The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Year: 2005

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: Dave Rosenbaum

HorrorDrama

A corrupt young man somehow keeps his youthful beauty, but a special painting gradually reveals his inner ugliness to all.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Picture of Dorian Gray (2005)

Trace every key event in The Picture of Dorian Gray (2005) 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

Dorian meets Hallward and Wotton

In Basil Hallward's studio, Dorian Gray is introduced as a handsome aristocrat who becomes the subject of a portrait. Basil's friendship is joined by Lord Henry Wotton, whose glib philosophy that the only worthwhile life is devoted to pleasure shapes Dorian's outlook. Henry's ideas plant the seed that a life defined by sensual delight might be the path to happiness.

early in the story Basil Hallward's studio, London
2

The wish for eternal youth

Moved by Henry's hedonistic arguing and vanity, Dorian wishes he could remain young while the portrait ages. He makes this wish in the presence of an Egyptian cat statue, which is presented as having mystical powers. The wish promises that Dorian's beauty will endure while consequences accumulate in the painting.

at the moment of the painting session Basil Hallward's studio
3

Dorian breaks off his engagement with Sibyl Vane

Dorian, initially drawn to Sibyl Vane, ends the engagement after she performs poorly on stage and he grows callous. The breakup marks a turning point, as his emotional reserve hardens and the romance collapses. Sibyl's heartbreak intensifies the sense that Dorian's soul is untethered from his youth.

shortly after the initial encounter Sibyl Vane's tavern
4

The portrait begins to change; Gray hides it

Following Sibyl's rejection, Dorian notices the portrait starting to distort, reflecting moral corruption. He orders the painting locked away in an old schoolroom and dismisses those who could reveal its location. He keeps the key to the room, effectively sheltering his secret life.

soon after Sibyl's suicide Dorian's London home, old schoolroom
5

Sibyl Vane's suicide

Grief and social scandal drive Sibyl to take her own life after Dorian's abrupt rejection. The tragedy ripples through Dorian's social circle and marks his first direct consequence of his callous new lifestyle. The event underscores the distance between appearances and inner decay.

shortly after the breakup London
6

Years pass; Dorian remains youth; portrait locked away

Years roll by and Dorian continues to look twenty-something, a sensation in London society. The portrait remains locked away, with Gray holding the only key. The gap between his gleaming exterior and hidden guilt widens.

years later London
7

Hallward confronts the painting; Dorian murders him

Basil Hallward eventually sees the portrait's grotesque transformation and confronts Dorian about it. In a moment of brutal treachery, Dorian murders Hallward and hides the body in the schoolroom alongside the painting. The crime cements Dorian's descent into violence as he actively destroys those who remind him of his sins.

after years of hiding the painting Schoolroom, London
8

Dorian coerces Allen Campbell to dispose of Hallward's body

To cover up the murder, Dorian pressures Allen Campbell to remove Hallward's corpse and stifle any investigation. Campbell, wracked by guilt, is unable to cope with his role and ultimately takes his own life.

immediately after murder Allen Campbell's home / London
9

Dorian begins a romance with Gladys Hallward

Dorian enters a budding romance with Basil Hallward's niece, Gladys, seeking social repair and companionship despite his hidden corruption. The relationship offers him a respite from his hedonistic cycle, at least on the surface. Yet the presence of his decaying soul remains unresolved.

after Hallward's murder Hallward's estate
10

James Vane pursues revenge; hunting party tragedy

James Vane, Sibyl's brother, travels to pursue revenge against Dorian and follows him to his country estate. During a hunting party, Vane is accidentally shot, foiling his quest for vengeance. The near-miss underscores the peril of Dorian's chosen path.

years after Sibyl's death Dorian's country estate
11

Dorian breaks off engagement to spare Gladys

Feeling the weight of his influence on others, Dorian decides to spare Gladys from misfortune by ending their engagement. He sends a letter breaking off their betrothal, attempting to isolate himself from any harm he might bring.

after James Vane incident London
12

Confrontation with the portrait; a glimmer of hope

Dorian confronts the portrait again and notices a subtle improvement, as if the spell were loosening or reversing. The moment hints at a possible redemption that remains tantalizingly out of reach. He clings to this faint sign while the external world remains oblivious.

after breaking engagement Old schoolroom
13

Stabbing the portrait; fatal consequence

In a final bid to end the spell, Dorian stabs the painting in the heart. He cries out as if he himself has been pierced, revealing the intertwined fate of body and image. The act seals his doom and accelerates the painting's decay.

immediately after confronting the painting Old schoolroom
14

Friends discover Dorian's death; the portrait reverts

Gray's friends burst into the schoolroom to find him dead beside the painting, his body warped by his sins. The portrait, by contrast, reverts to a young, innocent version of Dorian. The tragedy completes the moral reversal between outward beauty and inward corruption.

end of story Schoolroom

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 04:07

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