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Nothing Left to Fear (2013) Plot Summary & Timeline

Nothing Left to Fear (2013) movie poster

Nothing Left to Fear is a 2013 horror film directed by Anthony Leonardi III, running 1 hour 40 minutes. This page retells the whole story in 888 words (about 4 minutes to read) and covers 15 key events in order, 6 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 Nothing Left to Fear.

to read the plot summary
4 min
key events in the timeline
15
characters profiled
6
themes explained
3
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Nothing Left to Fear (2013) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 40m
Genre
Horror
Original language
English
No spoilers

What Is Nothing Left to Fear About?

The premise of Nothing Left to Fear in 278 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.

In the quiet town of Stull, Kansas, Pastor Dan steps into a new role as the community’s spiritual leader, bringing his wife Wendy and their three children—Rebecca, Mary, and Christopher—along for what they hope will be a fresh start. The town’s modest streets and close‑knit neighbors conceal an atmosphere that feels both welcoming and oddly unsettled, a place where the ordinary rhythms of small‑town life are tinged with an undercurrent of something more inscrutable.

Rebecca, a thoughtful teen, begins to experience unsettling visions that disturb the family’s sense of normalcy. Her younger sister Mary becomes the focus of a growing, inexplicable dread, suggesting that something far darker may be at work beneath the surface of everyday life. As the children grapple with these eerie sensations, the family’s faith and their bond are tested, hinting at a looming threat that could upend their peaceful existence.

Among the locals, the enigmatic Noah, a quiet teenager, and the reclusive farmer Mason drift through the community, while the former pastor, now known as Pastor Kingsman, looms as a shadowy figure of authority. Their presence adds layers of mystery to a town that seems to guard secrets older than its own founding. Whispers of a hidden ritual and a gateway that could unleash unspeakable forces linger in the air, creating a mood that is both claustrophobic and hauntingly expansive.

Bound by love and a growing sense of urgency, the family must confront the encroaching darkness that threatens to breach the town’s tranquil façade. Their journey promises a tense blend of faith, fear, and the desperate search for truth in a place where the line between the sacred and the sinister is perilously thin.

Full plot

What Happens in Nothing Left to Fear?

The complete story of Nothing Left to Fear, from the first scene to the last, in 888 words (about 4 minutes). Spoilers throughout.

Spoilers ahead

As Pastor Dan settles into his new life as the spiritual leader of Stull, Kansas, his family—including his wife Wendy and their three children, Rebecca, Mary, and Christopher—begin to get to know their small-town environment. Their unsettling introduction to the community begins when Rebecca spots a teenage boy named Noah committing a gruesome act by slaughtering a sheep and collecting its blood. This disconcerting moment is quickly followed by Dan’s encounter with the town’s friendly farmer, Mason, and the warm greetings they receive from Pastor Kingsman, the former pastor, along with other townsfolk.

As the night deepens, Rebecca is plagued by a haunting nightmare that hints at the disturbing events to come. The following day, they receive a cake from a parishioner, a gesture to welcome Dan into his new position. However, the cake has a strange surprise, as Mary chokes on a tooth hidden within. This unsettling twist is intensified when Rebecca meets Noah once more, and he takes her on a whirlwind tour of the town, before being abruptly summoned by Mason at Pastor Kingsman’s request.

Returning home, Rebecca finds Mary is feeling unwell, while Noah receives troubling orders from Pastor Kingsman about carrying out divine duties. It becomes evident that Mary’s unsettling discovery of the tooth has marked her as “the chosen one,” in accordance with an old tradition indicating that the first to find it is predestined for something significant.

As the Summer Festival approaches, Wendy and her family dive into preparations for the celebration. The children explore the town, where Rebecca reconnects with Noah, leading to a sweet date atop a fire lookout tower, surrounded by nature’s serene beauty. It is here that Rebecca notices a scar on Noah’s hand, which he attempts to hide. Just as they indulge in the picturesque view, an ominous figure watching from below disrupts their blissful moment, casting a shadow over their evening.

