Trance

Trance

Year: 2020

Runtime: 170 mins

Language: Malayalam

Director: Anwar Rasheed

Echo Score: 74
ThrillerDrama

A disheartened motivational speaker gets hired by a corporate to become a preacher until his live stint on television puts him and his service under the scanner.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Trance 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 – Trance (2020)

Trace every key event in Trance (2020) 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

Deth is recalled to service in the 23rd century

Jack Deth, a retired police trooper, is pulled back into service to hunt a criminal mastermind. He can identify trancers by scanning them with a special bracelet. Trancers look like normal humans at first, but once triggered they become savage killers with twisted features.

23rd century Angel City, 23rd century
2

Whistler's trance powers and his plan

Martin Whistler uses psychic powers to trance ordinary people into mindless minions who carry out his orders. He plans to wipe out Angel City's future governing council by murdering their ancestors. Deth realizes the threat will span time itself.

23rd century Angel City, 23rd century
3

Whistler escapes to 1985 and possesses Weisling

Whistler discovers a drug-induced time-travel technique and escapes from the future into 1985. He takes over the body of Los Angeles detective Weisling, beginning his murderous campaign in the past. Deth begins tracking him across the centuries.

1985 Los Angeles, 1985
4

Deth destroys Whistler's body and chases through time

Upon learning what Whistler has done, Deth destroys Whistler's body, leaving his consciousness stranded in the past without a vessel. He pursues Whistler back through time using the same method and ends up inhabiting the body of his ancestor, journalist Phil Dethton. This places Deth in 1985 LA to continue the pursuit.

1985 Los Angeles, 1985
5

Lena joins the hunt in 1985

In 1985, Deth teams with Lena, Phil Dethton's date from the night before, who becomes a critical ally. Lena helps him navigate the past and access information Whistler's trances have stirred up. Their partnership strengthens Deth's ability to reach the killer's victims.

1985 Los Angeles, 1985
6

Deth receives high-tech gear in the past

Deth is issued advanced gear to aid the hunt: a sidearm with two hidden time-drug vials for returning to the future, and a long-second watch that slows time, giving him precious seconds to react. The gear gives him a crucial edge as Whistler's mind tricks complicate the hunt. He later receives a second watch to extend his time-manipulation options.

1985 Los Angeles, 1985
7

Whistler's plan to erase the council by killing ancestors

Whistler's scheme centers on erasing the future Angel City by killing the ancestors of its council members. Each murder threatens the existence of the council and the city's governance. Deth fights to interrupt the chain of deaths and preserve the timeline.

1985 Los Angeles, 1985
8

Deth arrives too late to stop most murders, saves Hap Ashby

Deth arrives behind schedule and cannot stop most of Whistler's killings. He does manage to safeguard Hap Ashby, the ancestor of Chairman Ashe, ensuring that at least one line survives. The losses underline Whistler's ruthless efficiency and the fragility of history.

1985 Los Angeles, 1985
9

The vial breaks; one vial remains to return home

During the final confrontation, one vial in Deth's gun shatters, leaving only a single vial to power their return home. The choice becomes a high-stakes decision about which future or past will survive. Time itself hinges on that last remaining dose.

1985 Los Angeles, 1985
10

Deth sacrifices Weisling to stop Whistler

Deth makes the fateful decision to inject Weisling with the single remaining vial, saving the lieutenant's life but dooming Whistler to wander the past without a body. The act preserves the timeline in the present and prevents Whistler from returning to 2247. Whistler is left stranded in limbo.

1985 Los Angeles, 1985
11

Deth stays with Lena; McNulty watches from the shadows

With the threat neutralized, Deth decides to stay in 1985 with Lena rather than return to the future. McNulty, Deth's future boss, watches from the shadows, having traveled down his own ancestral line into the body of a young girl. The ending hints at the endless loop of time travel and loyalties across generations.

1985 Los Angeles, 1985
12

Whistler stranded in the past, the future preserved

Whistler is effectively stranded in the past without a vessel to return to, unable to alter the present's course. The future council lineage remains intact, and Angel City continues on the expected timeline. The story closes with Deth bound to the 1980s and the uncertain winds of time ahead.

Past (1985 onwards)

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 04:08

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Trance Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Trance, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Trance Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Trance

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Trance

Trance Spoiler-Free Summary

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Trance Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Trance

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