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Timeline

Women Who Kill (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2016 · 93 mins · English
JustWatch #25,902 3
Starring
Doug Moe, Sheila Vand, Ann Carr, Annette O'Toole, Tami Sagher, Deborah Rush

Morgan and Jean are successful true crime podcasters, a success born from their difficult past relationship. Their dynamic shifts when Morgan begins a relationship with the enigmatic Simone, leading to suspicion, paranoia, and mounting fear as they investigate her. The shared interest in true crime escalates into a disturbing situation that tests their friendship and exposes hidden tensions.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Women Who Kill (2016)

Where can you watch Women Who Kill? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Fawesome and Hoopla: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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14 events in order · contains spoilers

Women Who Kill Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Women Who Kill (2016) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Morgan and Jean sustain their podcast partnership after their breakup

    Despite having ended their romantic relationship, Morgan and Jean maintain a tight, work-focused dynamic around their true crime podcast. Their late-night talks and shared ambition keep the show thriving, even as personal history simmer beneath the surface. The film opens with them continuing to co-host and navigate fame together.

    When
    Opening
  2. Morgan meets Simone at the food co-op and sparks a romance

    During a volunteer shift at a local food co-op, Morgan meets Simone, a mysterious, dark-haired woman who gives her a number and stirs a new romance. Their connection is instant and charged, offering a dangerous contrast to their public lives. The romance complicates Morgan’s allegiance to Jean and the podcast’s boundaries.

    When
    Volunteer shift
    Where
    Food co-op
  3. Grace is found dead; Simone is named as last person to see her alive

    Shortly after Morgan and Simone’s meeting, Grace, the lead organizer of the co-op, is found dead. Simone is named as one of the last people seen with Grace, drawing immediate scrutiny towards her. Morgan and Jean brace for a difficult case that could threaten their credibility and safety.

    When
    Shortly after meeting Simone
    Where
    Food co-op
  4. Jean uncovers Simone's past and identity as Allison Walker

    Jean grows wary and digs into Simone’s history, uncovering that Simone’s real name is Allison Walker. She learns there are darker threads connecting Simone to the violent legacy of the Clipper killer. She also shares a podcast clip about Josephine Walker and her daughter’s regret to illustrate the danger of glamorizing killers.

    When
    Following Grace's death
    Where
    Jean's investigations
  5. Simone triggers the kitchen fire alarm

    One night, at home, Simone triggers the kitchen fire alarm, an unsettling sign of her escalating oddity. Morgan watches as Simone’s behavior grows more ritualistic and unpredictable. The moment heightens Morgan’s fear and distrust, setting the stage for deeper scrutiny.

    When
    One night
    Where
    Morgan and Simone's home
  6. A burnt passport photo surfaces among Simone’s belongings

    The next day, Morgan discovers a burnt piece of a passport photo among Simone’s possessions, fueling fear that Simone is hiding something dangerous. She begins piecing together clues that the relationship could be more perilous than she realized. The discovery deepens the divide between Morgan and her budding trust in Simone.

    When
    Next day
    Where
    Morgan and Simone's home
  7. Simone’s nail rituals reveal a chilling pattern

    Morgan observes Simone in an almost ritualistic state, rapidly clipping her fingernails and even attempting to trim Morgan’s nails. The behavior points to a disturbing fixation and hints at the killer’s obsessive control. These moments push Morgan toward believing there is a real danger behind Simone’s calm exterior.

    When
    Following the earlier night
    Where
    Morgan and Simone's home
  8. Morgan uncovers a nail kit and six victim names

    While going through Simone’s belongings at home, Morgan pries open a mysterious box and finds a nail grooming kit along with boxes of nail clippings bearing six names—victims linked to the Clipper. The chilling discovery confirms Morgan’s worst fears about Simone’s past. The moment forces a confrontation with Jean about the risk they are taking.

    When
    After the bachelorette parties
    Where
    Simone’s belongings at home
  9. Alex is missing; Kim reveals Alex is missing

    The next morning Kim reveals that Alex, Morgan’s best friend, is missing, deepening the sense that something horrifying has happened. Morgan shares her worrying findings with Jean, heightening the stakes. The disappearance intensifies the tension between the pair and the investigation.

    When
    Next morning
    Where
    Kim’s apartment; vicinity of the co-op
  10. Morgan and Jean follow Simone and find Alex alive

    Morgan and Jean decide to follow Simone in hopes she’ll reveal Alex’s whereabouts or the truth behind the disappearances. They instead encounter Alex herself, who is alive but frustrated by their melodramatic fantasies. The encounter creates a rift between the ex-lovers as trust frays further.

