Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
A Birthday Among Bodies
Amy stays at the morgue to process victims from Jacob's mass murder. Holden then permits her friends to hold a birthday party among the corpses.
Key Events
-
Amy Prepares to Leave — Amy prepares to leave while Seth and Holden begin the graveyard shift. Characters: Amy, Seth
Location: City morgue
-
Mass Murder Bodies Arrive — Holden receives victims from Jacob's mass murder at the Blackwell Hotel. Characters: Amy, Seth, Jacob Goodnight
Location: City morgue
-
Amy Cancels Her Plans — Amy cancels her birthday plans and stays to help process the incoming bodies. Characters: Amy, Seth
Location: City morgue
-
Jacob's Body Processed — Amy and Seth process the corpses, including Jacob's apparently dead body. Characters: Amy, Seth, Jacob Goodnight
Location: Morgue examination room
The Corpse Awakens
Tamara and Carter investigate Jacob's body, provoking a sexual encounter beside the supposed corpse. Jacob awakens, kills Carter, arms himself, and cuts the electricity.
Key Events
-
Birthday Party Begins — Holden allows Amy's friends to throw her a birthday party inside the morgue. Characters: Amy, Seth, Tamara, Kayla, Carter, Williams
Location: Morgue
-
Will Challenges Seth — Will tells Seth to stay away from Amy, causing Seth to leave the party. Characters: Amy, Seth, Williams
Location: Morgue party area
-
Amy Argues With Will — Will criticizes Amy for leaving medical school and working in the morgue. Characters: Amy, Williams
Location: Morgue party area
-
Tamara Examines Jacob — Tamara and Carter leave the party to examine Jacob's corpse. Characters: Tamara, Carter, Jacob Goodnight
Location: Morgue examination room
-
Jacob Awakens — Jacob suddenly awakens and kills Carter while Tamara escapes. Characters: Tamara, Carter, Jacob Goodnight
Location: Morgue examination room
The Morgue Becomes A Trap
The partygoers search for Tamara while Jacob hunts them through the darkened building. Holden is mortally wounded, and the survivors discover that every route upward is blocked.
Key Events
-
Jacob Arms Himself — Jacob takes a burn victim mask and surgical tools before cutting the electricity. Characters: Jacob Goodnight
Location: Morgue
-
Holden Is Mortally Wounded — Holden is separated from the group, captured, and mortally wounded by Jacob. Characters: Jacob Goodnight
Location: Morgue corridors
-
Escape Route Blocked — Amy, Will, Kayla, and Tamara try to reach upper levels but Jacob blocks them. Characters: Amy, Williams, Kayla, Tamara, Jacob Goodnight
Location: Hospital stairwell
-
Seth Retrieves The Keys — Seth arrives with keys, but Jacob attacks from behind and splits the group apart. Characters: Amy, Seth, Williams, Kayla, Tamara, Jacob Goodnight
Location: Emergency stairwell
-
Kayla's Bathroom Death — Jacob strangles Kayla; her dying words trigger memories of his abusive religious mother. Characters: Kayla, Jacob Goodnight
Location: Bathroom
Bait And Betrayal
The survivors split after Seth retrieves the emergency keys. Jacob kills Kayla and Tamara, then captures Will and uses him to draw Amy and Seth into a deadly trap.
Key Events
-
Kayla's Bathroom Death — Jacob strangles Kayla; her dying words trigger memories of his abusive religious mother. Characters: Kayla, Jacob Goodnight
Location: Bathroom
-
Tamara Is Killed — Jacob finds and kills Tamara after searching for the remaining survivors. Characters: Tamara, Jacob Goodnight
Location: Hospital interior
-
Will Used As Bait — Jacob captures Will and uses him to lure Amy and Seth into a trap. Characters: Amy, Seth, Williams, Jacob Goodnight
Location: Morgue interior
-
Will Is Executed — Jacob executes Will during the trap, forcing Amy and Seth into a desperate confrontation. Characters: Amy, Seth, Williams, Jacob Goodnight
Location: Morgue interior
The Killer Still Sees
Amy and Seth attempt to escape, but Jacob kills Amy and is only apparently defeated by Seth. Jacob survives inside Seth's car and kills the final survivor.
Key Events
-
Seth Suffers A Wound — Seth is wounded by an electric knife during the confrontation with Jacob. Characters: Amy, Seth, Jacob Goodnight
Location: Morgue interior
-
Amy Reveals Her Reason — Amy cauterizes Seth's wound and explains that she left medical school because death is inevitable. Characters: Amy, Seth
Location: Morgue treatment room
-
Amy Attempts Escape — Amy kisses Seth, searches for help, retreats from Jacob, and is stabbed while unlocking a side exit. Characters: Amy, Seth, Jacob Goodnight
Location: Morgue and parking lot
-
Jacob Is Impaled — Seth impales Jacob with an embalming nozzle and pumps chemicals into his body. Characters: Seth, Jacob Goodnight
Location: Morgue
-
Seth Is Ambushed — Jacob survives, hides in Seth's car, gouges out Seth's eyes, and kills him. Characters: Seth, Jacob Goodnight
Location: Gated parking entrance
-
Jacob's Final Statement — The film shows the dead partygoers before Jacob says, "I see it now," about their sins. Characters: Jacob Goodnight
Location: Morgue and final closeup