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The Toymaker (2017) movie poster

Timeline

The Toymaker (2017) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 84 mins · English
Directed by
Andrew Jones
Starring
Erick Hayden, Nathan Head, Lee Bane, Jo Weil, Harriet Rees, Sophie Willis

There’s a new puppet master in town In Germany, 1941, the Nazis pursue a Toymaker who has acquired a mystical book which gives life to inanimate objects.

Horror Cast, crew & box office
On this page (5)
  1. 1 Events in order (12)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like The Toymaker
  5. 5 Every angle

12 events in order · contains spoilers

The Toymaker Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Toymaker (2017) 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. The Theft and Pursuit Begins

    In 1941 Nazi Germany, a rogue officer named Benjamin Hoffman steals a powerful occult book said to bring objects to life. The book's power draws the ire of the SS, who are determined to harness it for Hitler's war machine. Colonel Reinhard leads the pursuit across the country as he promises a swift replacement for conventional weapons.

    When
    1941
    Where
    Nazi Germany

  2. Hiding the Book in Rosenheim

    Hoffman hides the book in the remote village of Rosenheim, hoping to throw the SS off his trail. The pursuit intensifies as the Nazi agents close in on the hidden artifact. The fate of the book becomes entangled with a fragile village and its reclusive inhabitants.

    When
    1941
    Where
    Rosenheim

  3. The Book Reaches Amos Blackwood

    The occult volume finally falls into the hands of Amos Blackwood, a reclusive toymaker in Rosenheim. Using the book's rituals, he breathes life into several dolls, with Robert the Doll becoming the workshop's guardian. The line between toy and terror is drawn as the first signs of life emerge.

    When
    late 1941
    Where
    Amos's workshop, Rosenheim

  4. Amos Brings Toys to Life

    Amos uses the book's rituals to animate the wooden toys and dolls that fill his workshop. The living creations hint at sentience as Robert the Doll takes a protective, ominous role. The act of animation unsettles the shop's balance and draws attention to the unknown power at work.

    When
    late 1941
    Where
    Amos's workshop, Rosenheim

  5. Discovery of Robert’s Movements and a Murder

    SS investigators close in on Amos's shop as the book's trail runs hot. An officer witnesses Robert moving on its own, a sign of the occult force at play. The officer is later found dead, eyes gouged and dismembered by Robert and the other toys, leaving blood stains in the storage room.

    When
    late 1941
    Where
    Amos's toyshop

  6. Betrayal by a Treacherous Assistant

    A treacherous assistant, enticed by Nazi promises, betrays Amos. The betrayal speeds the SS's resolve as they seize the shop and seize the occult book. The stage is set for a grim confrontation between magic, metal, and murder.

    When
    late 1941
    Where
    Amos's toyshop

  7. The SS Storm the Toyshop

    The SS storm Amos's workshop, violently arresting him and taking the occult book. With the book in their hands, they plan to unleash the ritual to create an army of living weapons. The atmosphere tightens as fear and ambition collide inside the cramped workshop.

    When
    late 1941
    Where
    Amos's toyshop

  8. Robert Initiates a Bloody Rampage

    Robert, hidden and watching, begins a brutal rampage to avenge the theft. The first victims appear as a guard is slain in the hall, followed by a wooden soldier slitting another soldier's throat. The carnage demonstrates the dolls' improvisational lethality.

    When
    late 1941 night
    Where
    Amos's toyshop

  9. Infiltration of the SS Base at Night

    Robert and the other toys slip into the SS base under the cover of darkness. Using their small size and speed, they ram through air vents and corridors to sow chaos. The first wave of killings leaves the base in a maelstrom of whispers and fear.

    When
    night
    Where
    SS base

  10. Torture and Fire in the Base

    Inside the base, a Nazi is strapped to a workbench and tortured by toy tools, while another is set on fire by an exploding mechanical bear. The inventive cruelty of the dolls creates a horrifying counterpoint to the SS's brutality. The base erupts into chaos as alarms blare.

    When
    night
    Where
    SS base

  11. Reinhard's Magic Backfires

    Colonel Reinhard attempts to wield the book's magic, but the spell backfires disastrously. The toys turn on him, led by Robert, who slices the Colonel's abdomen and is then brutalized by other dolls. The assault marks the turning point of the battle and Reinhard's demise.

