Totem

Totem

Year: 2017

Runtime: 89 mins

Language: English

Director: Marcel Sarmiento

Horror

How far would you go to protect your family? A teen must resort to extreme measures to protect her family from a supernatural entity.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Totem (2017)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Totem (2017). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Present day

The events unfold in contemporary times, centered on a teenage sister duo and a fractured family. Everyday routines—the track practice, Christmas ornaments, and shared meals—contrast with sudden supernatural disturbances. The setting emphasizes a modern domestic space where a totemic force disrupts normal life.

Location

Family home, School track area, Crawlspace, Tiny house in a deserted location

The story centers around a family home where Kellie and Abby live, with key scenes at a school track and the siblings' memories of their mother. The crawlspace and the family's later move to a secluded tiny house emphasize a claustrophobic setting ruled by an unseen force. The locations shift from ordinary domestic spaces to a remote hideaway as the haunting intensifies.

🏠 Home 🕯️ Supernatural 🧭 Mystery

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 07:59

Main Characters – Totem (2017)

Meet the key characters of Totem (2017), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Abby (Lia McHugh)

Abby is Kellie's younger sister who navigates the eerie events with quiet resilience. She seeks safety for her family while maintaining hope that their lives can return to normal. Her empathy and vigilance keep her connected to Kellie even as the haunting strains their bond.

🫶 Compassionate 🧭 Curious

Robin (Ahna O'Reilly)

Robin moves in as James's girlfriend and tries to normalize life for Kellie, often clashing with the girl’s grief and volatile outbursts. She shares a past with Lexy and a mutual concern for Abby's safety. Robin faces danger alongside the family and becomes a stabilizing, though contested, presence.

🤝 Caring 🧭 Protective

Kellie (Kerris Dorsey)

Kellie is a volatile 17-year-old whose grief over her mother's death twists into a dangerous obsession with power. She uses the totem to manipulate her surroundings, harming those around her and endangering her family. Her fragile attachment to what she believes she needs drives a murderous path.

🔥 Aggressive 🪄 Manipulative

James (James Tupper)

James is Kellie's father, initially skeptical of the supernatural claims and protective of his family. He becomes entangled in the crisis, trying to reason with Kellie while facing threats to his loved ones. His attempts to preserve the family are tested as violence erupts.

🛡️ Protective 🕯️ Skeptical

Bernard (Lawrence Pressman)

Bernard is Lexy's father who arrives with a mix of memory and doubt, eventually recognizing the possible supernatural danger. His refusal to believe the threat shifts to a reluctant, protective stance as the danger escalates. His illness adds a fragile, tense urgency to the crisis.

🪶 Grizzled 🧭 Investigative

Todd (Braeden Lemasters)

Todd is Kellie's boyfriend who offers a fragment of knowledge about destroying totems. He is caught in Kellie's escalating violence and becomes a victim, highlighting the price of meddling with the supernatural.

💥 Helpful ⚔️ In peril

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 07:59

Major Themes – Totem (2017)

Explore the central themes of Totem (2017), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👻 Haunting

A malevolent totem threads the sisters' lives with a vengeful spirit connected to their mother. The haunting manifests through visions, rearranging objects, and dangerous manipulations that escalate family fear. The supernatural force tests trust within the household and reveals hidden traumas.

💔 Grief & Family

The death of Lexy casts a long shadow over Kellie and Abby, fueling rivalry and protective instincts. Family members misinterpret signals as sabotage, exposing fragility and resentment. The story uses grief to explore how love can slip into control, jealousy, and danger.

🗝️ Object Power

The totem becomes a dangerous conduit for emotion, amplifying anger and fear instead of healing. Todd's information hints at a way to destroy it, but the ritual costs escalate, including deadly consequences. The artifact exposes how easily humans are manipulated by objects that resonate with loss.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 07:59

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Unlock the Full Story of Totem

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Totem Summary

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Totem Summary

Totem Timeline

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Totem Timeline

Totem Spoiler-Free Summary

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Totem Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Totem

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More About Totem

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