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Plot Summary

The Suicide Theory (2015) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2015 · 98 min · English
Directed by
Dru Brown

A man struggling with profound despair hires a professional killer to end his life. As the assassin repeatedly fails, the man discovers an unexpected strength and determination within himself. These failed attempts force him to confront his own will to live and question the nature of hope and resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like The Suicide Theory
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Suicide Theory (2015)

Where can you watch The Suicide Theory? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Hoopla, Plex and Tubi TV: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in The Suicide Theory: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of The Suicide Theory (2015) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

As Steven confides in a friend who manages a local store about his wife Annie's pregnancy, an unexpected disturbance caused by a rude individual triggers a series of catastrophic events. This confrontation leads to a brutal murder outside, and mere days later, tragedy strikes again when Annie is killed in a senseless hit-and-run incident while crossing the street alongside Steven. This traumatic ordeal leaves Steven haunted by debilitating flashbacks every time he attempts to cross a street, a relentless reminder of his powerless struggle against fate.

Fast forward three years, Steven's profound grief has morphed into a relentless career as a contract killer. Yet, his latest assignment takes a bizarre twist when a man plummets from a building, landing directly on the cab Steven is riding in, precipitating another severe panic attack.

This suicidal individual, Percival, recognizes Steven from a distance, identifying him as the man who had been in his life for reasons that seem predestined. Percival, who has failed in his multiple suicide attempts and bears the scars of his battles, believes their encounter is more than mere chance. He begs Steven to end his life, but in a moment of compassion, Steven hesitates, offering Percival a chance to rethink his choice. When Percival steadfastly opts for death, Steven reluctantly complies, only to be astounded when Percival miraculously survives.

As Steven delves deeper into the enigma of Percival's incredible resilience, he finds himself drawn to the challenge of breaking the perceived curse enveloping him. Percival divulges the source of his turmoil—the loss of his boyfriend Christopher, whose death has profoundly impacted his existence. The two men forge a tenuous bond through their shared sorrow.

In a desperate bid to shatter the curse, Steven hires a gay man to charm Percival, hoping a surge of emotions might render him mortal. When this plan backfires, leaving Percival repulsed by Steven's actions, the contract killer becomes increasingly obsessed with unraveling the mystery of Percival's unnatural endurance.

Their explorations lead them to an unforeseen outcome when Percival's flirtation with a friendly bartender results in a violent assault by the bartender's homophobic friends. Steven, learning of this brutal incident, devises a scheme to feign homosexuality and walk into the trap set for Percival. At the bar, he falls prey to manipulation by the bartender, only to later enact gruesome retribution against his assailants.

Once again, Percival is disgusted by Steven's actions, yet the contract killer insists that Percival must have unconsciously orchestrated the events unfolding around them. The unwitting partners are forced to face the dark realities of their lives and the nuanced dynamics of fate and free will.

As Steven's inner conflict continues to burn, his reluctance to eliminate Frank Dubois becomes glaring, frustrating his employer Thomas. In this turbulent time, Steven discovers Percival's talent for painting, leading him to appreciate the exquisite nature of art as he witnesses Percival at work on a moving portrait of Chris. This revelation prompts an unexpected visit from Percival to Steven's home, which takes an emotional turn when the sight of Annie's old dress causes Percival to flee in panic. That night, Steven finds himself donning his deceased wife's dress and makeup, gun poised at his temple. Just as he teeters on the edge of ending it all, an unexpected thug outside targets a policeman, prompting Steven to leap into action, saving the officer’s life. The rush of adrenaline leads to an ecstatic phone call to Percival, filled with gratitude for the inspiration spurred by the artist, and newfound appreciation for life’s mysteries.

In the ensuing days, Steven confronts Frank, revealing that his intended target was never actually under contract. His motivations were rooted in a half-remembered license plate number, a frenzied attempt to connect the dots tracing back to Annie's death. With this realization, Steven vows to put an end to his vengeful spirals, much to Thomas's chagrin.