    When
    After the missing person alert
    Where
    Unknown; following Simone
  11. A tense co-op visit reveals Morgan’s fear and Jean’s injury

    During a later co-op visit, Morgan learns Jean’s new boyfriend says Jean went to check on Simone at the co-op. Morgan finds an unconscious Jean on the floor and suspects Simone harmed her. A tense confrontation ensues as Morgan grabs a knife near the nail kit to defend herself.

    When
    Later that day
    Where
    Co-op
  12. Simone reveals a chilling possibility and stabs herself

    In a charged exchange, Simone asks, 'What if I told you I did kill those people?' The moment ends tragically when Simone accidentally impales herself on Morgan’s knife, with Jean regaining consciousness to realize Simone was innocent. The revelation shatters the framing and resolves the immediate danger.

    When
    During the confrontation
    Where
    Co-op
  13. Morgan leaves the co-op wearing a blood-stained sweater and reflects

    Morgan walks away wearing a blood-stained sweater and explains that she has 'hurt some people.' She continues their podcast, acknowledging the murkiness of self-defense and their influence on listeners. The scene underscores the moral cost of their fame and the stories they tell.

    When
    After the confrontation
    Where
    Street outside the co-op
  14. Final podcast debate about ethics and responsibility

    As Morgan and Jean debate whether killings can be framed as self-defense, they invite listeners to weigh in on the ethical line between storytelling and real harm. The show ends with a quiet, unsettling meditation on fame, responsibility, and the cost of consuming violence for entertainment.

    When
    Closing

Last updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:45

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Timeline questions answered

Women Who Kill Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Women Who Kill (2016): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why was Jean so suspicious of Simone from the start?

Jean grew suspicious when Simone was named as one of the last people seen with Grace before her death. This immediately raised red flags for someone who investigates killers for a living. Jean's suspicion intensified when she discovered Simone's real name was Allison Walker, linking her to Josephine 'The Clipper' Walker, a serial killer they had covered on their podcast. Jean recognized the dangerous pattern and tried warning Morgan, though her concerns were ultimately misplaced since Simone turned out to be innocent.

Foreshadowing: Jean's early warning about Simone's connection to the Clipper case plants the seed of doubt that drives the investigation forward.

  • jean
  • suspicion
  • simone
  • grace death
  • investigation
Q2

What did Jean discover about Simone's real identity?

Jean uncovered that Simone's real name was Allison Walker, which directly connected her to Josephine 'The Clipper' Walker, the notorious serial killer they had profiled on their podcast. This discovery was alarming because Josephine's daughter had reportedly suffered from her mother's crimes, and the podcast had explored the ripple effects of violence on families of killers. Jean used this information to confront Morgan, believing Simone might be following in her relative's footsteps.

Foreshadowing: The revelation about Simone's identity creates the central mystery that consumes the second half of the film.

  • simone
  • allison walker
  • josephine walker
  • clipper
  • identity
Q3

What did Morgan find in Simone's mysterious box?

Morgan pried open Simone's mysterious box and discovered an elaborate nail grooming kit along with boxes containing nail clippings with six names written on them. These names corresponded to victims of the Clipper killings. The discovery terrified Morgan because it seemed to confirm Simone was the killer they had been investigating. However, the twist reveals these items belonged to Jean, who had been secretly investigating and framing Simone all along.

Foreshadowing: The nail clippings foreshadow theClipper case but are ultimately misleading, as they were planted to frame Simone.

  • nail clippings
  • nail kit
  • box
  • clipper victims
  • morgan findings
Q4

What happened to Alex and why did she disappear?

Alex, Morgan's best friend, went missing after her bachelorette party. Kim revealed Alex was missing the next morning, creating panic that Simone might have harmed her. However, when Morgan and Jean followed Simone hoping to find Alex, they discovered she was very much alive. Alex was simply hungover and annoyed by what she called their melodramatic fantasies, accusing them of using the mystery as an excuse to spend time together and revisit their old feelings.

Foreshadowing: Alex's apparent disappearance heightens the tension in the middle act, but her safe return deflates the conspiracy theory.

  • alex
  • missing
  • found
  • alive
  • bachelorette party
Q5

How did Simone actually die?

During the confrontation at the co-op, Simone asked 'What if I told you I did kill those people?' while Morgan held a knife. The moment took a tragic turn when Simone accidentally impaled herself on Morgan's knife. Jean regained consciousness during the chaos and revealed she had her own injuries. The film never clearly resolves whether it was truly an accident or if Morgan bear-named the situation, leaving the moral question open.

Foreshadowing: The ambiguity of Simone's death mirrors the film's unresolved questions about guilt, responsibility, and self-defense.

  • simone death
  • knife
  • accident
  • self-defense
  • impaled
Q6

Was Simone actually a murderer?

No, Simone was ultimately innocent. Despite all the suspicious evidence, her connection to the Clipper family, the nail rituals, the burned passport photo, and the nail clippings with victim names, Simone had not killed anyone. Jean had secretly investigated her and planted the incriminating evidence to frame her, possibly as part of her own psychological breakdown or to protect Morgan from what she perceived as a dangerous relationship.

