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The Girl in the Photographs (2016) movie poster

Timeline

The Girl in the Photographs (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2016 · 95 min · English
JustWatch #7,849 7
Directed by
Nick Simon
Starring
Kal Penn, Claudia Lee

A young woman finds herself caught in a terrifying ordeal when she begins receiving disturbing photographs depicting the murders of innocent people. As a sinister game unfolds, she must determine if these harrowing images are the work of a deranged killer or a cruel prankster. The shocking truth blurs the lines between reality and horror in this suspenseful thriller.

Thriller Horror Crime Cast, crew & box office
On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Girl in the Photographs (2016)

Where can you watch The Girl in the Photographs? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Hoopla and Amazon Prime Video Free: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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14 events in order · contains spoilers

The Girl in the Photographs Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Girl in the Photographs (2016) 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. Britney and Janet's Farewell

    The story begins as two young women, Britney and Janet, part ways outside a movie theater. Their paths diverge into the night, setting in motion a chilling series of events.

    Where
    Outside a movie theater

  2. Janet Abducted

    Janet drives home, unsuspectingly followed by a blood-red Bronco ominously lurking in the shadows. Upon reaching her destination, she is brutally ambushed by a masked assailant, leading to a terrifying confrontation.

    Where
    Janet's home

  3. Colleen's Shocking Discovery

    In Spearfish, grocery store clerk Colleen discovers a grotesque photograph of Janet posted on the community bulletin board. The horrific image grieves her, hinting at a profound evil creeping into her community.

    Where
    Local grocery store

  4. Colleen Reports to the Sheriff

    Colleen rushes to the Sheriff’s Station to report her unnerving discovery. However, the authorities meet her claims with skepticism, dismissing her concerns despite the ominous label 'Number 7' attached to the photograph.

    Where
    Sheriff's Station, Spearfish

  5. Peter's Discovery

    Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, photographer Peter Hemmings stumbles upon the same disturbing images on a blog. Recognizing a disturbing trend linked to the 'Dead Model' aesthetic, he decides to return to Spearfish.

    Where
    Los Angeles

  6. The Invitation

    Before heading to the gathering, Colleen tries to reach her friend Jill, unaware that Jill is being held captive by the same assailants who attacked Janet. The captors impersonate Jill to send a chilling invitation to Colleen.

    Where
    Jill's captivity location

  7. Night Out with Emotions High

    Despite the tension with her boyfriend Ben, Colleen prepares for an enjoyable night out. Peter captures each moment leading up to an unsettling surprise that changes the course of the evening.

    Where
    Colleen's car

  8. Ben's Impending Doom

    While waiting for Colleen's return, Ben experiences an intense argument that ends with him storming out. Unbeknownst to Colleen, he is then ambushed by the men responsible for the sinister events.

    Where
    Colleen's apartment

  9. Tom's Proposition

    During a routine workday, Colleen gets an unexpected job offer from Peter to move to Los Angeles for a modeling campaign. Though excited, she feels apprehension about the changes this could bring.

    Where
    Grocery store, Spearfish

  10. The Horrific Surprise

    As Colleen prepares to leave, she sends a farewell message to Ben. This message is intercepted by Tom, unwittingly foreshadowing a dark turn of events that will transpire that night.

    Where
    Colleen's home

  11. Tragedy Strikes at Home

    In a series of nightmarish occurrences, Peter is brutally stabbed, and Rose faces a gruesome death. The atmosphere grows increasingly tense as chaos reigns in their rented residence.

    Where
    Rented residence in Spearfish

  12. Chris's Fatal Investigation

    After hearing the commotion, Chris investigates the ominous atmosphere, only to fall into Gerry's grasp. This startling attack plunges the group deeper into despair and terror.

    Where
    Rented residence, interior

  13. Colleen's Desperate Hideaway

    Colleen hides under her desk, paralyzed by fear as her friends fall victim to the unfolding horror. When she finally dares to move, she discovers the chilling aftermath of the violence.

    Where
    Rented residence, living room

  14. The Haunting Finale

    As the chilling storyline wraps up, Britney walks into the grocery store, her gaze falling upon an unsettling photo capturing a day long forgotten. The haunting imagery reveals intertwined fates that bind each character, hinting at the dark truths yet uncovered.

    Where
    Grocery store, Spearfish

Last updated: November 19, 2024 at 12:54

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Timeline questions answered

The Girl in the Photographs Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of The Girl in the Photographs (2016): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Who are the killers in The Girl in the Photographs?

The killers are Tom and Gerry. Tom works at the same grocery store as Colleen and is revealed at the end as one of the photographers taking pictures during the murders. Gerry is the other killer who carries out the physical attacks. They operate together, capturing victims on film as part of a sadistic game.

  • tom
  • gerry
  • killers
  • murderers
  • villains
Q2

What does Number 7 mean on the photographs?

Number 7 refers to the victim's order in the killer's sequence. Janet was victim number 7, as shown on the photograph Colleen finds. The numbering system suggests a pattern of escalating murders, with each victim assigned a number in the killer's macabre series.

  • number 7
  • photographs
  • victims
  • sequence
Q3

Why was Colleen targeted by the killers?

Colleen was targeted because she reported the photographs to the sheriff and actively investigated the crimes. After the killers captured Jill, they used Jill's phone to impersonate her and lure Colleen to the house under the guise of a party invitation. Her involvement made her a direct threat to their operation.

  • colleen
  • targeted
  • killers
  • jill
  • invitation
Q4

Is Colleen alive at the end of the movie?