Eventually, Percival admits his unintentional role in Annie's demise, having driven under the influence in the wake of Christopher's passing. He pleads with Steven for forgiveness, but his request falls on deaf ears. In a poignant farewell, the two share a heartfelt hug, only for Steven to tragically end Percival's life.

As Steven navigates the aftermath of Percival's funeral, a turning point is reached; he resigns from his mercenary lifestyle and faces Thomas, only to unearth that Thomas is merely a fragment of his own fractured psyche. This shocking revelation plunges Steven into a surreal realm, where he encounters a gallery of Percival's art. A haunting portrait of Chris, now finished, serves as a grim reminder of the calamities that transpired.

In a dazed state, Steven is interrupted by a vision of Annie, beckoning him from across the street. As he ventures near, a truck charges toward him, sending him to the pavement. Upon regaining consciousness, a doctor reveals to him that he is fortunate to be alive. The irony of the situation doesn’t escape him; he can only smile bitterly, echoing Percival’s earlier reaction to similar news.

Last updated: November 17, 2024 at 20:08

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Plot questions answered

The Suicide Theory Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about The Suicide Theory (2015): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Steven become a contract killer after Annie's death?

Steven turns to contract killing as a way to channel his overwhelming grief and trauma into something that feels purposeful. After witnessing Annie's death in a hit-and-run, he becomes haunted by flashbacks whenever he crosses streets, making normal life impossible. The three years of suffering have warped his perspective, leading him into the dark world of contract killing as a coping mechanism.

  • steven
  • contract killer
  • grief
  • annie death
  • transformation
Q2

How does Percival survive his suicide attempts?

Percival repeatedly survives lethal suicide attempts throughout the film, which both characters interpret as a kind of curse or unnatural protection. He survives being pushed from a building, various other methods, and even being shot by Steven. The film presents this as something almost supernatural, though it remains ambiguous whether this is truly fate, coincidence, or psychological resilience.

  • percival
  • suicide attempts
  • survival
  • curse
  • resilience
Q3

Who killed Annie and why?

Percival accidentally killed Annie in a hit-and-run while driving under the influence. This happened shortly after his boyfriend Christopher's death, when Percival was grieving and emotionally unstable. He had no knowledge that Annie was Steven's wife at the time, making the tragedy a cruel coincidence that connects the two men.

  • annie
  • percival
  • hit-run
  • death
  • cause
Q4

Why does Steven kill Percival after learning the truth?

Despite learning that Percival's role in Annie's death was accidental, Steven cannot overcome his grief and rage. When Percival asks for forgiveness, Steven's emotional turmoil leads him to kill Percival in a moment of despair. This tragic choice represents the culmination of Steven's broken mental state and inability to process his losses.

  • steven
  • percival
  • killing
  • forgiveness
  • tragedy
Q5

What is Thomas's true identity in the story?

Thomas, who appears to be Steven's employer in the contract killing business, is actually a manifestation of Steven's own fractured psyche. This revelation comes after Percival's funeral when Steven confronts Thomas, discovering he has been talking to himself all along. This psychological twist explains Thomas's mysterious knowledge and control over Steven's actions.

  • thomas
  • psyche
  • manifestation
  • split personality
  • revelation
Q6

Why does Steven wear Annie's dress at the end?

Steven puts on Annie's old dress and makeup while holding a gun to his head, reaching a moment of complete emotional breakdown. This occurs after Percival flees upon seeing Annie's dress, triggering Steven's deepest grief. The act represents his complete identification with his lost wife and his own suicidal crisis at that moment.

  • steven
  • annie
  • dress
  • grief
  • breakdown
Q7

Why does Percival believe Steven is meant to be in his life?

Percival believes their meeting is predestined because he recognizes Steven from earlier, though this connection is later revealed to stem from the fact that Steven was present when Annie was killed. Percival's multiple failed suicide attempts and his survivor's guilt create a psychological need to believe their paths crossing is meaningful, not random.

  • percival
  • steven
  • connection
  • destiny
  • fate
Q8

Why does Steven pretend to be gay at the bar?