    When
    during the siege
    Where
    SS base

  12. Amos Escapes with the Book

    Amos is rescued by his living creations, who defend him as they flee toward the countryside. With the book once again in his possession, Robert and the other toys surround Amos, their eyes gleaming with life and menace. The scene ends with the implication that the horrors may be far from over.

    When
    post-conflict
    Where
    Countryside

Last updated: October 10, 2025 at 16:05

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Timeline questions answered

The Toymaker Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of The Toymaker (2017): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why are the Nazis pursuing the occult book?

The SS, led by Colonel Reinhard, wants to harness the book's supernatural power for Hitler's war machine. They believe the ancient rituals can bring objects to life and want to create an army of living weapons to replace conventional warfare.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, the rogue officer Hoffman warns that the book's power is too dangerous to fall into Nazi hands.

  • occult book
  • nazis
  • supernatural power
  • reinhard
  • weapons
Q2

How does the occult book end up with Amos Blackwood?

Hoffman hides the book in the remote village of Rosenheim to throw the SS off his trail. The book eventually falls into the hands of Amos Blackwood, the reclusive toymaker, who discovers the arcane rituals inside.

Foreshadowing: The remote location of Rosenheim was chosen specifically to hide the book from Nazi pursuit.

  • occult book
  • amos blackwood
  • rosenheim
  • hoffman
Q3

Why does Robert the Doll turn violent against the SS?

Robert becomes the guardian of Amos's workshop after being animated by the book's rituals. When the SS arrest Amos and steal the book, Robert initiates a bloody rampage to avenge his creator and protect the workshop's secrets.

Foreshadowing: Robert takes a protective, ominous role from the moment he comes alive, watching over the shop.

  • robert the doll
  • toys
  • violence
  • guardian
  • ss
Q4

Why does Amos Blackwood bring his toys to life?

Amos uses the arcane rituals from the occult book to animate his wooden toys and dolls. The rituals allow him to breathe life into inanimate objects, with Robert the Doll becoming his primary protector.

Foreshadowing: The book's description explicitly states it contains rituals that can bring objects to life.

  • amos blackwood
  • arcane rituals
  • animated toys
  • dolls
Q5

Why does the assistant betray Amos to the Nazis?

The assistant is enticed by promises from the Nazis, likely offering freedom, rewards, or protection in exchange for handing over the occult book and betraying Amos's location.

Foreshadowing: The assistant's greed is hinted at when Nazi agents make contact and offer incentives.

  • assistant
  • betrayal
  • nazis
  • treachery
Q6

Why does Colonel Reinhard's use of the book backfire?

When Reinhard attempts to wield the book's magic himself, the spell backfires disastrously. The animated toys, led by Robert, turn on him, slicing his abdomen open and tearing him apart. The magic rejects his violent intentions.

Foreshadowing: The book's power was established as dangerous and unpredictable, responding to the will of its user.

  • colonel reinhard
  • magic backfires
  • toys attack
  • ritual
Q7

How does Amos escape from the SS base?

Robert and the other animated toys infiltrate the SS base under cover of night. They systematically kill the soldiers, free Amos from imprisonment, and help him flee into the countryside while surrounding him protectively.

Foreshadowing: Robert's rampage begins specifically to rescue Amos after witnessing his arrest.

  • amos escape
  • ss base
  • robert rescue
  • toys infiltration
Q8

What happens to the occult book at the end of the movie?

After the toys kill Colonel Reinhard and the SS, Amos regains possession of the occult book. He escapes into the countryside with Robert and the other toys surrounding him, their eyes gleaming with life and menace.

Foreshadowing: The toys' fierce protection of Amos ensures the book stays with its original owner.

  • occult book
  • ending
  • amos
  • escape
Q9

Why do the animated toys attack the Nazis?

The toys attack the Nazis in revenge for arresting Amos and stealing the occult book. Robert witnesses the betrayal and imprisonment, then leads a coordinated assault against the SS base to free his creator and reclaim the book.

