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Plot summary

5ive Girls (2006) Plot Summary & Timeline

5ive Girls (2006) movie poster

5ive Girls is a 2006 horror and thriller film directed by Warren P. Sonoda, running 1 hour 35 minutes. This page retells the whole story in 745 words (about 3 minutes to read) and covers 13 key events in order, 10 characters, where and when it is set and 3 themes. Looking for the cast, ratings and where to stream it? See the movie page for 5ive Girls.

to read the plot summary
3 min
key events in the timeline
13
characters profiled
10
themes explained
3
5ive Girls (2006) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 35m
Director
Warren P. Sonoda
Genres
Horror, Thriller
Original language
English
No spoilers

What Is 5ive Girls About?

The premise of 5ive Girls in 317 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.

In the shadowed halls of St. Mark’s, a once‑pristine Catholic boarding school now functions as a grim reformatory, its stone corridors steeped in silent dread. After a mysterious tragedy shutters the campus, the institution reopens under a stern regime, where every rule feels like a chain and the forbidden third floor looms as a whispered warning. The atmosphere is thick with Gothic decay, blending the austere discipline of a cloistered school with an undercurrent of something far older and darker stirring beneath the surface.

The story centers on five teenage outcasts thrust together by circumstance. Alex carries a restless defiance and an uncanny ability to move objects with her mind. Mara possesses a gentle gift of rapid healing that hints at deeper mysteries. Cecilia, despite her blindness, sees beyond the ordinary, sensing currents that others miss. Leah slips through solid walls as if the world itself were a thin veil, while Connie acts as a conduit for lingering spirits, feeling their presence like a living echo. Their distinct powers set them apart, yet the oppressive environment forces them into a fragile alliance, each grappling with personal burdens while discovering a shared, unsettling bond.

Overseeing them is the unyielding Miss Pearce, whose iron will masks her own hidden motives, and Father Drake, a weary cleric haunted by the school’s past. Together they enforce a regime that feels both protective and suffocating, heightening the girls’ sense of rebellion. Beneath the strict order, rumors of an ancient demon—Legion—whisper through the stone, a malevolent force said to hold the very walls in thrall.

Against this backdrop of cracked faith and lingering occult, the girls must navigate the thin line between control and chaos. The film weaves a moody tapestry of horror and teen drama, inviting viewers to wonder whether the combined spark of their abilities can illuminate a path out of the darkness that has claimed St. Mark’s for so long.

Full plot

What Happens in 5ive Girls?

The complete story of 5ive Girls, from the first scene to the last, in 745 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 2 cast member pages.

Spoilers ahead

In a quiet Catholic boarding school for girls, St. Mark’s, a sudden darkness erupts when one day Elizabeth, a diligent student, is studying on the third floor and is attacked by unseen evil forces. Father Drake rushes in to help, but the malevolent force is overpowering, and Elizabeth vanishes without a trace. The shock rattles the campus, and the school is immediately shuttered as worried families remove their daughters, leaving a sense of dread looming over the halls.

Five years later, the campus reopens under a stern and unyielding headmistress, Miss Pearce. Father Drake remains on staff, yet the tragedy has left him a shadow of his former self, a man who drinks at a bar rather than facing the past. Five troubled and unwanted girls—[Alex], [Mara], [Cecilia] (who is blind), [Leah], and [Connie]—are left by their families at the school, each carrying their own burdens and secrets. The rules are harsh, and the third floor, the scene of Elizabeth’s disappearance, is strictly off-limits.

On this rigidly controlled ground, the girls discover that they are not alone in their strange experiences. Cecilia and Mara dare to venture toward the forbidden third floor, and Miss Pearce’s swift punishment follows. Alex steps forward to take the blame, receiving a harsh caning in front of the others, a grim reminder of how the school enforces its order.

