The Carpenter

The Carpenter

Year: 1988

Runtime: 89 mins

Language: English

Director: David Wellington

ThrillerHorror

The spirit of a carpenter sentenced to death by electric chair returns to complete the house he never finished. When a young married couple moves into the home, they discover the walls turning into a nightmare as the vengeful carpenter haunts and torments them, forcing them to confront his dark past and the horror he left behind.

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Timeline & Setting – The Carpenter (1988)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Carpenter (1988). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Québec, Canada

A secluded house in Québec, tucked away in the Canadian countryside, forms the film’s claustrophobic setting. The unfinished structure and rural distance amplify the sense of danger as events unfold. The location feels like a character itself, shaping the characters’ fear and desperation as violence erupts around its walls.

🏡 Québec countryside 🇨🇦 Canada 🏚️ Isolated residence

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:50

Main Characters – The Carpenter (1988)

Meet the key characters of The Carpenter (1988), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Alice Jarett

A housewife released from an institution in Québec who moves to the Canadian countryside with her husband, Martin. She becomes entangled with the mysterious carpenter, drawn to his charm even as danger surrounds her. As events escalate, she must rely on resilience to navigate manipulation and survive.

🧠 Vulnerability 🏡 Domestic horror 💪 Resilience

Martin Jarett

A professor and husband whose move to the country coincides with an affair with Laura Bell. His arrogance and secrecy pull him into the deadly events that unfold in the house. He is ultimately killed when Ed's violence culminates in a brutal ending.

🧠 Intellectual 💔 Infidelity 🕊️ Power dynamics

Laura Bell

Martin’s student who confesses the affair and is pregnant with his child. Her presence precipitates confrontation with Alice, leading to a violent climax where Laura is killed with a nail gun with help from Ed.

💔 Affairs 👶 Pregnancy 🕵️ Secrets

Carpenter (Edward)

The house’s carpenter, Edward, a builder whose murderous past haunts the unfinished home. He uses charm to lure Alice while committing brutal acts of violence, and his presence fuels the film’s supernatural horror until he is consumed by fire.

🪚 Obsession 👻 Supernatural 🔪 Violence

Rachel Jarett

Alice’s sister who visits the house and tries to leave with Alice after seeing the corpses of Martin and Laura. Ed’s violence interrupts her escape, and she joins forces with Alice in a final confrontation.

👭 Family ties 💪 Courage 🧭 Escape

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:50

Major Themes – The Carpenter (1988)

Explore the central themes of The Carpenter (1988), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🛠️ Perfection Obsession

The Carpenter’s fixation on flawless construction drives him to violence and manipulation. Alice is drawn to Ed’s charm even as murder surrounds her, showing how obsession can corrupt relationships. The unfinished house mirrors the unfinished psyches of its inhabitants, turning craft into a weapon and pushing characters toward ruin. The film uses this obsession to explore danger lurking behind glossy façades.

🏚️ Haunted Home

The house acts as a malevolent presence, responding to Edward’s ghostly interventions and the characters’ emotions. Saws, nails, and doors become instruments of fear as the setting turns deadly. The isolated residence amplifies paranoia, making each creak a potential threat and making the structure itself feel alive.

💔 Domestic Betrayal

Martin’s affair with Laura Bell ruptures trust within the couple, pulling the lives of the characters toward violent consequences. Laura’s pregnancy heightens the stakes and intensifies the confrontation surrounding the affair. When Ed and Alice unleash violence, the film reframes personal betrayal as a suburb-to-siege nightmare, where loyalty disintegrates under pressure.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:50

Unlock the Full Story of The Carpenter

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The Carpenter Summary

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The Carpenter Summary

The Carpenter Timeline

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The Carpenter Timeline

More About The Carpenter

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The Carpenter (1988) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

The Carpenter (1988) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

The Carpenter (1988) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow