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Timeline

The Sonata (2020) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 90 min · English
Echo score 53
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Directed by
Andrew Desmond
Starring
Rutger Hauer, Simon Abkarian, James Faulkner, Freya Tingley, Catherine Schaub-Abkarian, Christopher Brand

Following her father's death, a gifted pianist discovers a complex sonata among his possessions. As she unravels the piece, she uncovers a hidden inheritance and a web of cryptic clues suggesting a dark family secret. The music leads her on a perilous journey, revealing a sinister legacy and an unsettling curse that puts her own life in danger.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like The Sonata
  6. 6 Every angle
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15 events in order · contains spoilers

The Sonata Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Sonata (2020) 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. Rose Learns About Her Father

    Violin virtuoso Rose Fisher uncovers shocking news about her estranged father, Richard Marlowe. He tragically took his own life by setting himself ablaze, a revelation that throws her life into turmoil.

  2. Journey to the French Estate

    Amid the emotional chaos, Rose makes the decision to pause her commitments and visit her father's remote estate in France. This trip marks a turning point in her life as she confronts her father's legacy.

    Where
    Marlowe's mansion, France
  3. Encounter with Thérèse

    Upon her arrival, Rose meets Thérèse, her father's former housekeeper. This meeting reveals the strained history of her family and the lingering effects of her father's notorious reputation in the local community.

    Where
    Marlowe's mansion, France
  4. Discovery of the Sonate

    While exploring her father's desk, Rose stumbles upon an unfinished violin sonata, covered in occult symbols. The moment she plays a fragment of the music, a haunting figure momentarily manifests behind her, hinting at the dark connection her father had with the piece.

    Where
    Marlowe's mansion, France
  5. Reconnecting with Charles

    After recognizing the emotional strain in her relationship with her agent Charles, Rose decides to reach out to mend their professional rift. She shares her findings about the sonata and sends him images of the cryptic symbols, rekindling their collaboration.

  6. Meeting with James

    Charles consults former client and musical prodigy James to seek insight into the disjointed sonata. James struggles to decode the music, leading to a referral to Sir Victor Ferdinand, a historian familiar with Rose's father's work.

  7. Uncovering the Occult History

    Victor presents Charles with a book detailing the strange symbols which are tied to a secret society that believed music could conjure the devil. This revelation adds a layer of fear and urgency to their investigation.

  8. Rose's Nightmarish Visions

    As Rose sifts through her father's belongings, she discovers a symbol burned into the fireplace, leading to disturbing visions of her father engulfed in flames. These nightmares intensify her drive to either understand or destroy the dark legacy left behind.

    Where
    Marlowe's mansion, France
  9. Symbol Theories Revealed

    Charles informs Rose about the significance of the encountered symbols, which symbolize the four faces of evil. Together, they begin to unravel the hidden meaning behind the sonata in their pursuit of its completion.

  10. Exploring the Woods

    Curious about her father's past, Rose explores the woods surrounding the estate, eventually discovering an old chapel with disturbing murals. The experience becomes a chilling insight into Richard Marlowe's dark secrets and possible wrongdoings.

    Where
    The woods near Marlowe's mansion, France
  11. Ghostly Encounters

    Returning from her exploration, Rose encounters spectral children, further complicating her emotional state. This event leads her to share these frightening experiences with Charles, deepening their collaboration.

    Where
    Marlowe's mansion, France
  12. The Final Symbol is Revealed

    The last symbol, depicted as a rose in Marlowe's portrait, leads Charles to a horrifying realization. He concludes that the sonata was crafted using the anguished cries of kidnapped children, a revelation that sends Rose into a panic.

  13. Tragic Confrontation

    Consumed by obsession, Charles turns violent as he urges Rose to play the malevolent sonata. In a horrific turn of events, Rose is compelled to perform the music, which unleashes dark forces within the mansion.

    Where
    Marlowe's mansion, France
  14. The Violent Demise of Charles

    As Rose plays the cursed sonata, a demonic entity emerges, leading to an untimely and violent death for Charles. The struggle leaves Rose deeply traumatized, marking a pivotal moment in her life as she faces the malevolence tied to her father's legacy.