As the days pass, Alex begins to dream of Elizabeth being possessed by a demon, and unsettling phenomena ripple through the classrooms and corridors. The five girls discover that they each possess unusual, supernatural gifts: Connie is a conduit for spirit activity; Leah can pass through solid objects; Cecilia has second sight, an ESP-like power; Mara can heal recent wounds; and Alex wields telekinesis. These powers start to reveal a shared, dangerous bond that neither Miss Pearce nor the other adults truly understands.

The reality behind the haunting begins to unfold when Miss Pearce summons the girls to a pentagram on the third floor, and Connie appears to be possessed. The demon finds a vessel in Leah, who can now pass through doors, and Leah confronts Father Drake in a chilling confrontation. The demon is named Legion, and the struggle escalates as Father Drake attempts an exorcism while Leah uses her new abilities to threaten him with deadly force. Meanwhile, the girls—having translated Elizabeth’s journal, which surfaced after Connie’s possession—realize they must escape. They split up to search for the others: Mara finds Father Drake, Alex locates Connie, and Cecilia encounters the demon face to face.

A brutal sequence follows, where Cecilia is severely injured and Leah’s head is crushed with a heavy book. Legion then moves on to Cecilia and grants her “first sight,” intensifying the danger. Mara and Alex try to flee, but Miss Pearce locks them in and breaks Mara’s healing hand, a cruel blow that deepens the peril surrounding them. The shocking revelation shifts the motive of Miss Pearce—she is Elizabeth’s sister, and her purpose is to save Elizabeth from Legion.

With time running out, Mara and Alex hide in a bedroom and invoke Connie’s spellbook to construct a protective circle. Cecilia/Legion penetrates the circle only after using her own blood to bleed away the lines, and she possesses Mara. In a desperate ritual, Miss Pearce continues to chant, while Elizabeth’s body slowly appears and then vanishes again, a spectral reminder of the girl who started this nightmare. Mara pursues Alex, who is stabbed in the stomach before Miss Pearce pleads with Legion to release Elizabeth, only to hear that the deal was for five girls, not four.

Alex harnesses her telekinetic power to force Legion out of Mara and into Miss Pearce, driving the demon’s head through a crucifix. Exhausted, Mara collapses, but she heals herself while failing to save Alex in time. A tense moment unfolds as Mara encounters Virgil, a monkish figure who seems to roam the grounds in robes. Elizabeth appears, alive and greeting him as Father, only to witness Miss Pearce seize the moment and transfer Legion to him. Elizabeth’s scream pierces the air as the film ends, leaving audiences with a chilling, unresolved fallout that circles back to the very beginning.

The haunting at St. Mark’s leaves a lasting impression about power, family secrets, and the perilous intersection of faith and the occult, all carried forward by a cast of young women who discover that their hidden gifts come at a grave cost, and that some pasts refuse to stay buried.

Timeline

5ive Girls Timeline: Every Key Event in Order

13 key events in the order they happen, from “Elizabeth attacked on the third floor” to “Climax: the transfer of Legion and a haunting ending”. 13 events name a place, across 13 locations.

  1. 1

    Elizabeth attacked on the third floor

    Elizabeth is studying in a third-floor classroom when unseen evil forces strike. Father Drake tries to intervene but proves powerless against the demon. The girl vanishes without a trace, leaving the school in shock.

    When:Day of the attack Where:St. Mark's School, third-floor classroom

  2. 2

    School shut down and evacuated

    The school is closed immediately after the disappearance as families flee with their daughters. Authorities fear the demon still prowls the campus, and the buildings are sealed off. The community grieves and rumors swirl about Elizabeth's fate.

    When:Immediately after the attack Where:St. Mark's campus

  3. 3

    Five years later: reopening under Miss Pearce

    St. Mark's reopens with a strict regime under headmistress Miss Pearce. Father Drake remains as a teacher but is now a heavy drinker, often found at a bar. Elizabeth's disappearance still haunts the school as a dark memory.

    When:Five years after the incident Where:St. Mark's School

  4. 4

    The five girls arrive

    Five troubled girls—Alex, Mara, Cecilia, Leah, and Connie—are left at the school by their families. Miss Pearce forbids them from going to the third floor, setting a tense mood. The girls sense they are not welcome, but they have no choice but to stay.

    When:First days after reopening Where:St. Mark's School, dormitories

  5. 5

    Alex takes the blame and is punished

    During a forbidden venture to the third floor, Alex volunteers to take the blame to shield the others. She is caned in front of the other girls, a harsh display of Miss Pearce's discipline. The incident seeds fear and secrecy among the group.

    When:Soon after arrival Where:Classroom

  6. 6

    The girls discover their powers

    The girls begin to realize they possess supernatural gifts. Connie is a conduit for spirit activity; Leah can pass through objects; Cecilia has ESP; Mara can heal recent wounds; and Alex demonstrates telekinesis. The discoveries bring both fear and curiosity.

    When:After the caning Where:Various locations around the school

  7. 7

    The pentagram summons and possession begins

    Miss Pearce gathers the five girls to a pentagram on the third floor. Connie appears to be possessed, signaling a dangerous awakening. The tension escalates as the demon's presence becomes undeniable.

    When:Shortly after the gifts emerge Where:Third floor pentagram

  8. 8

    Connie's possession leads to Leah's attack

    Connie tries to drown Leah, and the demon transfers into Leah as she passes through. Connie dies in the process, and Leah becomes the demon-possessed vessel with new abilities. The remaining girls realize the threat is real and personal.

    When:Soon after the possession begins Where:Third floor

  9. 9

    Leah confronts Father Drake; Legion revealed

    Leah uses the demon's powers to confront Father Drake and the demon Legion is revealed. In the ensuing struggle, Leah stabs him with gold crucifixes, showing the direct danger the possession causes. The exorcism efforts begin to seem desperate.

    When:Shortly after Leah's possession Where:St. Mark's corridors

  10. 10

    Elizabeth's journal guides the escape plan

    Alex, Mara, and Cecilia read Elizabeth's journal and learn about Legion, its power, and hints of a way to escape. They gain critical knowledge that shifts their strategy from fear to action, strengthening their resolve. The discovery deepens the mystery surrounding Elizabeth's fate.

    When:After Drake's attack Where:Dormitory / library

Show the other 3 events of 5ive Girls
  1. 11

    The search for the others begins

    The girls split up to locate the others: Mara finds Father Drake, Alex seeks Connie, and Cecilia encounters the demon. Tension rises as the demon's influence spreads and the school becomes a trap rather than a sanctuary. The group starts to mobilize around their shared gifts.

    When:Later in the evening Where:School interior

  2. 12

    Protective circle and Legion possesses Mara

    In a bedroom, Mara and Alex use Connie's spellbook to draw a protective circle while Cecilia adds her ESP insight. The demon Legion attacks but cannot breach the seal at first; Cecilia uses her own blood to cover the lines, allowing Legion to possess Mara. The circle becomes the last line of defense.

    When:Following the split search Where:Bedroom with protective circle

  3. 13

    Climax: the transfer of Legion and a haunting ending

    Miss Pearce chants in another part of the building as Elizabeth's body briefly appears. Alex uses telekinesis to drive Legion out of Mara and into Miss Pearce, then rams the demon's head through a crucifix. Mara collapses, Elizabeth returns with Virgil, and Miss Pearce finally succumbs as Legion transfers into him, ending on a scream.

    When:Climax and ending Where:Building interiors

Characters

Who Are the Main Characters in 5ive Girls?

10 characters, among them Elizabeth (Krysta Carter), Mara (Jordan Madley) and Alex (Jennifer Miller): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.

  • E(

    Elizabeth (Krysta Carter)

    Played by Krysta Carter

    Elizabeth is the girl whose sudden disappearance on the third floor triggers the film's events. Her vanishing haunts the school and she reappears only through clues like Elizabeth's journal, which surfaces after Connie's possession. She remains a catalyst whose fate drives Miss Pearce's decisions and the students' race to understand the demonic threat.

    • 🗝️ Mystery
    • 👁️ ESP
    • 🕯️ Supernatural
  • M(

    Mara (Jordan Madley)

    Played by Jordan Madley

    Mara is one of the five girls who possesses healing abilities; she shows quiet leadership and compassion. She heals Alex after her beating and becomes a steady ally to the others as they face danger. Mara's empathy and resilience help hold the group together during their most dire moments.

    • 🩹 Healing
    • 👭 Friendship
    • 🕯️ Supernatural
  • A(

    Alex (Jennifer Miller)

    Played by Jennifer Miller

    Alex has telekinesis and a strong, protective will. She takes an active role in opposing Legion and uses her power to shield friends and to manipulate the environment in their favor. Her courage and determination push the group to confront the demon directly.

    • 💥 Telekinesis
    • 👭 Courage
    • 🕯️ Supernatural
  • C(

    Cecilia (Terra Vnesa)

    Played by Terra Vnesa

    Cecilia possesses ESP and second sight, giving her a unique precognitive perspective on events. She endures severe injury during the fight with Legion, which grants her a potent form of sight—‘first sight’—that augments the girls' attempts to understand and combat the demon.

    • 👁️ ESP
    • 🧠 Perception
    • 🕯️ Supernatural
  • C(

    Connie (Tasha Quintas)

    Played by Tasha Quintas

    Connie is a conduit, a magnet for spirit activity. She is the first to be possessed, triggering a chain of possession and tragedy, and ultimately dies during the confrontation with Legion. Her role as a spiritual conduit catalyzes the girls' realization of their gifts.

    • 🔗 Conduit
    • 👻 Spirit
    • 🩸 Death
  • L(

    Leah (Barbara Mamabolo)

    Played by Barbara Mamabolo

    Leah can pass through objects, a power that proves useful and dangerous as Legion possesses her. Her transformation into a host demon becomes a crucial obstacle for the protagonists, culminating in a brutal confrontation with Father Drake and others.

    • 🚪 Phasing
    • 🧿 Possession
    • 🕯️ Supernatural
  • MP

    Miss Pearce (Amy Lalonde)

    Played by Amy Lalonde

    Miss Pearce is the harsh headmistress who enforces the school’s rules with brutal discipline. She is Elizabeth's sister and orchestrates a plan to trap Legion, using the girls as instruments in a larger occult endeavor. Her actions drive much of the plot’s tension and moral ambiguity.

    • 🎭 Authority
    • 🗝️ Secrets
    • 🕯️ Occult
  • Ron Perlman as Father Drake (Ron Perlman) in 5ive Girls

    Father Drake (Ron Perlman)

    Played by Ron Perlman

    Father Drake is a priest at the school who attempts to save Elizabeth but becomes a drunken, broken figure over time. He struggles to exorcise the demon and stands as a symbol of faith tested by failure and fear in the face of Legion.

    • 🙏 Faith
    • 🕯️ Supernatural
    • 👀 Struggle
  • V(

    Virgil (James Kidnie)

    Played by James Kidnie

    Virgil appears as a monkish groundskeeper who initially seems benevolent and protective. He becomes a conduit for Legion at the climax, revealing the danger of trusting appearances and ending with an ominous twist as the demon moves between hosts.

    • 🧭 Guide
    • 🕯️ Supernatural
    • 👤 Possessed
  • MG

    Mr. Garrison (Richard Alan Campbell)

    Played by Richard Alan Campbell

    Mr. Garrison is a member of the school staff who appears in a minor capacity. He is part of the backdrop of the school's environment as the events unfold.

    • 🏫 Faculty
    • 👔 Authority
Setting

Where and When Is 5ive Girls Set?

