Torment (1986) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Bob has been casing homes in the area as part of his killing spree, targeting young women. He doesn't initially realize the mansion belongs to his daughter Jennifer. When he breaks in and watches Jennifer sleeping, he still doesn't recognize her as his own child. He attacks Mrs. Courtland when she discovers him, and the situation escalates as he tries to prevent anyone from stopping his escape after his true identity is revealed.

Foreshadowing: Bob was shown casing the mansion and studying its routines before the attack.

• bob
• mansion attack
• home invasion
• serial killer

Bob is Jennifer's father, though this twist is revealed late in the film. He arrives at the mansion claiming to have come for her wedding, but in reality, he was stalking the house as part of his murder spree. When Jennifer realizes who he is, she is horrified to discover her own father is the serial killer Michael has been hunting.

• bob
• jennifer
• father
• daughter
• family twist

Jennifer doesn't immediately recognize Bob because she hasn't seen him in a significant amount of time and likely had little contact with him. Additionally, the situation is highly stressful - she's dealing with Mrs. Courtland's claims about an intruder, it's nighttime, and she's not expecting anyone. The shock of discovering her father is the killer overrides any initial recognition.

Foreshadowing: Bob's vague claim that he's in trouble and his delayed arrival for the wedding hint at his estrangement from Jennifer.

• jennifer
• bob
• father
• recognition
• family

Officer Bogartis is a local police officer summoned to the mansion after Michael receives a panicked call from his mother. When he arrives at the property, Bob attacks him with an axe and kills him outside the house. This murder raises the stakes significantly and brings more police attention to the mansion.

Foreshadowing: The chaos of the power outage and Bob's escalating violence create the conditions for this attack.

• officer bogartis
• axe murder
• police death

Mrs. Courtland's warnings are dismissed because she has a history of paranoia following a break-in years earlier. Jennifer and the police believe her claims are manifestations of past trauma rather than current danger. Her compulsive checking of doors and windows reinforces their belief that she's experiencing anxiety rather than responding to a real threat.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes early on that Mrs. Courtland had a previous break-in and is obsessive about security.

• mrs courtland
• intruder warning
• dismissed
• paranoia

After being shot in the shoulder by Mrs. Courtland with a shotgun, Bob retaliates by cutting the mansion's power supply. This plunges the house into darkness, which advantages him during the cat-and-mouse pursuit through the dark rooms and hallways. The blackout makes it easier for him to stalk Jennifer and Mrs. Courtland without being seen.

• power outage
• blackout
• electricity
• house darkness

Bob's pattern of targeting young women is established early in the film. He meets Diane at a bar, and when she rejects his advances, he follows her home and kills her and her boyfriend. His killing methodology suggests a motivation related to rejection and sexual frustration, though the film doesn't provide extensive psychological exposition about his specific reasons.

Foreshadowing: Bob is described as lascivious when he arrives in San Francisco.

• bob
• victims
• young women
• killing pattern
• serial killer

Detective Michael Courtland decides to postpone his wedding to Jennifer by two weeks because he becomes deeply absorbed in investigating the serial killing case. The murders consume his attention and focus, leading him to prioritize catching the killer over his personal life. This decision inadvertently places Jennifer in the path of danger at his mother's mansion.

Foreshadowing: The investigation is introduced as a major plot element that pulls Michael away from his personal life.

• michael
• wedding
• postponed
• investigation
• detective

When Jennifer attempts to flee the mansion by car, she finds that Bob has dismantled the vehicle in the garage, rendering it unusable. This is part of his preparation to trap the occupants inside the house and prevent their escape during his attack.

Foreshadowing: Bob had been casing the mansion and studying its routines before the attack.

• car
• dismantled
• garage
• escape attempt

Despite being wheelchair-bound, Mrs. Courtland proves to be a formidable defender. When Bob attacks her, she slashes his wrist with a butcher knife, forcing him to drop his pistol. She barricades herself in the study, fires the gun through the door at him, and later shoots him in the shoulder with a shotgun. Her resourcefulness and willingness to fight make her a key survival character.

• mrs courtland
• wheelchair
• self defense
• fight back