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!

Haven’t seen Totem yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Totem (2017)

Trace every key event in Totem (2017) 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

Kellie discovers her mother's necklace with moving powers

Kellie finds a necklace that belonged to her deceased mother and discovers it can move objects. The discovery hints at a link to her mother's spirit and sets the stage for the haunting. The necklace is treated as a totem that will influence the household.

Afternoon Kellie's room
2

Totem knocks trophies, triggering dad's suspicions

The totem moves objects in Kellie's room, knocking down a cluster of trophies. James suspects Kellie is sabotaging his relationship with Robin, rather than accepting a supernatural cause. Kellie struggles to explain what is happening as fear grows in the household.

Evening Kellie's room
3

Robin moves in and disrupts Kellie's routine

Robin's arrival brings a new household dynamic as she tries to take over duties to help Kellie feel normal. Kellie feels uncomfortable with the disruption but tries to be kind. The growing tension hints at the underlying supernatural pressure in the home.

First days after Robin moves in Family home
4

Kellie has a vision of a corpse on the track

During track practice, Kellie is startled by a vision of a standing, plastic-wrapped corpse on the bleachers. The image foreshadows dangerous, unseen forces at play in the house. The vision leaves Kellie rattled and more isolated.

Track practice Track field
5

Robin's trauma and Bernard's arrival reveals past connections

Robin returns home traumatized, and Bernard, Lexy’s father, visits to introduce himself to the new household. It is revealed that Robin had known Lexy and James in the past, deepening the history between the families. The revelation adds emotional complexity to the haunting.

Evening Family home
6

Doors ornamented and motion detectors set, cat becomes focus

Kellie hangs Christmas ornaments on all doors and installs motion detectors to capture evidence of the entity. The sensors go wild whenever the family cat is near, suggesting the cat is central to the haunting. Kellie hopes to prove the supernatural presence once and for all.

Night House interior
7

The entity retaliates with deadly force: cat killed

The entity's presence intensifies around the cat, and a bookcase suddenly falls, crushing the cat. The tragedy marks a brutal escalation of the haunting and drives the family deeper into fear. Kellie realizes the threat is real and not a prank.

Night Living room / hallway
8

Abduction attempt on Abby; Bernard's disbelief

That night, the entity grows stronger and tries to abduct Abby. The family pleads for help from Bernard, who initially refuses to believe their claims. The situation pushes them toward a desperate, last-ditch effort.

Night House
9

Todd arrives with the plan and Bernard dies from a ruse

Todd arrives with information on how to destroy totems, and Kellie hides him in her room. In a cruel ruse, Kellie uses Bernard's inhaler and drains the puffs, causing Bernard to die. The loss intensifies the danger and fuels Kellie's resolve.

Night House
10

Kellie kills Todd and abjures Robin's fate

Kellie ambushes Todd and kills him with a blow to the head. She rushes to pull Abby from the crawlspace, while James discovers the bodies and realizes Kellie is responsible. In a separate act of desperation, Kellie pushes Robin into a bathtub, where Robin hits her head and seems to drown.

Night House
11

James confronts Kellie as she clamps down on the totem

James, who has been knocked to a chair, tries to reason with Kellie about their bond and the life they could share. Kellie pushes forward with destroying the totem, showing how far the entity's grip has driven her. The conflict culminates in a perilous standoff.

Night Living room
12

Mother's spirit intervenes; Kellie dies

The spirit of Kellie's mother appears, scaring Kellie and interrupting her rampage. She is impaled on a spike from a piece of art, ending the immediate danger. The haunting's immediate threat is neutralized, though the cost is high.

Night House interior
13

Ending: survivors relocate to a tiny house, seeking safety

The trio ends up in a tiny house parked in a deserted, serene location, suggesting a fragile new start. They appear to be healing, though Abby continues to talk to someone unseen. The film closes with a sense of uneasy calm rather than true closure.

Ending Deserted location; tiny house

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:52

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Totem Summary

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Totem Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Totem

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Totem

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Totem Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Totem

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