The next day at the lively festival, Noah whiskers Mary and Rebecca away to a lemonade stand. Unfortunately, their innocent outing is upended when Mary’s drink is unexpectedly tainted with poison. As her condition worsens, she struggles to return home, only to be kidnapped by the malevolent Mason. Bound and vulnerable, Mary learns from Pastor Kingsman that she has been selected according to a dark divine will, as the pastor releases a portal that allows the Devil to seize her spirit. Under the guise of concern, he returns her to her family, feigning normalcy.

Meanwhile, Noah grapples with the weight of revealing Mary’s fate to Rebecca, but is interrupted by Christopher’s timely appearance. The situation spirals out of control as Dan arrives at the church, responding to a summons from Pastor Kingsman. It’s a grave mistake; he is drugged and imprisoned, rendering him powerless against the pastor’s evil machinations. Back at home, Mary awakens unmanned by darkness, regurgitating a foul substance that sends her family into chaos. In haste, Wendy sends the other children off to find Dan. With Noah’s help, they break into the church, only to find Dan unconscious on the floor, and a feeling of dread envelops them as they rush him back home.

Upon their return, the family is struck by an eerie scene: every house in the neighborhood is marked with a blood-like ‘X’ on the doors, a chilling sight that terrifies Rebecca. As she presses Noah for explanation, he remains tight-lipped. Approaching their own home, a nightmarish revelation awaits: Wendy lies lifeless and decomposing on the couch. Dan stumbles in, overwhelmed by horror as Mary, possessed, creeps down the stairs toward him. In a frantic effort to evade the unfolding doom, Dan commands Rebecca and Noah to escape, leaving behind the hope of saving their family.

As he remains in turmoil, Dan tries to save Mary, who eerily mirrors Wendy’s tragic fate in the front yard. Meanwhile, Rebecca’s anxiety drives her to take control of the car, clashing with Noah as they navigate the unfolding chaos. Unbeknownst to them, Christopher watches in fear as Mary emerges from the shadows, her presence spellbinding and foreboding.

In a shocking twist, Noah takes Rebecca back to the car and sprints away, abandoning Christopher to the dark fate that awaits him. Just as Christopher finds refuge in a neighboring home, Mary seizes her chance to infect him with her dark malevolence. His desperate cries go unheard as the fear-ridden patriarch ejects him, only for Noah to thwart her attempt at claiming more victims.

Noah then takes drastic action, pushing Rebecca back toward the car before fleeing himself, leaving Christopher to fend for his life. The vehicle’s engine coughs to a halt, as Mary approaches, leaving all hope dwindling. Just when things seem dire, Rebecca returns, only to face the horrifying reality: Mary has taken Christopher as her own.

The climax of despair leads Noah to an abandoned church gathering, with Rebecca soon following, bringing tension to a peak. In a moment of reckoning, Noah cuts open Mary’s wrist, using her blood to banish the Devil, sealing the horrifying portal for good.

As Rebecca lies in a trance, radiant with a strange light, the townsfolk gather around in a blend of awe and fear. Following this harrowing experience, a new family arrives, introducing a young boy who will soon inherit Noah’s legacy through a disturbing sheep sacrifice, continuing the cycle of grotesque rituals.

Timeline

Nothing Left to Fear Timeline: Every Key Event in Order

15 key events in the order they happen, from “Pastor Dan's Arrival” to “The Cycle Continues”. 11 events name a place, across 6 locations.

  1. 1

    Pastor Dan's Arrival

    Pastor Dan and his family arrive in Stull, Kansas, eager to begin a new life. They meet various townsfolk, including the former pastor, Pastor Kingsman, who extends a warm welcome, establishing a friendly yet unsettling atmosphere.

    Where:Stull, Kansas

  2. 2

    Rebecca's Disturbing Discovery

    While exploring their new community, Rebecca sees Noah committing a horrific act as he slaughters a sheep and collects its blood. This gruesome introduction foreshadows the dark events that will soon unfold in their lives.

    Where:Stull, Kansas

  3. 3

    Haunting Nightmares

    That night, Rebecca is plagued by a vivid nightmare that hints at the doom awaiting her family. This experience sets a tense tone, suggesting that something sinister is lurking beneath the surface of their new life.

  4. 4

    The Welcome Cake

    The following day, the family receives a cake from a parishioner to welcome them to the community. However, the innocent gesture turns frightening when Mary discovers a hidden tooth inside, marking her with a prophetic significance.