Foreshadowing: Robert is shown watching silently from the shadows during the shop raid, plotting his response.

  • animated toys
  • nazis attack
  • revenge
  • robert
Q10

Why is the SS officer found dead in Amos's toyshop?

The SS officer discovers Robert moving on his own, witnessing the supernatural power at work. Robert and the other animated toys kill him in retaliation, gouging out his eyes and dismembering his body as a warning to others.

Foreshadowing: Robert's protective nature is established immediately after being animated, guarding the workshop.

  • ss officer death
  • toyshop murder
  • robert
  • mysterious

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Toymaker, by Mood & Story

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

Supernatural Vengeance Horror Movies like The Toymaker

Stories where the supernatural becomes a brutal instrument of revenge. Discover more movies like The Toymaker, where the supernatural is a force of violent retribution. This collection features horror films where haunted objects, occult forces, or vengeful spirits enact brutal revenge, perfect for fans of stories about magical consequences and inescapable supernatural carnage.

  • vengeful
  • brutal
  • menacing
  • violent
  • grim
  • oppressive
  • Tone: dark, vengeful
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a catalyst event—a betrayal, a desecration, or an act of cruelty—that unleashes a supernatural force. This force then systematically targets the perpetrators, leading to a fast-paced sequence of violent encounters. The focus is on the inescapable nature of this supernatural revenge rather than on a traditional mystery to be solved.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are united by the core idea of the supernatural as a retributive force. They share a dark tone, high intensity, and a grim mood where the horror stems from a deliberate, often deserved, punishment meted out by something beyond human control.

Supernatural movie poster

Supernatural

1933
Haunted movie poster

Haunted

1977
Superstition movie poster

Superstition

1982
303 Fear Faith Revenge movie poster

303 Fear Faith Revenge

1998
Bones movie poster

Bones

2001
1920: Horrors of the Heart movie poster

1920: Horrors of the Heart

2023
The Devonsville Terror movie poster

The Devonsville Terror

1983
Terror movie poster

Terror

1978

Historical Horror in Oppressive Settings like The Toymaker

Horror stories set within the walls of brutal, fanatical systems. If you liked The Toymaker's Nazi occult setting, explore more movies that blend horror with historical oppression. These films use settings like fascist regimes, totalitarian states, or isolated military compounds to create a uniquely menacing and claustrophobic atmosphere where human and supernatural evil collide.

  • claustrophobic
  • oppressive
  • menacing
  • suspenseful
  • grim
  • paranoid
  • Tone: dark, grim, suspenseful
  • Pacing: steady, tense
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Characters are trapped both physically and ideologically within a powerful, brutal system. The narrative involves a struggle for survival against both the human oppressors and a supernatural threat that the regime may have unleashed or is pursuing. The setting itself is a key antagonist, creating a constant sense of paranoia and inescapable dread.

Why they belong together: These films share a specific, powerful vibe defined by their historical or pseudo-historical oppressive settings. The combination of real-world human monstrosity with supernatural horror creates a uniquely grim, suspenseful, and claustrophobic experience that feels both historically grounded and terrifyingly fantastical.

The Keep movie poster

The Keep

1983
Crawlspace movie poster

Crawlspace

1986
Outpost movie poster

Outpost

2008
The Black Torment movie poster

The Black Torment

1964
The Cold Room movie poster

The Cold Room

1984
The Night of the Hunted movie poster

The Night of the Hunted

1980
Gehenna: Where Death Lives movie poster

Gehenna: Where Death Lives

2016
Demonia movie poster

Demonia

1990

If you liked this

Movies Like The Toymaker

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Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich movie poster

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The Dollmaker movie poster

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Puppet Master: The Legacy movie poster

Puppet Master: The Legacy

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Puppet Master vs Demonic Toys movie poster

Puppet Master vs Demonic Toys

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Toyland movie poster

Toyland

2007
Puppet Master III movie poster

Puppet Master III

1991
Evil Little Things movie poster

Evil Little Things

2020
Toys of Terror movie poster

Toys of Terror

2020
Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker movie poster

Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker

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The Puppet movie poster

The Puppet

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Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker movie poster

Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker

1991

Every angle

The Toymaker (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Toymaker 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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