Wither (2013) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

The Vættr infects people through eye contact, which allows it to steal their souls and turn them into undead slaves. Additionally, the undead can spread the infection through bites or by getting their blood into someone's eyes, as shown when Marie spits blood into Linnea's eyes and Tove bites Marcus.

Foreshadowing: The opening titles reveal the history of the Vættr, hinting at its soul-stealing ability before any infection occurs.

• vaettr
• infection
• undead
• eye contact
• soul stealing

Simon notices infection spreading in Linnea's eyes after Marie spat blood into them. Overcome with fear that she will turn into an undead, he beats her unconscious and buries her alive to prevent her transformation, though this act is later shown to be premature as she had not yet turned.

Foreshadowing: Gunnar warned the group that the undead slaves are very infectious, creating fear that spreads faster than the actual infection.

• simon
• linnea
• burial
• infection
• fear

Simon forces his blood into Ida's mouth as a desperate attempt to save her after she has been turned into an undead. He believes that by turning her into an undead like himself, she will regain consciousness and recognize him, similar to how he seems to have retained some humanity despite being undead.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Simon showed he would risk everything to save his sister Ida, ignoring orders to return to the cabin.

• simon
• ida
• blood
• turn
• undead
• sister

Even after becoming undead, Ida retains some fragment of her memory and love for Albin. This allows her to resist the Vættr's control momentarily, hesitation that Albin ultimately uses before being forced to kill her with a heavy shelf.

Foreshadowing: The Vættr's power works through eye contact to steal souls, but Ida's hesitation suggests the process may not be instantaneous or absolute.

• ida
• albin
• undead
• hesitation
• memory
• love

Albin discovers that the Vættr is ancient and fragile, and most importantly, it relies on eye contact to use its soul-stealing power. By closing his eyes and turning off the lights, he renders the creature powerless. He then drops a refrigerator on top of it, crushing the Vættr to death.

Foreshadowing: Gunnar explained that the Vættr steals souls by looking into eyes, which hints at the creature's vulnerability to vision-based attacks.

• albin
• vaettr
• defeat
• lights
• eyes
• creature

By defeating the Vættr and surviving the cabin where so many have died, Albin inherits Gunnar's role as the guardian who knows about the ancient evil. Just as Gunnar protected the area and tried to warn others, Albin now leaves as the sole survivor aware of the Vættr's existence, destined to potentially face similar threats in the future.

Foreshadowing: Gunnar's story of losing his family to the Vættr establishes the cyclical nature of this guardian role.

• albin
• gunnar
• new guardian
• survival
• cycle

Marie was the first to enter the basement where the Vættr lurked. She likely became infected there, either through eye contact with the creature or exposure to its presence. Her violent outburst, biting Tove's lip and spitting blood into Linnea's eyes, marks the beginning of the infection spreading among the group.

Foreshadowing: While exploring the basement, Marie found an axe but failed to notice the earth-like creature watching her from the shadows.

• marie
• infection
• basement
• attack
• first victim

After being bitten by the undead Tove, Gunnar knows he will turn into one of the infected undead. Rather than becoming a monster that would attack the remaining survivors, he chooses to take his own life in the shed using his fishing knife, similar to how he killed Tove.

Foreshadowing: Gunnar's earlier action of decapitating Tove shows he understands the only way to stop the undead is complete destruction.

• gunnar
• suicide
• bitten
• infection
• sacrifice

The infection spreads through the group via two methods: the Vættr's direct eye contact to create undead servants, and secondary transmission through bodily fluids. Marie spits blood into Linnea's eyes, Tove bites Marcus, and Simon forces his blood into Ida's mouth, all resulting in transformation into undead.

Foreshadowing: Gunnar's warning that 'the undead slaves of the Vættr are very infectious' sets up the cascading transmission pattern.

• infection
• spread
• undead
• blood
• bites
• transmission

Albin is forced to kill Ida because despite her momentary hesitation due to lingering memory of their relationship, she has become an undead creature that will attack him. After Simon's attempt to save her fails and Albin shoots Simon, Ida still approaches Albin as a threat, leaving him no choice but to drop a heavy shelf on her.

Foreshadowing: The tragic requirement to kill turned loved ones was established early when Gunnar had to shoot his own wife.

• albin
• ida
• kill
• undead
• love
• sacrifice