Totem (2017) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A grieving family is torn apart when a supernatural necklace intensifies unresolved loss, suspicion, and violence.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Necklace In Mourning

Kellie and Abby live with the death of their mother while Robin enters the household as James's new girlfriend. Kellie's discovery of the necklace introduces an unexplained supernatural force.

Key Events

• Mother's Death Haunts Family — The family struggles after the death of Kellie and Abby's mother as Robin moves into the household. Characters: Kellie, Abby, James, Robin Location: Family house
• The Moving Necklace — Kellie finds her deceased mother's necklace and discovers that it can move objects. Characters: Kellie Location: Kellie's room
• Trophies Crash Down — The necklace causes trophies to fall, leading James to suspect Kellie of sabotaging Robin. Characters: Kellie, James, Robin Location: Kellie's room
• Robin Reorganizes Home — Robin takes over household duties while trying to make Kellie feel like a normal teenager. Characters: Kellie, Robin, James, Abby Location: Family house

Signs In The House

Supernatural visions and Robin's physical trauma make the household increasingly unstable. Kellie investigates the entity with ornaments and motion detectors, discovering its connection to the cat.

Key Events

• Corpse Vision At Practice — Kellie sees a standing corpse wrapped in plastic during track practice. Characters: Kellie Location: Track bleachers
• Robin Gags Up Hair — Robin gags up long strands of blond hair and appears visibly traumatized. Characters: Robin, Kellie Location: Family house
• Bernard Recognizes Robin — Bernard visits and learns that Robin previously knew James and his late daughter as a mutual friend. Characters: Bernard, Robin, James Location: Family house
• Detectors Test The Entity — Kellie decorates the doors and installs motion detectors to collect evidence of the entity. Characters: Kellie, Abby, James, Robin Location: Family house
• The Cat Triggers Sensors — The detectors react violently around the cat, suggesting the entity responds to its presence. Characters: Kellie, Abby, James, Robin Location: Family house
• Bookcase Crushes Cat — After Kellie threatens to burn the totem, the entity knocks down a bookcase and crushes the cat. Characters: Kellie, Abby, James, Robin Location: Family house

The Family Turns Violent

The entity targets Abby, Bernard returns to help, and Todd brings information about destroying the totem. Kellie's attempts to control the crisis become deliberate acts of violence.

Key Events

• Abby Becomes Target — The entity grows stronger and attempts to abduct Abby, forcing the family to consider fleeing. Characters: Kellie, Abby, James, Robin Location: Family house
• Bernard Returns To Danger — Bernard initially rejects the supernatural explanation, then rushes back after learning it may involve his late daughter. Characters: Bernard, Kellie, Abby, James, Robin Location: Family house
• Todd Brings Totem Research — Todd arrives with obscure information about destroying totems and hides in Kellie's room. Characters: Kellie, Todd Location: Kellie's room
• Bernard Dies Without Inhaler — Kellie pretends to help Bernard with his inhaler, uses all the puffs, and lets him die. Characters: Kellie, Bernard Location: Family house
• Wedding Ring Discovered — Robin finds a wedding ring hidden inside a trophy and confronts Kellie about its meaning. Characters: Robin, Kellie Location: Kellie's room

Bodies And Betrayal

Kellie kills Bernard and Todd, attacks Robin, and is exposed by James. The family conflict becomes a direct struggle for survival inside the house.

Key Events

• Robin Attacked In Bathtub — Kellie pushes Robin into a bathtub, where Robin hits her head and seemingly drowns. Characters: Kellie, Robin Location: Bathroom
• Todd Is Struck Down — Kellie sneaks up on Todd and strikes him over the head, killing him instantly. Characters: Kellie, Todd Location: Kellie's room
• James Finds The Bodies — James finds the bodies, realizes Kellie caused the violence, and is hit and tied to a chair. Characters: Kellie, James, Abby Location: Family house
• Kellie Attacks Robin — Kellie tries to kill Robin with a glass shard while James remains tied and Abby is nearby. Characters: Kellie, Robin, James, Abby Location: Family house

A Quiet Uncertainty

The mother's spirit interrupts Kellie's attack, leaving Kellie impaled while the surviving family relocates to a tiny house. Their apparent recovery remains uncertain because Abby still speaks to an unseen presence.

Key Events

• Mother's Spirit Intervenes — Kellie's mother's spirit appears, frightening her and causing her to fall onto a sharp art object. Characters: Kellie, Robin Location: Family house
• Family Relocates To Tiny House — The surviving family members relocate to a tiny house in a serene deserted place while Kellie survives. Characters: Robin, James, Abby, Kellie Location: Tiny house in a deserted location
• Abby Talks To Presence — The family seems to recover, but Abby continues talking to someone unseen. Characters: Abby, Robin, James Location: Tiny house

Story Breakdown

• Grief And Relocation — The household begins in mourning as Robin moves in with James and the sisters.
  • Mother's Death — Kellie and Abby are coping with the death of their mother.
  • Robin Moves In — Robin enters the home and tries to establish new household routines.
• The Necklace Awakens — Kellie discovers an object connected to her deceased mother and begins seeing impossible movements.
  • Moving Objects — The necklace moves objects, including trophies in Kellie's room.
  • James Suspects Kellie — James interprets the falling trophies as an attempt to sabotage Robin.
• Supernatural Evidence — The family encounters increasingly disturbing manifestations while Kellie searches for proof.
  • Corpse Vision — Kellie sees a corpse wrapped in plastic at the track bleachers.
  • Hair And Detectors — Robin gags up hair, and Kellie installs motion detectors around the house.
• The Entity Escalates — The entity reacts to the family and becomes increasingly destructive.
  • Cat Triggers Sensors — The detectors react intensely when the cat is nearby.
  • Bookcase Falls — After Kellie threatens the totem, a bookcase falls and crushes the cat.
• Abby In Peril — The supernatural threat shifts toward Abby and forces the family to seek outside help.
  • Attempted Abduction — The entity tries to abduct Abby during the night.
  • Bernard Returns — Bernard initially doubts the family but rushes back after learning the threat may involve his daughter.
• Kellie's Betrayals — Kellie abandons cooperation and begins eliminating people who challenge her control.
  • Bernard's Death — Kellie deliberately uses up Bernard's inhaler and lets him die.
  • Todd's Murder — Kellie kills Todd after he brings information about destroying the totem.
• Household Confrontation — The truth about Kellie's actions emerges as the remaining family members fight to survive.
  • Robin's Discovery — Robin finds a wedding ring hidden in one of Kellie's trophies.
  • James Tied Down — James discovers the bodies, is struck by Kellie, and is tied to a chair.
• Spirit And Aftermath — The mother's spirit interrupts the final attack, but the ending preserves an unsettling supernatural question.
  • Kellie Impaled — The spirit frightens Kellie, causing her to fall onto a pointed art object.
  • Unseen Presence — The family relocates to a tiny house while Abby continues talking to someone unseen.

Directed by

Marcel Sarmiento

Key Cast

• Kerris Dorsey — Kellie
• Ahna O'Reilly — Robin
• James Tupper — James
• Lia McHugh — Abby
• Braeden Lemasters — Todd