Foreshadowing: The film's build-up creates a false narrative that Simone is the killer, making the reveal of her innocence a shocking twist.

  • simone innocent
  • killer
  • framed
  • evidence
  • truth
Q7

Why did Morgan kill Simone if she was innocent?

Morgan stabbed Simone during the confrontation at the co-op after finding Jean unconscious and suspecting Simone had harmed her. Morgan grabbed the knife to defend herself when Simone approached aggressively. However, the ending suggests Morgan may have overreacted or even fabricated the self-defense narrative. The final podcast debate where they discuss whether the killing could be framed as self-defense hints that Morgan herself is questioning her own motives.

Foreshadowing: Morgan's quickness to grab the knife and the subsequent debate about self-defense plant seeds of doubt about her true intentions.

  • morgan
  • kill simone
  • self-defense
  • innocent
  • guilt
Q8

What does the ending podcast debate signify?

The closing scene shows Morgan and Jean recording their podcast, debating whether Simone's killing could be justified as self-defense. Morgan seems to believe she acted in self-preservation, while Jean argues there was no legitimate reason. They decide to poll their listeners for their opinion. This meta-moment underscores the film's critique of true crime content creators who profit from violence while remaining detached from real consequences, and it leaves unresolved whether Morgan genuinely believes her own self-defense claim.

Foreshadowing: The podcast debate reflects the film's central theme about the ethical distance between storytellers and the harm they discuss.

  • podcast
  • ending
  • debate
  • self-defense
  • ethics
  • listeners
Q9

What is the significance of the title Women Who Kill?

The title refers to multiple layers: the female serial killers Morgan and Jean profile on their podcast like Josephine 'The Clipper' Walker, the violent women in the stories they profit from, and the ambiguous question of whether Morgan herself became a 'woman who kill' at the end. It also touches on the idea of women as perpetrators of violence, which challenges the typical victim narrative in true crime. The title invites viewers to question throughout whether Simone, Morgan, or even Jean fit this description.

Foreshadowing: The title gains meaning only after the reveal that Simone was innocent and Morgan may have killed her.

  • title
  • women who kill
  • true crime
  • killers
  • meaning
Q10

What happens to Morgan and Jean's relationship after Simone's death?

The film leaves their relationship status ambiguous. Despite the traumatic events, they continue working together on their podcast, now debating the ethics of Morgan's killing. Their dynamic remains unchanged, they still live and work together, still host their show, still navigate their complicated history. The final scene suggests they are returning to normal, though the unresolved guilt and the moral questions between them linger beneath the surface.

Foreshadowing: Their ability to immediately return to normalcy after such violence underscores the film's critique of their detachment from reality.

  • morgan
  • jean
  • relationship
  • after
  • ending
  • together

Movie threads

More Movies Like Women Who Kill, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Women Who Kill tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Intimate Paranoia Thrillers like Women Who Kill

Personal relationships become hunting grounds for suspicion and fear. If you liked the suffocating suspicion and blurred trust in Women Who Kill, explore more movies like it. These films focus on psychological thrillers where personal relationships become the crime scene, filled with obsession, moral ambiguity, and a steady build of dread.

  • paranoid
  • unsettling
  • suspenseful
  • claustrophobic
  • obsessive
  • psychological
  • Tone: tense, unsettling, paranoid
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically revolves around a protagonist who becomes intensely suspicious of someone close to them, often a new romantic partner or an old friend. The investigation is personal, conducted in private spaces and through intimate conversations, leading to a climax where the protagonist's paranoia either proves justified or consumes them.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here because they share a core focus on trust eroding within intimate settings. They create a specific, claustrophobic vibe where the fear comes not from external monsters but from the potential monster sitting across the dinner table.

Movies about Obsessive Investigators like in Women Who Kill

When the search for truth becomes a perilous personal obsession. Fans of Women Who Kill who enjoy stories where the investigators lose their detachment will find more movies like it here. Discover similar thrillers and mysteries about podcasters, journalists, and detectives whose professional curiosity spirals into a consuming and dangerous personal involvement.

  • obsessive
  • suspenseful
  • investigative
  • morally ambiguous
  • unsettling
  • tense
  • Tone: tense, morally complex
  • Pacing: steady, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot follows a character with an investigative role who, driven by curiosity or a personal connection, crosses an ethical line. Their life begins to mirror the case, and the investigation starts to investigate them in return, leading to a crisis that questions their motives and safety.

Why they belong together: These movies share a compelling narrative pattern where the protagonist's professional detachment fails. The similarity comes from the theme of obsession, the blurring of observer and participant, and the high-stakes consequences of getting too close to the darkness one is studying.

Every angle

Women Who Kill (2016) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Women Who Kill in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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