    Where:Stull, Kansas

  5. 5

    Noah's Summons

    After an innocent day out, Noah is abruptly called away by the town's farmer, Mason, at the request of Pastor Kingsman. This moment illustrates the growing connection between Noah and the strange events unfolding in Stull.

  6. 6

    Preparations for the Festival

    As the Summer Festival nears, Wendy and her children immerse themselves in the preparations for the community celebration. This event becomes a backdrop for both joyful memories and the foreboding happenings that follow.

    Where:Stull, Kansas

  7. 7

    The Sweet Date

    Rebecca and Noah share a romantic moment on a fire lookout tower, where they connect over the beauty of nature. This moment of bliss, however, is marred by the ominous presence of a shadowy figure watching them from below.

    Where:Fire lookout tower

  8. 8

    The Poisoned Lemonade

    At the festival, Noah takes Rebecca and Mary to a lemonade stand, where Mary unknowingly drinks poisoned lemonade. As Mary's health declines, it becomes increasingly apparent that she has been targeted for a dark purpose.

    Where:Summer Festival in Stull

  9. 9

    Kidnapping and Dark Revelations

    After being poisoned, Mary is kidnapped by Mason and taken to Pastor Kingsman. In a twisted revelation, she learns she has been chosen for a dark divine duty, revealing the true nature of the town’s sinister rituals.

    Where:Pastor Kingsman's location

  10. 10

    Dan's Concealed Fate

    Pastor Kingsman lures Dan to the church under false pretenses, where he is drugged and imprisoned. This dark turn removes the family's protector from the unfolding chaos, amplifying the peril they face.

    Where:Church

Show the other 5 events of Nothing Left to Fear
  1. 11

    Mary's Transformation

    As Mary awakens from her ordeal, she is overtaken by darkness, displaying eerie symptoms that terrify her family. The situation escalates as her troubling appearance signals her possession by a malevolent force.

  2. 12

    Eerie Neighborhood Markings

    Returning home, the family discovers every house in the neighborhood marked with a chilling blood-like 'X'. This ominous sight serves as a warning of the impending doom that has befallen the town.

    Where:Stull, Kansas

  3. 13

    The Family's Final Stand

    In an intense confrontation, Dan tries to save Mary from her grim fate as she mirrors Wendy’s demise. The family struggles against time and the supernatural hold that threatens to consume them all.

  4. 14

    The Abandoned Church Gathering

    Noah and Rebecca find themselves at an old church, where the final confrontation takes place. In a desperate bid for salvation, Noah uses Mary's blood to seal a portal and banish the Devil, ending the town's horrific rituals.

    Where:Abandoned church

  5. 15

    The Cycle Continues

    In the aftermath of their harrowing experience, the town prepares for a new family’s arrival. As a young boy steps forward to carry on Noah's legacy through a sinister act, it becomes clear that the cycle of grotesque rituals is far from over.

    Where:Stull, Kansas

Characters

Who Are the Main Characters in Nothing Left to Fear?

6 characters, among them Pastor Dan, Rebecca and Mary: who each one is and the part they play in the story.

  • PD

    Pastor Dan

    Pastor Dan is a devoted family man and the new spiritual leader of Stull, Kansas. He begins with optimism but quickly becomes ensnared in the town's dark secrets and his family's peril. His journey showcases a struggle against overwhelming evil as he attempts to save his loved ones.

    • 👨‍👩‍👦 Family
    • 🙏 Faith
  • R

    Rebecca

    Rebecca is the thoughtful and observant daughter who senses the growing danger in their new home. As the story unfolds, she grows from a naive girl into a determined protector, facing her fears and discovering the weight of her family's legacy and the town's darkness.

    • 👧 Courage
    • 🕵️‍♀️ Detection
  • M

    Mary

    Mary, Rebecca's sister, becomes a tragic focal point in the plot, marked by the discovery of a hidden tooth. Her unsettling fate reflects the theme of being 'the chosen one,' which complicates her relationships and brings horror to her family's life. Her possession marks a turning point in the family's struggle against evil.

    • 😨 Possession
    • 🧒 Innocence Lost
  • N

    Noah

    Noah is a teenage boy from Stull who becomes Rebecca's love interest. Burdened by knowledge of the town’s dark underside, he struggles with his own role in the unfolding tragedy. His character embodies the theme of youth caught between innocence and the horrific realities of their world.

