Truth or Dare

Truth or Dare

Year: 2018

Runtime: 101 mins

Language: English

Director: Jeff Wadlow

Budget: $3.5M

ThrillerHorrorHorror the undead and monster classicsIntense violence and sexual transgressionTerrifying haunted and supernatural horror

A group of friends vacationing in Mexico decide to play a game of "Truth or Dare." What starts as an innocent pastime quickly turns sinister when they discover that someone—or something—is enforcing the rules with deadly consequences. Those who lie or refuse a dare find themselves facing terrifying and dangerous punishments.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Truth or Dare (2018)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Truth or Dare (2018). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Present day

Set in contemporary times, the narrative relies on smartphones, social media, and online legends to drive the deadly truth-or-dare ritual. The protagonists are college-age friends whose spring-break trip spirals into a fight for survival as the game escalates. The timeframe emphasizes modern danger and how secrets can unleash the supernatural in everyday life.

Location

Mexico, Tijuana, Abandoned church, College campus

The story moves from Olivia's college campus to a Mexico spring-break trip, centered around an abandoned church where the game begins. The action travels through a bar setting and into the border town of Tijuana as the clues unfold. The settings blend ordinary student life with eerie, isolated locations to heighten danger and mystery.

🌍 Mexico 🏙️ Tijuana 🏚️ Abandoned church 🎓 College campus

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 07:56

Main Characters – Truth or Dare (2018)

Meet the key characters of Truth or Dare (2018), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Olivia Barron (Lucy Hale)

A compassionate college student who consistently puts others first. She is drawn into the deadly truth-or-dare game when Carter tricks the group, and she quickly takes a leadership role, seeking to delay the demon and protect her friends. Her arc culminates in leveraging the game's rules to warn others and trap the demon.

💖 Compassionate 🧭 Determined 🗣️ Honest

Markie Cameron (Violett Beane)

Olivia's best friend who grapples with family secrets and the consequences of the group's revelations. She endures trauma revealed by others and eventually forgives Olivia, acknowledging that personal pain is not a fault of friendship. Her loyalty remains a driving force amid the chaos.

💞 Loyal 💪 Resilient 🕊️ Forgiving

Tyson Curran (Nolan Gerard Funk)

A skeptical friend who underestimates the supernatural danger and pays the ultimate price for lying during his turn. Tyson's death serves as a stark warning about the stakes of the game and the consequences of disbelief.

😨 Cautious 🗡️ Impetuous 💀 Fatal

Lucas Moreno (Tyler Posey)

A friend who secretly harbors feelings for Olivia and openly admits them during the game. He is later possessed by the demon and forced to kill Sam before taking his own life, highlighting the unbearable pressure the game places on love and loyalty.

❤️ Complex 💬 Honest 🔞 Compassionate

Carter (Landon Liboiron)

The mastermind who lures the group into the supernatural version of Truth or Dare and reveals himself as someone who manipulates the game to buy time. The twist later reveals that Carter and Sam are the same person, complicating loyalties and motives.

🕶️ Manipulative 🔎 Cunning 🗡️ Deceptive

Ronnie (Sam Lerner)

A friend who becomes a cautionary tale after being forced to kill himself following a failed dare. His death underscores the brutal stakes of the supernatural game and the fragility of the group's bonds.

🧭 Tested 🩸 Tragic 💔 Sincere

Giselle Hammond (Aurora Perrineau)

A former confidant who shares the backstory of the demon and the deadly chain of events. She is ultimately unable to complete her dare to Olivia and ends up taking her own life after failing to protect friends from the trap.

🕊️ Tragic 🗺️ Revealing ⚰️ Sacrificed

Penelope Amari (Sophia Ali)

A friend who sacrifices herself to shield Olivia, dying when a dare goes tragically wrong in the church. Her bravery becomes a pivotal moment that drives the group toward a climactic confrontation with Calux.

🫶 Selfless 🕯️ Brave 💔 Fatal

Inez Reyes (Vera Taylor)

A former nun who cannot speak but communicates through writing. She reveals how she summoned a demon named Calux to save herself from abuse, and her knowledge helps the group trap Calux by understanding the demon's ritual.

🗣️ Quiet 🧭 Knowledgeable 🧿 Mysterious

Brad Chang (Hayden Szeto)

Olivia's closeted friend who is forced to tell his father he is gay. He is later shot and killed by an approaching officer, illustrating how personal truths can become targets within the game.

🏳️‍🌈 Honest 🚨 Courageous 💔 Tragic

Officer Han Chang (Tom Choi)

A police officer who arrives during the chaotic aftermath and becomes part of the deadly external consequences of the group's actions. His presence marks the collision between the supernatural events and real-world law enforcement.

👮‍♂️ Law 🕵️‍♂️ Authority ⚖️ Tense

Calux (Calex) Demon

An ancient malevolent entity that runs the truth-or-dare game. Calux feeds on fear and secrets, forcing escalating dares to ensure the group's continued participation and trapping them in a deadly loop until the rules are broken.

👹 Demon 🪄 Manipulative 🔥 Lethal

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 07:56

Major Themes – Truth or Dare (2018)

Explore the central themes of Truth or Dare (2018), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕯️ Dare

A supernatural version of a party game drives the plot, turning dares into deadly consequences. Truths and secrets are coerced from the characters, exposing vulnerabilities and past traumas. The demon exploits the game’s structure to trap and kill, pushing everyone to confront the costs of their actions.

👥 Secrets

Friendship and trust are tested as long-held secrets surface—from unfaithfulness to hidden truths about family and sexuality. The group is manipulated into revealing disclosures that undermine safety, showing how secrecy can become a weapon. Reconciliation and forgiveness emerge as characters confront guilt and support one another.

💀 Mortality

The game is lethal, with several participants dying or facing suicidal despair as the demon exerts control. The ritual hinges on fear of death, forcing life-or-death choices under supernatural coercion. The climax reframes mortality as a shared struggle, with the survivors using wit and solidarity to outmaneuver the demon.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 07:56

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Truth or Dare Summary

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Truth or Dare Summary

Truth or Dare Timeline

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Truth or Dare Timeline

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