Steven hatches a scheme to feign homosexuality and walk into the trap set for Percival after learning that Percival was assaulted by the bartender's homophobic friends. He hopes to confront and eliminate the attackers, but instead falls victim to the bartender's manipulation and must later take brutal revenge.

  • steven
  • bar
  • assault
  • homosexuality
  • revenge
Q9

What is the meaning behind Percival's perceived curse?

Percival believes he is cursed to survive his suicide attempts because he has unfinished emotional business. His inability to die stems from unresolved grief over Christopher's death and the guilt he carries. Steven attempts to break this curse by triggering emotional responses, believing Percival might finally die if he experiences true emotional connection.

  • percival
  • curse
  • christopher
  • grief
  • emotional block
Q10

Why was Steven hunting Frank Dubois?

Steven believed Frank Dubois was responsible for Annie's death, based on a half-remembered license plate number from the night of the hit-and-run. His obsessive hunt for Frank represents his desperate attempt to find someone to blame and seek revenge. However, when he finally confronts Frank, Steven discovers his target was never actually under contract.

  • frank dubois
  • revenge
  • license plate
  • mistaken identity
Q11

What happens to Steven at the end of the movie?

After killing Percival and attending his funeral, Steven has a vision of Annie on the street. As he walks toward her, a truck strikes him. He survives and wakes in a hospital, where a doctor tells him he's lucky to be alive. Steven smiles bitterly at the irony, he wanted to die but couldn't, while others around him kept dying.

  • steven
  • truck
  • near death
  • survival
  • irony
  • ending
Q12

What is the significance of Percival's paintings?

Percival channels his grief over Christopher's death into painting, creating portraits of his deceased boyfriend. Steven discovers Percival's artistic talent and this becomes a turning point that helps Steven reconnect with beauty and life. The finished portrait of Christopher serves as a haunting reminder of the tragedies that connect both men.

  • percival
  • painting
  • christopher
  • art
  • grief
  • expression

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Suicide Theory, by Mood & Story

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

Trauma Bonded Odd Couples like The Suicide Theory

Two broken souls forced together, finding an unexpected connection through shared pain. Explore movies like The Suicide Theory where two characters, each burdened by their own darkness, form a complex and transformative relationship. These stories focus on odd pairings forged in pain, leading to unexpected connections and profound character change.

  • psychologically intense
  • fatalistic
  • grim
  • anxious
  • obsessive
  • grieving
  • Tone: dark, psychologically intense
  • Pacing: variable, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows two opposing characters—often a cynic and a lost soul—whose paths collide. Initially at odds, they are forced to interact, revealing their shared vulnerabilities. Through conflict and reluctant cooperation, they develop a unique bond that challenges their worldviews and offers a fractured path toward healing.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their focus on character-driven dynamics born from pain. They share a dark yet emotionally resonant tone, exploring how profound human connection can emerge from the most unlikely and damaged of places.

Psychological Journeys from Despair like The Suicide Theory

Characters grappling with profound loss find a flicker of resilience in the darkest places. If you liked The Suicide Theory's exploration of grief and finding strength in darkness, discover more movies about characters on a heavy emotional journey. These films depict a slow, painful climb from the abyss of despair toward a complex and ambiguous form of hope.

  • despair
  • grieving
  • psychologically intense
  • heavy
  • bittersweet
  • introspective
  • Tone: dark, bittersweet
  • Pacing: variable, reflective
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative is an internal odyssey, often triggered by a tragic event. The protagonist is consumed by their pain, leading to self-destructive behavior or isolation. The plot forces them to confront their demons, resulting in a transformation that is not about pure happiness, but about finding a fragile will to endure and a new perspective on life.

Why they belong together: This thread groups films that share a heavy emotional weight and a focus on the psychology of recovery. They deliver a cathartic, often bittersweet experience by portraying a realistic and hard-fought path from the bottom toward a nuanced light.

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Movies Like The Suicide Theory

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Every angle

The Suicide Theory (2015) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Suicide Theory 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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