What Keeps You Alive

What Keeps You Alive

Year: 2018

Runtime: 98 min

Language: English

Director: Colin Minihan

Echo Score: 58
ThrillerHorror

While celebrating their anniversary at a remote cabin, Jackie and Jules find their idyllic getaway shattered by a shocking series of events. As the weekend progresses, a sinister plot unfolds, forcing Jackie to confront a terrifying truth about her best friend, Jules. The once familiar landscape transforms into a desperate fight for survival as Jackie must uncover the secrets that threaten her life and expose a hidden darkness lurking beneath the surface of their friendship.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen What Keeps You Alive 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 & Setting – What Keeps You Alive (2018)

Explore the full timeline and setting of What Keeps You Alive (2018). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Present Day

Taking place in the present day, the film captures modern themes of trust, betrayal, and the latent darkness within relationships. The contemporary setting emphasizes the psychological elements of the story, making the horrific actions more relatable and shocking.

Location

Secluded Cabin, Wilderness

The secluded cabin serves as a backdrop for a seemingly peaceful anniversary celebration but becomes a site of dark betrayal and horror. Surrounded by untamed wilderness, the location is both beautiful and treacherous, amplifying the tension and danger that unfolds within.

🏞️ Nature 🏡 Cabin

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:34

Main Characters – What Keeps You Alive (2018)

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

Jackie (Hannah Emily Anderson)

Jackie appears initially as a loving partner to Jules, but underlying aggression and deceit are revealed as the story progresses. Her psychological complexity unfolds, showcasing a blend of charm and malevolence, driven by jealousy and a desire for control.

😈 Villain 💔 Betrayed

Jules (Brittany Allen)

Jules is portrayed as empathetic and trusting, initially lost in the romantic facade of her relationship with Jackie. Her character evolves as she faces the brutal reality of her situation, showcasing resilience and resourcefulness in her struggle for survival.

💪 Survivor ❤️ Trusting

Sarah (Martha MacIsaac)

Sarah serves as a pivotal character who inadvertently triggers the unraveling of Jackie's secrets. While she presents a friendly demeanor, her presence brings tension, highlighting the complexities of friendship and unveiling hidden past traumas.

👩‍❤️‍👩 Friend 🕵️‍♀️ Investigator

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:34

Major Themes – What Keeps You Alive (2018)

Explore the central themes of What Keeps You Alive (2018), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Betrayal

Betrayal is a central theme as Jackie reveals her dark true self, undermining the trust and love purportedly shared with Jules. This theme is highlighted through Jackie's deceptive façade and her ultimate betrayal of her wife, showcasing how appearances can be misleading and intentions malicious.

🚨 Survival

The theme of survival emerges as Jules fights against overwhelming odds and attempts to escape Jackie's lethal intentions. Her determination in the face of imminent danger illustrates the instinctual will to live, as she navigates both physical and psychological challenges to survive.

👻 Dark Past

Jackie's dark past looms over the narrative, revealed through her relationships and past tragedies. The haunting memories of her former wives and the incident involving Jenny create a chilling context for her actions and motivations, underscoring how unresolved guilt and trauma can manifest in destructive ways.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:34

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Deadly Marriage Thrillers like What Keeps You Alive

Thrillers where a romantic partner becomes the ultimate antagonist.If you liked the shocking betrayal and desperate survival in What Keeps You Alive, you'll find more movies like it here. This list features similar thrillers and horror stories where a romantic partner turns predator, blending psychological terror with high-stakes action. Discover films about deception, murderous secrets, and the fight for survival against a loved one.

betrayaltenseclaustrophobicbrutalparanoidsuspensefulpsychological horror

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically begin by establishing a seemingly happy relationship, only to shatter that illusion with a sudden, violent betrayal. The narrative then follows a cat-and-mouse game where the protagonist must use their knowledge of their partner to survive, often in an isolated location. The emotional journey revolves around the trauma of betrayal and the struggle to overcome a person who was once a source of safety.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here because they share the core, chilling premise of a lover's deadly secret. They deliver a similar emotional mix of shock, paranoia, and visceral fear, coupled with a fast-paced, high-intensity survival narrative. The shared focus on deception within marriage or partnership creates a uniquely terrifying and cohesive viewing experience.

Isolated Wilderness Survival Thrillers like What Keeps You Alive

Stories of brutal survival against a human threat in remote, harsh locations.For viewers who enjoyed the remote cabin setting and desperate fight for survival in What Keeps You Alive, this section highlights similar movies. These thrillers and horror films pit protagonists against human threats in isolated wilderness locations, creating a potent mix of claustrophobic tension and brutal action. Find more films about being hunted in the wild.

bleakbrutaltensesuspensefulclaustrophobicsurvivaldesperatehunted

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist or group being pursued by a hunter—often someone they know—in a vast but confining natural landscape. The story is linear and straightforward, focusing on a series of confrontations, escapes, and resourceful acts of survival. The journey is one of physical degradation and psychological hardening, where the goal is simply to outlast the threat and escape the environment.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their shared setting and core conflict: a human-versus-human struggle for survival in the wilderness. They deliver a consistent vibe of bleak tension, raw brutality, and the primal fear of being hunted. The remote location is a key unifying element, creating a sense of inescapable dread and focusing the narrative on pure survival.

Unlock the Full Story of What Keeps You Alive

Don't stop at just watching — explore What Keeps You Alive in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what What Keeps You Alive is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

What Keeps You Alive Summary

Read a complete plot summary of What Keeps You Alive, 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.

What Keeps You Alive Summary

What Keeps You Alive Timeline

Track the full timeline of What Keeps You Alive with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

What Keeps You Alive Timeline

What Keeps You Alive Ending Explained

What really happened at the end of What Keeps You Alive? This detailed ending explained page breaks down final scenes, hidden clues, and alternate interpretations with expert analysis and viewer theories.

What Keeps You Alive Ending Explained

What Keeps You Alive Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of What Keeps You Alive that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

What Keeps You Alive Spoiler-Free Summary

More About What Keeps You Alive

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about What Keeps You Alive: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About What Keeps You Alive

Similar Movies to What Keeps You Alive

Discover movies like What Keeps You Alive that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.