What Happens in Books of Blood?
The complete story of Books of Blood, from the first scene to the last, in 391 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 4 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
This film weaves together three interconnected narratives, two of which are inspired by the horror anthology The Book of Blood.
The first story follows Jenna Branson, a college student struggling with a noise-sensitivity disorder. After stopping her medication and running away from home, she seeks refuge at a bed and breakfast run by Ellie and Sam Austin. While Jenna initially bonds with the hosts, she soon discovers a gruesome secret: the couple has been paralyzing guests and removing their tongues, eyes, and ears to keep them hidden in the walls. In a twisted act of “mercy,” Ellie uses her medical background to keep the victims alive but sedated. Though Jenna is briefly saved from the couple by a stalker, she eventually ends up in a staged car accident. In a tragic twist, it is revealed that Jenna had manipulated her former boyfriend into committing suicide. Overcome with guilt, she returns to the Austins to be drugged and mutilated, finding peace in the absolute silence of her new condition.
The second plot involves Mary Floresky, played by Anna Friel, who is approached by a psychic named Simon McNeal, played by Rafi Gavron. Simon claims he can communicate with Mary’s deceased son, Miles, played by Etienne Kellici. Though the two eventually start a foundation and a romantic relationship, Mary discovers that Simon is an unfaithful fraud who faked the psychic connection. However, after a genuine supernatural encounter with her son’s ghost, Mary coerces Simon into a new experiment. This leads to a horrific conclusion where multiple ghosts manifest and carve their stories directly into Simon’s flesh.
The final thread follows Bennett, played by Yul Vazquez, a debt collector who kills a bookseller after learning about the “Book of Blood,” a legendary tome worth a million dollars hidden in an abandoned town. Bennett and his driver, Steve, travel to the location, where they encounter supernatural horrors. After Steve commits suicide, Bennett finds himself confronted by Mary, Simon, and the ghost of Miles. He is told that he has become one of the stories. After escaping a series of visions, a wounded Bennett stumbles upon the home of Ellie and Sam, where he is ultimately killed.
The film concludes by revealing that these intersecting tragedies are actually written on the back of Rafi Gavron as Simon, and are being read by Anna Friel as Mary.
Books of Blood Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
16 key events in the order they happen, from “Jenna Runs Away From Home” to “All the Stories Are Written on Simon's Back”. 11 events name a place, across 5 locations.
- 1
Jenna Runs Away From Home
College student Jenna Branson suffers from a disorder that makes certain noises unbearable to her. Unhappy at home and noncompliant with her medication, she decides to run away. Soon after leaving, she begins to suspect that someone is following her.
- 2
Refuge at the Bed and Breakfast
Jenna takes refuge at a bed and breakfast run by the older couple Ellie and Sam Austin. While staying there, she bonds with a fellow guest named Gavin and with her host Ellie. She begins to feel a connection with Ellie even as she experiences delusions of bugs and keeps seeing the figure following her.
Where:Ellie and Sam's bed and breakfast
- 3
The Horrors Hidden in the House
Jenna is horrified to discover that Ellie and Sam have been paralysing their guests and removing their tongues, eyes, and ears. The victims are hidden within the walls and secret compartments of the house, kept alive but sedated. Ellie, a former health practitioner, believes her warped actions are giving her victims a better life.
Where:Ellie and Sam's bed and breakfast
- 4
The Stalker Saves Jenna
Jenna is saved by her stalker, who is revealed to be the father of her former boyfriend that died by suicide. Ellie and Sam murder him shortly after, and his body is placed in his car. Sam then drives the vehicle away in order to stage a fake suicide.
Where:Ellie and Sam's bed and breakfast
- 5
Trapped in the Car as It Goes Over the Cliff
Jenna manages to get into the backseat of the dead man's car as Sam drives it away. She ends up trapped inside as the vehicle goes over a cliff. The crash was set up by Ellie and Sam to dispose of the body and disguise the murder as a suicide.
Where:Cliffside road
- 6
A Psychic Promises Contact With Miles
A psychic named Simon McNeal approaches Mary Floresky, claiming that he is communicating with her dead son Miles. Although Mary is skeptical, she truly wishes to speak to her son and decides the experiment could benefit her work. The session appears to be successful.
- 7
Happiness Turns to Betrayal
Mary and Simon become a couple and launch a foundation together following the promising results. Their happiness does not last, as Mary eventually discovers that Simon is unfaithful and that he faked the entire experiment. Later, a devastated Mary sees her son's ghost, and a message entreats her to repeat the experiment with Simon.
- 8
The Ghosts Carve Simon's Flesh
Simon is initially unwilling to participate again, but he relents when Mary mentions that the experiment is necessary to raise funding for her work. As he waits in the room, multiple ghosts appear around him. They carve their stories directly into his flesh.
- 9
Bennett Comes to Collect a Debt
A bookseller owes money to shady people, and Bennett has been hired to collect the debt along with his driver Steve. When the bookseller cannot produce the money, he tries to save his life by telling Bennett about the 'Book of Blood', a rare tome worth a million dollars located in an abandoned town. Bennett is intrigued by the story, but still kills the bookseller.
Where:The bookseller's shop
- 10
Nightmare in the Abandoned Town
Bennett and Steve travel to the abandoned town where the book is supposedly located, and both men experience inexplicable supernatural phenomena. Steve is driven to shoot himself after hearing the voice of his dead mother. Bennett is then chased through the town by their car.
Where:Abandoned town
Show the other 6 events of Books of Blood Hide the last 6 events
- 11
Bennett Finds the Book of Blood
When Bennett arrives at the purported location of the book, he discovers Mary, Simon, and the ghost of Miles. He is unwilling to believe that Simon is the Book of Blood, particularly after Mary tells him that he is now one of the stories himself.
Where:Abandoned town
- 12
Tormented, Bennett Stabs Himself
Bennett is chased outside, where he is tormented by horrifying visions until he stabs himself in an attempt to end the torment. Though severely wounded, he manages to escape.
Where:Abandoned town
- 13
Bennett's End at Ellie and Sam's Home
The severely wounded Bennett is unfortunate enough to end up at Ellie and Sam's home. Ellie kills him there, claiming yet another victim for the couple's horrifying collection.
Where:Ellie and Sam's bed and breakfast
- 14
Jenna Survives the Crash
The scene moves to a hospitalized Jenna, who has survived the car crash. A flashback reveals her last phone call with her boyfriend, in which she instigated him to jump from a roof. She cries as she recalls the moment.
Where:Hospital
- 15
Jenna Returns to the Couple
Rather than escape her nightmare, Jenna returns to the evil couple and lets them drug and mutilate her like their other hidden victims. She is shown to be happy, because she can no longer hear the noises that once tormented her.
Where:Ellie and Sam's bed and breakfast
- 16
All the Stories Are Written on Simon's Back
All of the stories appear to be written on Simon's scarred back, and Mary is shown reading them. Simon's carved flesh has literally become the Book of Blood, tying all the tales together.
Quiz
How well do you remember Books of Blood? Test yourself on the story.
