What Happens in Muse: Simulation Theory?
The complete story of Muse: Simulation Theory, from the first scene to the last, in 384 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
The film primarily consists of live concert footage of Muse’s shows at the London O2 Arena in September 2019, with an overarching narrative tying the songs together. The songs featured in the film primarily focus on songs from the Simulation Theory album, but multiple other songs from previous Muse albums are also included, as well as additional film pieces composed by Matt Bellamy. Some songs were shortened and re-ordered from how they were played live for the film, and multiple songs performed were omitted. The omitted songs included; “Plug in Baby”, “Hysteria”, “The 2nd Law: Unsustainable”, “Time is Running Out”, “Reapers” and “Knights of Cydonia”.
Track listing
A group of scientists is sent to investigate a mysterious source producing unknown paranormal activity, which leads them to a concert stage located in London with an arcade cabinet on it. One of the scientists called Murphy, touches the cabinet, causing him to break the fabric of his reality and be transported into another one where he finds himself in the crowd of a live Muse concert. After being pulled back to his reality, he is then bitten by a mysterious phantom, causing him to become infected with an unknown pathogen and mutate into a monster. A mysterious woman then appears and reveals that she is an NPC from the “mainframe”. The NPC explains that due to a tear in their reality, a deadly virus has been released and a new entity, known as the “Truth Slayer”, is being created.
The media reports on the virus and large sections of London are quarantined off to curb the infection rate, with multiple NPCs coming to fight off the infected people. The NPC then takes control of the news broadcasts and puts words in their mouths, stating that the virus is a hoax and that “there is nothing to fear”. The Truth Slayer then breaks out of his containment and a hero, known as “The One” (Matt Bellamy), enters the same reality to stop him from gaining control of more. The One gains access to the mainframe, gains the power of a glove, and confronts the Truth Slayer. After a climactic battle, The One prevails and defeats the Truth Slayer. The NPC closes the film by stating that while The One may have saved this reality, there are more.
