The Truth Below

The Truth Below

Year: 2011

Runtime: 85 mins

Language: English

Director: Scott Glosserman

Thriller

A snowboarding excursion goes horribly wrong when an avalanche buries the friends' vehicle. Trapped inside, the four young adults must battle the cold, limited oxygen, and their own tensions as they fight to escape both the disaster and each other's darker impulses.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Truth Below (2011)

Trace every key event in The Truth Below (2011) 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

Leaving the ski resort

The friends wake up at the ski resort and pack the SUV to head home. Jenna resists Ethan's advances, while Dante and the others exchange wary glances that hint at hidden tensions. A police officer briefly stops them, checks their documents, and warns that tire chains are required, suggesting they pick them up at the gas station ahead.

Ski resort vicinity / on the road
2

Gas station trouble and a risky shortcut

At the gas station they discover they don't have chains and the shop doesn't stock any. The officer offers directions to sneak onto the highway and avoid ticketing, and the group pretends to stash chains from the back as patrols pass. They press on toward a less-plowed side road to avoid another checkpoint.

Gas station area / roadside
3

Cruise turns deadly: crash and avalanche

The SUV loses control on the slick road and slides into a less-plowed shoulder, triggering an avalanche that buries the vehicle. The occupants are knocked unconscious briefly as snow pours around them. When they revive, they realize they are trapped with no way to call for help.

Less-plowed side road / avalanche site
4

Oxygen dwindles and a grim reality sets in

Inside the buried SUV, breath becomes precious as they ration the limited air. Liam mutters about his mother expecting him home, underscoring the ticking clock. They try to restart the car and move windows, but the vehicle remains sealed under the snow.

Buried SUV
5

Truth game to pass the time

To distract themselves, they start a brutal 'truth game' and reveal a string of secrets. Ethan recalls a disturbing habit, Jenna discusses a high‑school secret about a teacher, Liam talks about his father’s death and his guilt, and Dante confesses to stealing from his younger brother. The confessions grow tenser as the air grows thinner.

Inside the buried SUV
6

Jenna and Liam's sexual moment, and Dante’s jealousy

During the game, Jenna and Liam secretly have sex in the back seat, while Dante looks on in distress and Ethan watches with unsettling glee. The moment strains the group and fuels Dante’s jealousy, especially as Liam’s breath comes in fits. The tense scene makes survival feel more fragile than ever.

Inside the buried SUV
7

The air crisis deepens: the puffer mystery

Liam struggles to breathe as his backup inhaler becomes crucial, and the group scavenges through bags for extra air. A second puffer is found, but someone secretly pockets it, raising suspicions and fear about who is hoarding the life-saving supply. The air race becomes a moral crisis as tensions peak.

Inside the buried SUV
8

A bombshell: the photo and a lie

In a tense moment, Jenna discovers a troubling photo in Dante's wallet and learns that Ethan had given it to him. Dante explains that the image is part of a fabrication, but Jenna’s trust is shattered. The revelation exposes how manipulation and deceit have been driving the group toward disaster.

Inside the buried SUV
9

Ethan's full confession about the frat party

Ethan finally explains the broader lie: at a frat party, he drugged Jenna’s drink and later returned her, using the photo to pretend they slept together. Jenna feels crushed by the betrayal and confronts Ethan directly. The group’s already brittle dynamics splinter further as accusations fly.

Inside the buried SUV
10

Escape plan forms: digging out

With the air quality deteriorating, Dante and Jenna decide to dig their way out through the snow. They don snow gear, smash a window, and begin tunneling toward the surface while Ethan pleads to be saved. They leave him behind as the car trembles and the wind howls outside.

Inside SUV / outside snow
11

Ethan's death in the car

The windshield finally cracks again and snow rushes into the vehicle. Ethan yells that it's not over yet and tries to recite the Lord’s Prayer, but he is overwhelmed by the icy flood and vanishes from view off-screen. His fate underscores the ruthlessness of their predicament.

Inside SUV
12

Dante and Jenna reach the surface and share a fragile moment

Inside the tunnel, Dante and Jenna reach a fragile sense of safety and share a brief kiss before the cold takes hold. They press on toward any possible exit, clinging to hope as the wind bites. The night ends with them bracing against the snow, uncertain of what comes next.

Snow tunnel / surface
13

Rescue team finds Dante and Jenna dead

A search team eventually reaches the wreck and uncovers Dante and Jenna, still wrapped in an embrace, frozen in the snow. The tragedy seals the fate of the group and leaves survivors to cope with the revelations and loss. The snow closes over the surface as the rescue mission continues.

Snow field

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:55

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The Truth Below Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Truth Below

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More About The Truth Below

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