    Where
    Marlowe's mansion, France
  15. Performance at the Royal London Concert Hall

    Time later passes, and Rose takes to the stage at the Royal London Concert Hall. As she begins to play the haunting sonata, it becomes evident that the sinister legacy of her father's music still haunts her, suggesting an ongoing battle with the darkness of her past.

    Where
    Royal London Concert Hall

Last updated: October 27, 2024 at 21:38

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Timeline questions answered

The Sonata Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of The Sonata (2020): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Richard Marlowe set himself on fire?

Richard Marlowe took his own life by setting himself ablaze, but the deeper reason was his guilt over the demonic sonata he composed using the screams of kidnapped children. The film reveals he was consumed by the occult legacy he created and likely knew the curse would eventually claim him or those who pursued it.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Thérèse mentions that locals suspected Marlowe was involved in children's disappearances, hinting at his dark deeds.

  • richard marlowe
  • suicide
  • death
  • guilt
  • fire
Q2

What do the occult symbols on the sonata mean?

The symbols represent the four faces of evil: power, immortality, appearance, and duality. Together, they form a fifth, darker emblem associated with summoning the antichrist through music. Charles discovers this when researching with Victor, who reveals the symbols are linked to a secret French society that believed music could open a portal to the devil.

Foreshadowing: When Rose first plays the sonata, a haunting figure manifests behind her, confirming the symbols have supernatural power.

  • occult symbols
  • four faces of evil
  • devil
  • portal
  • antichrist
Q3

Why was the sonata composed using children's screams?

Charles realizes the horrifying truth: Richard Marlowe kidnapped children and recorded their anguished screams to compose the sonata. The piece was specifically written for Rose's innocent soul, making it a conduit for summoning demonic forces. This explains why playing the full sonata unleashes the supernatural entity.

Foreshadowing: Rose discovers recordings of children screaming in the underground chamber, foreshadowing the son's origins.

  • children screams
  • kidnapping
  • composition
  • rose
  • innocent soul
Q4

What happens to Charles at the end?

Charles is killed by a demonic entity when Rose is forced to play the cursed sonata. As she performs, the supernatural force manifests violently and claims his life right in the mansion. Thérèse discovers his lifeless body the next day.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Charles suffers debilitating headaches whenever Victor plays the sonata, showing the music's corrupting influence on him.

  • charles death
  • demon
  • killed
  • mansion
  • supernatural
Q5

Is Rose possessed at the end of the movie?

Yes, the ending strongly implies Rose is possessed by the demonic force. At the Royal London Concert Hall, her eyes exhibit an otherworldly glow as she begins playing the haunting sonata in front of an audience. This suggests the curse has taken hold of her and the dark legacy continues.

Foreshadowing: When Rose plays the sonata, her eyes gleam with otherworldly light, and ghostly children appear around her.

  • rose
  • possessed
  • ending
  • concert
  • eyes glow
  • curse
Q6

What was Richard Marlowe doing in the woods?

Rose discovers the horrifying answer when she explores the woods near the mansion and finds an old chapel with an underground chamber. Inside are murals depicting demonic motifs and recordings of Marlowe capturing children's screams. This confirms he was kidnapping and torturing children to create his sonata.

Foreshadowing: Thérèse mentions that Marlowe often vanished into the woods and that locals were suspicious of children's disappearances.

  • woods
  • chapel
  • underground chamber
  • children
  • recordings
  • kidnapped
Q7

Why did Charles become obsessed with solving the sonata?

Charles became increasingly obsessed with deciphering the sonata because the demonic music was corrupting him. He experiences debilitating headaches when Victor plays the piece, and as he gets closer to the truth, his behavior turns violent and controlling. The curse appears to have manipulated his mind, leading him to force Rose to play the sonata despite knowing its evil nature.

Foreshadowing: The headaches Charles suffers whenever the sonata is played indicate the music's supernatural influence over him.

  • charles
  • obsession
  • sonata
  • corruption
  • headaches
  • control
Q8

What is the connection between the clock and the sonata?

Rose discovers a clock marked with one of the sonata's symbols in the music room. Together with Charles, they realize the sheet music contains hidden notes that can only be revealed by heating the paper. They also figure out the clock must be set an hour ahead for the sonata to be played correctly, revealing another layer of the puzzle meant to protect or unlock the demonic power.

Foreshadowing: The hidden notes in the sheet music are a crucial clue that leads to understanding the sonata's true purpose.