5ive Girls is set in St. Mark's Catholic Boarding School for Girls. Here is why the place matters to the story.

Where

St. Mark's Catholic Boarding School for Girls

St. Mark's is a Catholic boarding school for girls where Elizabeth's disappearance on the third floor triggers the story. After the incident, the campus is shut down and later reopened five years later under a strict headmistress. Hidden spaces and a haunted history surrounding the third floor become central to the haunting and the girls' awakening powers.

  • 🏫 School
  • 👁️ Supernatural
  • 🗝️ Mystery
Themes

What Are the Themes of 5ive Girls?

3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Supernatural, Sisterhood and Authority and Control.

  1. 01

    Supernatural

    The plot centers on Elizabeth's possession by a demon named Legion, initiating a chain of eerie events. Five girls discover they have supernatural gifts—conduit, phasing, ESP, healing, and telekinesis—that connect them to the haunting. The girls must confront an ancient evil that uses the school as its stage, culminating in a battle that tests their abilities and resolve. The mystery deepens as journal clues and ritual lore guide their attempts to survive.

  2. 02

    Sisterhood

    The five girls form a fragile, resilient bond as they confront isolation, danger, and the school’s oppressive atmosphere. Their newfound powers become tools they share to protect one another and to confront Legion. Trust, courage, and mutual aid drive them to devise plans and support each other under extreme stress. Even in the face of horror, their solidarity highlights the strength of female friendship.

  3. 03

    Authority and Control

    Miss Pearce rules St. Mark's with an iron fist, manipulating the girls for a hidden purpose tied to Elizabeth's fate. The revelation that she is Elizabeth's sister adds a layer of motive and moral ambiguity to her actions. Her occult rituals on the third floor reveal how authority can co-opt trauma and fear for a personal agenda. The final twist—Legion moving between hosts—exposes how power can corrupt and corrupt those who seek control.

Tone & mood

What Kind of Film Is 5ive Girls?

Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.

Tone
Dark
Pacing
Steady
Story
Straightforward
Intensity
High
Ending
Bleak

An oppressive and claustrophobic supernatural horror that traps a group of troubled teenage girls in a grim reformatory, subjecting them to a desperate battle against a demonic force with a bleak and unsettling conclusion.

  • oppressive
  • claustrophobic
  • anxious
  • eerie
  • desperate
  • sinister
  • supernatural horror
  • demonic possession
  • reform school
  • hidden powers

Content notes: demonic possession, physical punishment, eye gouging, blood, trapped in school, death of teenagers.

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Where to watch

Where to Watch 5ive Girls

Stream it on Amazon MX Player and Amazon Prime Video, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

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Read next

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FAQ

5ive Girls Plot Questions

5 quick answers about 5ive Girls, taken from the plot summary, character guide and setting on this page and the film’s credits.

What is 5ive Girls about?

In the shadowed halls of St. Mark’s, a once‑pristine Catholic boarding school now functions as a grim reformatory, its stone corridors steeped in silent dread.

Read the full plot summary

When and where does 5ive Girls take place?

5ive Girls is set in St. Mark's Catholic Boarding School for Girls. St. Mark's is a Catholic boarding school for girls where Elizabeth's disappearance on the third floor triggers the story.

The setting explained

Who are the main characters in 5ive Girls?

The story follows Elizabeth (Krysta Carter) (played by Krysta Carter), Mara (Jordan Madley) (played by Jordan Madley), Alex (Jennifer Miller) (played by Jennifer Miller) and Cecilia (Terra Vnesa) (played by Terra Vnesa); the character guide covers 10 characters in all.

All the characters

What are the main themes of 5ive Girls?

The summary picks out 3 themes: Supernatural, Sisterhood and Authority and Control.

The themes explained

Who directed 5ive Girls?

5ive Girls (2006) was directed by Warren P. Sonoda and runs 1 hour 35 minutes.

Warren P. Sonoda’s films

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