Confrontation turns deadly and the restaurant burns

The argument among the convicts escalates until Chan Keung appears possessed and shoots himself. The others begin shooting each other, and the restaurant catches fire, burning the place to ashes.

Thirty years ago Chun Lei Restaurant
5

Aftermath: the fate of Fong and her son is left uncertain

In the present aftermath, Pony asks Map King whether Fong and her son survived the disaster. Map King remains tight-lipped, offering no clear answer. The silence adds to the sense that the past is still watching them.

Thirty years ago (aftermath) Chun Lei Restaurant (ruins)
6

Two flat tires force a brief stop

Map King gets two flat tires and they pause briefly for a bite. Pony questions the details of the story while they eat, and the ride resumes with a renewed tension. The roadside pause deepens the mystery surrounding the restaurant's past.

Present Roadside stop
7

Pony asserts he knows the truth about Fong's fate

Pony declares that he knows the truth about what happened to Fong and her son. Map King stays quiet, refusing to confirm or deny. The tension between them deepens as the road stretches ahead.

Present In the truck
8

Bandits return: the convicts reach the restaurant again

The bandits arrive at the derelict Chun Lei Restaurant, and the leader’s eye injury makes him wary. The convicts decide to stay the night again, sharing uneasy glances. Fong remains defiant, and the group debates whether to split the loot and go their separate ways.

Thirty years ago Chun Lei Restaurant
9

Fong's forbidden alliance: Chan Keung and a dangerous love

Fong tests the room by seducing Chicken to gauge how much is in the suitcase. The discovery that Chan Keung is her lover adds another layer of danger and jealousy to the group. The tensions among the attackers mount toward a breaking point.

Thirty years ago Chun Lei Restaurant
10

Violence erupts: shootings and the theft of the suitcase

Chicken pulls a gun on Chan Keung, triggering a tense standoff. Fong leaves the room as the others fire at each other; Chicken is shot and tumbles down the stairs. The leader and Bo are also shot, and Fong seizes the moment to retrieve the suitcase while the leader’s wrist is cut.

Thirty years ago Chun Lei Restaurant
11

Fire and departure: the restaurant burns as Fong escapes with Chan

The room burns as Fong cuts the leader's wrist and sets him alight, then exits with Chan. She leaves her son with her sister and promises to return in three months. The pair are eventually arrested, with Chan taking the rap for the murders and Fong receiving a 30-year sentence.

Thirty years ago Chun Lei Restaurant
12

Backstory of Fong's son: abuse, escape, and taxi-driving

Lian's husband mistreats Fong's son in their village. When Fong is thirteen, her son assaults Lian's husband and runs away. He grows up to become a taxi driver, a quiet thread connecting the families to this day.

Years after the events Village and roads surrounding Chun Lei
13

Present-day rendezvous: Map King meets his mother in youth

When they reach the Restaurant in the present journey, Pony asks Map King to deliver what is in the truck to the restaurant. Map King opens the door and sees his mother in her youth speaking to him. He then carries her into the ruined restaurant as they reminisce about the times they shared.

Present Chun Lei Restaurant (ruins)
14

Candles, memory, and the revelation of a ghost

Inside the ruined restaurant, a trail of candles lights the path and an older woman appears. Fong seemingly vanishes, and the older woman is revealed to be Lian. Lian explains that Fong died in prison with five months left to serve, and tonight is the seventh night when her spirit would return.

Tonight (seventh night) Chun Lei Restaurant (ruins)
15

The seventh night completes the circle

The seventh-night encounter closes the circle, with memories and forgiveness echoing through Chun Lei. Pony and Map King confront the past and the legacy it left behind. The spirits and stories linger in the restaurant long after the ride ends.

Seventh night Chun Lei Restaurant (ruins)

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 08:46

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