The Kiss

The Kiss

Year: 1988

Runtime: 101 mins

Language: English

Director: Pen Densham

DramaHorrorFantasyThriller

After her mother’s death, a teenage girl begins to experience unsettling supernatural phenomena. The disturbances intensify when her mother’s estranged sister shows up, slipping into the household and gradually manipulating both the girl and her father’s lives. The film warns viewers not to watch with their eyes closed.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Kiss (1988)

Trace every key event in The Kiss (1988) 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

Sisters separated in the Congo; Felice departs with the talisman

In 1963, sisters Hilary and Felice Dunbar are separated during a journey in the Belgian Congo. Felice is sent away on a train with her aunt, who bears a cursed serpent-shaped talisman. During the voyage, the talisman seems to awaken the aunt's violence, and she kisses Felice as blood spills from her mouth. The train's conductor later discovers the aunt's deformed corpse, and Felice continues on with the talisman.

1963 Belgian Congo
2

Aunt's death reveals the talisman’s hold

Hours after the attack, the train's conductor discovers the aunt's lifeless, deformed body on the train. Felice has survived the encounter and continues onward with the talisman in hand. The talisman's presence hints at a bigger supernatural burden that will haunt Felice for years.

1963 On a train to Europe
3

Twenty-five years later: Felice's call disrupts Albany life

Twenty-five years pass, and in Albany, New York, Hilary Dunbar lives with her architect husband Jack and their daughter Amy. Hilary receives an unexpected phone call from her estranged sister Felice, now a globe-trotting model. The sisters briefly reconnect over the phone, but Hilary refuses to meet Felice, unsettling the quiet suburban life.

circa 1988 Albany, New York
4

Hilary's fatal car accident

Hilary's hesitation to meet Felice abruptly ends when she leaves for an errand and is killed in a gruesome freak car accident. She lingers near a gun shop, contemplating pistols in the storefront window, before the tragedy strikes. The sudden loss shatters the family’s stability and foreshadows Felice's return.

circa 1988 Albany, New York
5

Felice arrives in Albany and stays with the Hallorans

Five months after Hilary's death, Felice arrives in Albany and begins staying with Jack and Amy. Jack invites her into the home, and Amy grows wary of the enigmatic visitor who seems determined to insinuate herself into the family. Brenda, the nurse neighbor, also finds Felice’s presence unsettling.

circa 1989 Albany, New York
6

Mall encounter: Heather’s escalator accident

Amy and her friend Heather go shopping at the local mall. On the escalator, Heather's lipstick slips as she retrieves it, and her necklace becomes caught in the grate. Amy tries to help but cannot free her in time, and Heather is badly mangled by the escalator, though she survives.

circa 1989 Local mall, Albany
7

Amy uncovers Felice’s talisman and artifacts

Amy discovers Felice's talisman among her belongings, along with other artifacts including Heather's bloodied sunglasses. Suspicion grows that Felice harbors something sinister, especially as Felice makes romantic advances toward Jack. Tensions rise as Amy wrestles with fear and doubt about her sister's intentions.

circa 1989 Amy's home
8

Wild cat attacks and Terry’s confrontation with Felice

That night, Jack is attacked by a wild cat that escapes through the kitchen window. Amy finds solace in her friend Terry, who becomes suspicious of Felice. Terry confronts Felice at her hotel after witnessing her ritualistic behavior, and he is subsequently killed in a car related incident following the confrontation.

circa 1989 Albany area
9

Priest confronts Felice; spontaneous combustion

Amy seeks guidance from a local priest, who reveals troubling family histories connected to Felice. Felice interrupts the meeting; the priest flees and later attempts to meet Jack at his office, but is killed by spontaneous combustion caused by Felice’s powers inside an elevator.

circa 1989 Office building elevator
10

Brenda uncovers Felice’s blood in the lab

Brenda informs Jack that she had Felice's blood analyzed and that it resembles that of a corpse. Jack immediately returns from a business trip to confront the situation and protect his family. The unsettling discovery deepens the sense that Felice's curse is very real.

circa 1989 Home and airport
11

Felice reveals Amy is the bloodline; Jack targeted

Felice confronts Jack, explaining that Amy is her bloodline and that the curse must be passed on to Amy to survive. She attempts to secure Amy by seducing Jack, while Amy escapes with Brenda. The revelation reframes the danger from Felice to Amy herself.

circa 1989 House in Albany
12

Backyard pursuit and the therianthropic cat

Felice’s pursuit continues as Amy and Brenda attempt to flee through the yard. A wild cat—Felice's therianthropic manifestation—attacks, but Brenda manages to kill the creature. Felice presses her attack on Amy, forcing a desperate confrontation.

circa 1989 Backyard
13

Climax in the pool: Amy fights back

The struggle leads to a dangerous clash by the swimming pool. Amy manages to impale Felice with electric gardening shears, and the three struggle amid the water. The cursed parasite fights to possess Amy as the fight intensifies.

circa 1989 Backyard pool
14

Parasite defeated; Felice sinks

Felice’s parasitic embodiment swims toward Amy in a final bid for control, but is killed in an explosion triggered by a propane tank. Felice's body sinks to the bottom of the pool as Amy, Jack, and Brenda embrace, finally free of the curse's immediate threat.

circa 1989 Backyard pool

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:24

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The Kiss Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Kiss

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