Aftershock (2013) Plot Summary & Timeline

Three travelers, Gringo, Ariel, and Pollo, embarked on an adventure through the vibrant landscapes of Chile. Their journey took an unexpected turn as they partied in a local club, where they encountered three lively women: sisters Monica and Kylie, along with their Russian friend Irina. The two groups decided to join forces and travel together to the picturesque city of Valparaiso. However, their celebration was abruptly interrupted when a devastating earthquake struck the area, resulting in numerous casualties and leaving many trapped beneath the rubble. In a desperate attempt to assist a bartender ensnared in the debris, Ariel’s hand was severed, further complicating their perilous situation.

Panic ensued as their efforts to escape were thwarted by additional falling debris. A brave cleaning lady from the club guided them through a hidden tunnel that led to a nearby manhole. Tragically, just as they emerged, a passing truck collided with the elderly woman, resulting in her untimely death. The group quickly discovered that their car was damaged beyond repair, and with Ariel’s condition deteriorating from blood loss, they resolved to transport him to a hospital situated atop a nearby hill.

Amidst the chaos, a tsunami warning rang out, urging them to hurry towards a cart that would cascade up the hill. After some negotiations, they managed to secure a spot for Ariel in the cart alongside other frightened individuals. Unfortunately, as they reached the peak, a sudden aftershock caused the cart to plummet back down, leading to catastrophic results with all occupants meeting their end.

In their heartache over the loss of Ariel, the remaining group members made their way towards the cemetery in a desperate bid to reach the cathedral perched atop the hill, using the same hidden tunnel. However, their path soon crossed with a gang of looters, who turned out to be escaped prisoners from a nearby facility that had crumbled during the quake. As the group attempted to navigate past them, the women caught the attention of the men, leading to further complications.

In a tragic twist, a building collapsed on Gringo, trapping him, while Monica and Pollo raced off to find help. During this frantic search, they encountered a firetruck that had gone off course. The situation worsened as one firefighter was grievously injured, while another was trapped. Despite the chaos, they managed to rescue one of the firefighters, who explained the ongoing turmoil arising from the escaped prisoners’ takeover of the vehicle.

Back with Gringo, Irina tried to comfort the wounded man while Kylie alerted them to the prisoners’ approaching presence. Gringo bravely advised the women to hide, arguing that the prisoners would likely only be interested in his possessions. As they concealed themselves among the tombs, the prisoners threatened Gringo, pouring alcohol over him and threatening to ignite it unless he revealed the women’s location. In a moment of desperation, Irina emerged from hiding and attempted to flee, but was captured.

In a horrifying sequence, the leader of the prisoners subjected Irina to a brutal assault, while Gringo, striving to protect her, finally retaliated by hurling a rock at the aggressor. This act of bravery was met with tragic consequences, as the leader retaliated, setting Gringo ablaze and leaving him for dead. Hearing the chaos, Kylie made a desperate run for freedom, reuniting with Monica and the others. They returned in hopes of rescuing Irina, and in an act of violence, Pollo killed the leader’s brother in order to escape. However, they could not escape the onslaught, as the leader found them and, enraged by the death of his brother, shot and killed Irina.

With their ranks thinning, the group finally reached a gated building filled with other survivors, where a single mother hesitated to let them in. In the chaos, Pollo was shot when a member of the group pressed for entrance. Though injured, they managed to carry him away but decided to conceal him to seek help. Just then, Pollo’s phone rang, alerting the prisoners to their location, who subsequently found and killed him.

The remaining group pressed on and ultimately arrived at the cathedral, where they found refuge in the presence of a priest who shut the doors just in the nick of time. With the earth shaking beneath them from yet another aftershock, the stability of the cathedral was thrown into question. The priest led them to a hidden passage, and as they descended down the ladder, another violent tremor struck, causing chaos. The priest tragically fell to his death, and Kylie was injured as well, landing awkwardly on a metal object.

As the situation continued to escalate, the firefighter who had earlier helped the group revealed his prison tattoos, shaking Kylie’s trust to its core. Fearful for her life, she promised she wouldn’t reveal his identity. Meanwhile, Monica ingeniously found ropes to assist her descent down the ladder shaft. When she discovered Kylie’s lifeless body, the fake firefighter turned on her, but an aftershock allowed her the chance to strike back, killing him.

At last, Monica managed to escape through the tunnels, surfacing on a tranquil beach. Overwhelmed with disbelief at her survival, her moment of solace was shattered as she turned to see a massive tsunami rushing towards her, a stark reminder of the day’s harrowing events.