  • clock
  • hidden notes
  • sheet music
  • heat
  • symbol
  • puzzle
Q9

What does the duality symbol represent in the film?

The duality symbol is associated with the cherub statue outside the mansion. Rose realizes the sheet music must be layered over each other to reveal the full composition. This duality represents the conflict between good and evil, innocence and corruption, which is embodied in Richard Marlowe's own dual nature as both a renowned composer and a child kidnapper.

Foreshadowing: Rose notices the symbol burned into the fireplace and later connects it to the cherub statue during her visions.

  • duality
  • cherub statue
  • sheet music
  • layering
  • good evil
Q10

Why does Charles think the sonata should be played backward?

After finding another symbol behind a mirror through Thérèse, Charles theorizes that playing the sonata backward might reveal hidden elements or reverse the occult summoning. This theory stems from their progressive understanding of the piece as a complex puzzle-box designed by Richard Marlowe, though the backward playing ultimately doesn't prevent the demonic manifestation.

Foreshadowing: Each new symbol discovery adds another layer to the mystery, with the mirror symbol suggesting reversal or inversion.

  • backward
  • mirror
  • reverse
  • symbols
  • theory
  • charles
Q11

Why does Rose see ghostly children?

Rose encounters ghostly children both in the mansion and after her exploration of the underground chamber. These apparitions are the souls of the children Richard Marlowe kidnapped and killed to create the sonata. They appear as manifestations tied to the cursed music, and they become visible when Rose is being drawn deeper into the supernatural reality of her father's legacy.

Foreshadowing: Rose discovers recordings of children's screams in the underground chamber, directly connecting to the ghostly encounters.

  • ghost children
  • spirits
  • mansion
  • souls
  • manifestation
  • supernatural
Q12

Why does Rose inherit her father's estate?

Rose inherits her father's remote French estate because she is his biological daughter, though they were estranged. Richard Marlowe left the mansion to Rose in his will, making her the owner of both the property and everything in it, including the cursed sonata and the dark secrets hidden within.

Foreshadowing: Rose is described as estranged from her father, yet she is his sole heir.

  • inheritance
  • estate
  • will
  • father
  • daughter
  • mansion

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Sonata, by Mood & Story

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

Cursed inheritance movies like The Sonata

Where an inheritance reveals a terrifying past that threatens the present. If you liked the way The Sonata uses a father's musical legacy to uncover a dark occult secret, you'll appreciate these movies. This list features thrillers and horror films where characters inherit a mysterious object or property that leads them down a dangerous path of family secrets and supernatural curses.

  • sinister
  • haunting
  • unsettling
  • obsessive
  • melancholic
  • cryptic
  • Tone: dark, unsettling
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows a linear but escalating discovery process. A character, often dealing with grief, is bequeathed an item that contains cryptic clues. As they investigate, they unravel a sinister history tied to their family or a malevolent force, leading to a direct confrontation with a supernatural threat that often ends with the curse consuming them.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here because they share a core premise of a dangerous inheritance, a methodical uncovering of clues, a focus on family secrets, and a tone of pervasive dread. The similarity lies in the blend of mystery, psychological thriller, and supernatural horror elements driven by a legacy from the past.

Supernatural art horror movies similar to The Sonata

Where a creative work becomes a conduit for unspeakable horror. For viewers who enjoyed the central role of the musical sonata in The Sonata as a key to a supernatural mystery, this list features similar films. Explore movies where a creative work like a painting, film, or composition hides a dark secret or actively channels occult forces, creating a slow-burn atmosphere of dread.

  • atmospheric
  • anxious
  • obsessive
  • haunting
  • unsettling
  • psychological
  • Tone: atmospheric, dark
  • Pacing: steady, slow burn
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative revolves around a character's deep dive into a specific artistic creation. Their expertise and obsession lead them to perceive hidden layers or messages within the work, which gradually unveil a supernatural or cosmic horror. The plot structure is often a slow unraveling, where the art itself is the primary antagonist or the mechanism of the curse.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their unique fusion of artistic pursuit with supernatural horror. The shared experience is one of intellectual and aesthetic unease, where the beauty of the art is corrupted by a hidden evil. The similarity is in the meta-narrative of art containing power and the specific, obsessive journey of the protagonist.

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Every angle

The Sonata (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Sonata 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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