Twist (2021) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

After his mother Sally dies unexpectedly, Oliver is left alone and frightened. Unable to cope with his grief and the loss of the only life he knew, he decides to escape. He teaches himself parkour/freerunning and adopts the street name 'Twist' as a new identity, symbolizing his resilience and transformation from a carefree boy into a street-savvy survivor.

Foreshadowing: The opening scene establishes Oliver's love of painting with his mother, establishing his artistic foundation before tragedy strikes.

• Oliver Twist
• mother death
• parkour
• street name
• transformation

Sikes is revealed to be the one who killed Tom Chitling. Earlier in the film, Chitling was sent to steal an envelope from a safe but was pushed off a building by Sikes, who then took the envelope. Fagin already knew of this betrayal, which is why he confided in Sikes about Chitling's fate.

Foreshadowing: Fagin's early conversation with Sikes where he reveals she was responsible for Chitling's death hints at her treachery long before it becomes explicit.

• Tom Chitling
• Sikes
• murder
• envelope
• Fagin

Batesey (the Artful Dodger) plans to disguise himself as part of the heist crew to infiltrate Dr. Losberne's gallery. However, Batesey suffers from claustrophobia and cannot handle wearing the disguise for extended periods. Twist volunteers to take his place, putting himself directly in danger during the dangerous operation.

Foreshadowing: The early setup of Batesey's claustrophobia during planning scenes foreshadows this crucial switch.

• Batesey
• heist
• claustrophobia
• disguise
• substitution

During the heist, Sikes appears to kill Batesey, shooting him and leaving him for dead. However, Batesey later resurfaces alive. The exact details of his survival aren't fully shown on screen, but he manages to escape and later learns of Sikes's treachery, eventually rejoining Twist to help defeat her.

Foreshadowing: Sikes's quick execution of Batesey without verification mirrors her overall reckless and ruthless nature.

• Batesey
• survival
• Sikes
• betrayal
• comeback

Red plants a small bomb in Dr. Losberne's bathroom as part of Fagin's revenge plan against the art dealer. The bomb causes chaos and a flood, which serves as a diversion to help the crew execute their heist. This sabotage allows the team to take advantage of the confusion and advance their operation to steal from Losberne.

Foreshadowing: Fagin's early reveal of his grudge against Losberne sets up this act of revenge.

• Red
• Losberne
• bomb
• sabotage
• heist diversion

The envelope Twist leaves for detectives Bedwin and Brownlow contains vital information proving the true ownership of the stolen painting. Along with this evidence, he includes a key that leads them to a locker filled with stolen artwork originally owned by Losberne himself. This evidence ultimately helps secure Losberne's arrest.

Foreshadowing: Twist's earlier discovery of the painting's true ownership during the heist prepares this climactic revelation.

• envelope
• Bedwin
• Brownlow
• painting ownership
• evidence
• key

Sikes's betrayal stems from her ruthless ambition and self-preservation. She has been secretly working against the crew, killing Tom Chitling early on to eliminate competition. During the heist, she turns on her own people, attempting to kill Batesey and later pursuing Twist and Red to seize the painting for herself. Her actions reveal her as a manipulative antagonist operating within the group.

Foreshadowing: Sikes's violent attack on Twist's friends at the pub and her secret romantic involvement with Red hint at her duplicitous nature.

• Sikes
• betrayal
• Fagin
• crew
• treachery

Fagin's true identity is revealed to be Isaac Solomon. This revelation comes after the climax when his past is uncovered. Understanding his real name adds context to his criminal expertise and explains why he orchestrates the elaborate heist against Losberne with such precision.

Foreshadowing: Fagin's detailed knowledge of art dealing and his personal vendetta against Losberne hint at a deeper, more complex history.

• Fagin
• Isaac Solomon
• identity
• revelation
• backstory

After experiencing the dangerous criminal underworld, witnessing multiple betrayals including Sikes's treachery, and gaining control of the operation, Twist chooses to redirect their skills toward legitimate art sales. This represents his transformation and desire to use his artistic passion in a positive way, breaking the cycle of crime that defined his time with Fagin's crew.

Foreshadowing: Oliver's original passion for painting with his mother and his beautiful graffiti murals establish his true calling as an artist.

• Twist
• art
• legitimate
• transformation
• new beginning

Sikes pursues Twist and Red to the rooftop during the climactic confrontation. In the chaos, Sikes falls from the building while trying to escape or attack them. Fagin, who has arrived on the scene, shoots Sikes, ending her threat permanently. Her death comes as a consequence of her own violent actions and treachery toward the crew.

Foreshadowing: Sikes's aggressive pursuit throughout the film and her violent confrontation with Twist build to this fatal confrontation.

• Sikes
• rooftop
• death
• Fagin
• climax

Twist is apprehended by the traffic warden who previously chased him for graffiti. During interrogation, Twist is pressed about Tom Chitling, the missing thief who was last seen with an important envelope. Since Twist is now associated with Fagin's crew (who are involved in criminal activities), the police suspect he has information about Chitling's disappearance or whereabouts.

Foreshadowing: The early scene establishing Chitling's fate and the missing envelope creates this connection that eventually leads to Twist's arrest.

• Twist
• arrest
• interrogation
• Tom Chitling
• traffic warden

Twist joins Fagin's crew after being chased by police while creating graffiti. He seeks refuge with Dodge and Batesey, who lead him to their hideout near the Truman Brewery. There he meets Fagin, who becomes a paternal figure in his life. Fagin offers Twist community, purpose, and a way to use his artistic skills, though within a criminal framework. Twist is drawn in by the sense of belonging after losing his mother.

Foreshadowing: The initial chase sequence directly leads to Twist's introduction to the criminal world and his subsequent immersion in it.

• Twist
• Fagin
• crew
• join
• Truman Brewery