    • ❤️ Love
    • 😢 Tragedy
  • M

    Mason

    Mason is the town's friendly farmer who appears warm initially but hides sinister intentions connected to the town's dark rituals. His character plays a pivotal role in orchestrating the unsettling events that threaten the family, showcasing the duality of appearances versus reality.

    • 🌾 Friendly
    • 😈 Malevolence
  • PK

    Pastor Kingsman

    Former Pastor Kingsman is a sinister figure who embodies the dark traditions of the town. His manipulations and revelations about the rituals depict him as the antagonist whose actions dictate the horrifying fate of the characters, especially that of Mary.

    • ⛪ Authority
    • 😈 Antagonist
Setting

Where and When Is Nothing Left to Fear Set?

Nothing Left to Fear is set in Stull and Kansas. Here is why the place matters to the story.

When

The events of 'Nothing Left to Fear' unfold in contemporary times, at least in a recognizably modern setting, as indicated by the lifestyles and technology of the characters. Yet, the presence of ancient rituals and the narrative's supernatural elements give it a timeless quality, highlighting a clash between modernity and dark traditions.

Where

Stull, Kansas

Stull, Kansas, is portrayed as a quaint small town with a tight-knit community, where everyone seems to know each other. It's known for its serene beauty and is a backdrop to unsettling events that gradually unfold, hinting at deeper, sinister secrets lying within its peaceful façade.

  • 🌾 Small Town
  • 🏞️ Scenic
Themes

What Are the Themes of Nothing Left to Fear?

3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Supernatural, Family Bonds and Sacrifice.

  1. 01

    Supernatural

    The movie explores supernatural themes through the presence of dark rituals and possession. It delves into the fear of the unknown and the idea that evil can seep into seemingly ordinary lives, highlighting the battle between good and malevolent forces that lurk in the shadows.

  2. 02

    Family Bonds

    A significant theme in the film is the bond between family, which is tested under extreme circumstances. As the family faces threats from within and outside, their attempts to protect each other become a driving force, showcasing the lengths a family will go to combat evil and preserve their unity.

  3. 03

    Sacrifice

    Sacrifice plays a central role in the narrative, with characters grappling with the idea of giving up something dear for a perceived greater good. The film raises questions about predestination and the dark implications of being 'chosen' for sinister purposes, suggesting that sacrifice can both redeem and condemn.

Tone & mood

What Kind of Film Is Nothing Left to Fear?

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

A relentless and oppressive supernatural horror that traps a family in a nightmare of small-town evil, characterized by escalating dread, psychological torment, and the grim inevitability of a demonic ritual.

  • ominous
  • suspenseful
  • dreadful
  • claustrophobic
  • sinister
  • unsettling
  • supernatural horror
  • family in peril
  • demonic possession
  • small town secrets

Content notes: child endangerment, animal sacrifice, demonic possession, kidnapping, drugging, graphic violence.

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FAQ

Nothing Left to Fear Plot Questions

5 quick answers about Nothing Left to Fear, taken from the plot summary, character guide and setting on this page and the film’s credits.

What is Nothing Left to Fear about?

In the quiet town of Stull, Kansas, Pastor Dan steps into a new role as the community’s spiritual leader, bringing his wife Wendy and their three children—Rebecca, Mary, and Christopher—along for what they hope will be a fresh start.

Read the full plot summary

When and where does Nothing Left to Fear take place?

Nothing Left to Fear is set in Stull and Kansas. The events of 'Nothing Left to Fear' unfold in contemporary times, at least in a recognizably modern setting, as indicated by the lifestyles and technology of the characters.

The setting explained

Who are the main characters in Nothing Left to Fear?

The story follows Pastor Dan, Rebecca, Mary and Noah; the character guide covers 6 characters in all.

All the characters

What are the main themes of Nothing Left to Fear?

The summary picks out 3 themes: Supernatural, Family Bonds and Sacrifice.

The themes explained

Who directed Nothing Left to Fear?

Nothing Left to Fear (2013) was directed by Anthony Leonardi III and runs 1 hour 40 minutes.

Anthony Leonardi III’s films

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