The ending is ambiguous but strongly implies Colleen is captured. When she emerges from hiding, Tom tells her to tie her hair up for a photo, mirroring the pose seen in the final photograph showing all the victims. This suggests she becomes the next target in the killer's sequence.

  • colleen
  • ending
  • alive
  • captured
  • photograph
Q5

What happens to Ben in The Girl in the Photographs?

Ben, Colleen's boyfriend, is killed after leaving their apartment following an argument. He is ambushed by the killers outside and never returns. One of the perpetrators later enters Colleen's apartment and leaves Ben's wallet behind as a cruel reminder of his fate.

  • ben
  • killed
  • murdered
  • boyfriend
Q6

Why does Tom turn out to be one of the killers?

Tom's betrayal is revealed at the end when he is shown photographing Colleen among the dead bodies. Despite working alongside Colleen at the grocery store and even warning her about the dangers, he was secretly orchestrating the murders with Gerry the entire time.

Foreshadowing: Tom intercepts Colleen's farewell text to Ben, using it to foreshadow the attack.

  • tom
  • betrayal
  • killer
  • twist
Q7

What is the Dead Model aesthetic Peter mentions?

Peter recognizes the photographs as part of a criminal trend mimicking the infamous "Dead Model" aesthetic, a disturbing style where killers photograph their victims in posed, artistic arrangements similar to fashion photography. This is what prompts Peter to return to Spearfish, believing a copycat criminal is at work.

  • dead model
  • aesthetic
  • peter
  • photographs
  • copycat
Q8

Why does Britney appear at the beginning and end of the movie?

Britney serves as a framing device. She is the friend who says goodbye to Janet at the beginning, making her the last person to see Janet alive. In the closing scene, Britney discovers the group photograph showing all the victims, including Colleen with her hair tied up, revealing she was present during the tragic events and is now the only one left to uncover the truth.

  • britney
  • beginning
  • ending
  • photograph
  • survivor
Q9

How did the killers know about the party at the house?

The killers kidnapped Jill, who was supposed to attend the party. They used her phone to send a text to Colleen, impersonating Jill and inviting her to the gathering. This is how they lured Colleen to the house where the murders would take place.

  • party
  • invitation
  • jill
  • killers
  • lure
Q10

What happened to Jill in The Girl in the Photographs?

Jill was kidnapped and held captive in a cage by the killers, being starved and tormented with cat food. When she refused to eat and tried to reclaim her phone, they suffocated her with a belt. Her phone was then used to trap Colleen.

  • jill
  • captivity
  • cage
  • killed
  • kidnapped

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Girl in the Photographs, by Mood & Story

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

Sinister small town horror movies like The Girl in the Photographs

Stories where an isolated community conceals a hidden darkness. If you liked the oppressive small-town atmosphere of The Girl in the Photographs, explore more movies where isolated communities hide dark secrets. These films feature hidden killers, local legends, and a sense of inescapable dread that turns a familiar setting into a terrifying trap.

  • isolated
  • paranoid
  • suspenseful
  • claustrophobic
  • sinister
  • fearful
  • Tone: dark, sinister, oppressive
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically involve an outsider or local discovering a violent secret that the community is either unaware of or complicit in hiding. The setting acts as a character, creating a sense of isolation and paranoia as the protagonist uncovers the truth, often finding that no one can be trusted.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here based on their shared use of a small-town or isolated setting to amplify tension and fear. They rely on a mood of suspicion, the breakdown of safety in a familiar place, and the theme of a hidden evil lurking beneath a mundane surface.

The Secret Village movie poster

The Secret Village

2013
Beneath the Darkness movie poster

Beneath the Darkness

2012
The Little Things movie poster

The Little Things

2021
Haunts movie poster

Haunts

1976
Needful Things movie poster

Needful Things

1993
Population 436 movie poster

Population 436

2006
Dark Signals movie poster

Dark Signals

2024
I Am Not a Serial Killer movie poster

I Am Not a Serial Killer

2016

Bleak cat-and-mouse thrillers like The Girl in the Photographs

Desperate struggles against a cruel foe, ending in devastating loss. For viewers who liked the tense, hopeless struggle in The Girl in the Photographs, this thread gathers movies about protagonists hunted by sadistic killers. These stories feature psychological torment, a steady pace of threats, and typically conclude with a bleak or tragic ending for the characters.

  • harrowing
  • hopeless
  • tense
  • gruesome
  • psychological terror
  • sadistic
  • Tone: dark, bleak, harrowing
  • Pacing: steady, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a predictable pattern of escalation: the antagonist makes their presence known, torments the protagonist, eliminates their allies, and ultimately proves to be unstoppable. The journey is defined by psychological terror and the systematic stripping away of hope, leading to an inevitable, grim conclusion.

Why they belong together: This thread unites movies through their shared structure of a one-sided, sadistic conflict and a tone of utter hopelessness. The key similarities are the relentless, cruel antagonist, the heavy emotional weight of the struggle, and the definitive, bleak resolution.

Cold Prey movie poster

Cold Prey

2006
Angst movie poster

Angst

1983
#1 Serial Killer movie poster

#1 Serial Killer

2013
Smiley Face Killers movie poster

Smiley Face Killers

2020
See No Evil movie poster

See No Evil

2006
Happy Hunting movie poster

Happy Hunting

2017
Cold Prey III movie poster

Cold Prey III

2010
Grotesque movie poster

Grotesque

2009

Every angle

The Girl in the Photographs (2016) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Girl in the Photographs 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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