What Is Totem About?
The premise of Totem in 296 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the wake of a sudden loss, a family is forced to rebuild its fragile routine amid lingering grief. Kellie—a determined seventeen‑year‑old—finds herself caught between the memory of her mother and the uneasy presence of her father’s new partner, Robin. Together with her younger sister Abby and her father James, they navigate a house that feels both familiar and subtly altered, as everyday objects begin to hint at something unseen.
Kellie’s curiosity sharpens when she discovers a lingering artifact from her mother’s past, a trinket that seems to pulse with an inexplicable energy. The subtle disturbances it creates stir a mixture of skepticism and dread among the household, especially as the teenage sister tries to protect the fragile balance of her family. Meanwhile, Bernard, a visiting relative with his own quiet burdens, provides a link to the family’s history, adding another layer of unease to the already charged atmosphere.
The film sways between the quiet intensity of a grieving household and the growing sense that an unseen force watches from the shadows. Its tone is a blend of psychological tension and understated horror, where the ordinary—family meals, teenage arguments, and the hum of daily life—becomes a backdrop for something far more unsettling. The cinematography leans into muted lighting and tight framing, amplifying the feeling that every creak and flicker could be a clue to the lingering presence.
As the teenage sister confronts the strange phenomena, she is driven to consider measures far beyond ordinary coping. The story teeters on the edge of desperation, hinting that the lengths she will go to shield her loved ones may lead her down a dark and uncharted path, leaving the audience to wonder just how far a protective instinct can be stretched when the ordinary world collides with the supernatural.
What Happens in Totem?
The complete story of Totem, from the first scene to the last, in 683 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 4 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Abby Lia McHugh and her sister Kellie Kerris Dorsey are coping with the death of their mother Lexy. Kellie discovers a necklace that once belonged to Lexy and realizes it can move objects around, and she begins to wonder if the pendant could be connected to a restless, lingering presence from her mother’s past. The mysterious totem soon makes its presence known by knocking over a jumble of trophies in Kellie’s room, a sight that makes their father James James Tupper worry that Kellie is attempting to sabotage his relationship with his girlfriend Robin Ahna O’Reilly, who has just moved in to help run the house.
Robin tries to take on household duties to help Kellie feel like a normal 17-year-old, but the disruption unsettles Kellie even as she tries to be kind toward her new family. Late one afternoon at track practice, Kellie is startled by the vision of a standing corpse wrapped in plastic on the bleachers, a moment that heightens the sense of something unseen watching them. Back at home, Robin is seen dealing with trauma in unsettling ways, gagging on long strands of blond hair and appearing deeply shaken by the strange events around them. Bernard, Lexy’s father, visits and meets Robin, and in conversation it’s revealed that Robin knew Lexy and James and had been a mutual friend in the past.
Kellie sets up Christmas ornaments on every door and installs motion detectors to gather evidence of the entity, hoping to convince the family something otherworldly is at work. When nothing moves at first, she notices the entity is more reactive around the family cat; whenever the cat is present, the motion detectors beep frantically and the cat darts away. Kellie grows more desperate and even threatens to burn the totem, and the entity retaliates by making a bookcase fall, crushing the cat in a sudden, devastating moment.
That night, the entity strengthens and attempts to abduct Abby. The family calls Bernard for help; at first he refuses to believe them, but after hearing more about the possibility that the entity might be his late daughter, he rushes back into the house, putting everyone in greater danger. Kellie’s boyfriend Todd [Braeden Lemasters] arrives with some obscure information on how to destroy totems, offering a glimmer of hope even as the danger escalates. Kellie hides Todd in her room and redirects her anger toward Robin, telling her that the mess is her fault.
Bernard is struggling with respiratory issues, and Kellie, in a misguided bid to help, uses up all the inhaler puffs, leaving him unable to breathe and, tragically, dying as a result. Robin, while searching for Abby, discovers a wedding ring hidden at the base of one of Kellie’s trophies. When Robin confronts Kellie, Kellie asserts that her mother was weak and that her father needed someone stronger, before pushing Robin into a bathtub; Robin strikes her head and appears to drown.
Kellie then strikes Todd from behind, killing him instantly, and she hurries to pull Abby out of the crawlspace where she had been hiding. James arrives and confronts Kellie with the terrible truth: the bodies in the house are the result of Kellie’s actions. Kellie knocks him unconscious and ties him to a chair while she struggles to destroy the totem. James briefly regains consciousness and pleads with Kellie to stop, but she remains determined to force a dangerous, twisted bond between them that she believes they share. Robin wakes up and emerges to try to save James and Abby, while Kellie pursues Robin with a glass shard.
The moment of reckoning comes when Kellie’s mother’s spirit appears, scaring Kellie and causing her to stumble. A violent end follows as Kellie is impaled on a jagged piece of sculpture, ending the immediate danger but leaving the three of them in a fragile, unsettled state. The film closes with the three of them huddled inside a tiny, parked house in a quiet, deserted location. They seem to be starting to heal, though Abby continues to talk to someone, hinting that the past may still be listening.
Totem Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “Kellie discovers her mother's necklace with moving powers” to “Ending: survivors relocate to a tiny house, seeking safety”. 13 events name a place, across 8 locations.
- 1
Kellie discovers her mother's necklace with moving powers
Kellie finds a necklace that belonged to her deceased mother and discovers it can move objects. The discovery hints at a link to her mother's spirit and sets the stage for the haunting. The necklace is treated as a totem that will influence the household.
When:Afternoon Where:Kellie's room
- 2
Totem knocks trophies, triggering dad's suspicions
The totem moves objects in Kellie's room, knocking down a cluster of trophies. James suspects Kellie is sabotaging his relationship with Robin, rather than accepting a supernatural cause. Kellie struggles to explain what is happening as fear grows in the household.
When:Evening Where:Kellie's room
- 3
Robin moves in and disrupts Kellie's routine
Robin's arrival brings a new household dynamic as she tries to take over duties to help Kellie feel normal. Kellie feels uncomfortable with the disruption but tries to be kind. The growing tension hints at the underlying supernatural pressure in the home.
When:First days after Robin moves in Where:Family home
- 4
Kellie has a vision of a corpse on the track
During track practice, Kellie is startled by a vision of a standing, plastic-wrapped corpse on the bleachers. The image foreshadows dangerous, unseen forces at play in the house. The vision leaves Kellie rattled and more isolated.
When:Track practice Where:Track field
- 5
Robin's trauma and Bernard's arrival reveals past connections
Robin returns home traumatized, and Bernard, Lexy’s father, visits to introduce himself to the new household. It is revealed that Robin had known Lexy and James in the past, deepening the history between the families. The revelation adds emotional complexity to the haunting.
When:Evening Where:Family home
- 6
Doors ornamented and motion detectors set, cat becomes focus
Kellie hangs Christmas ornaments on all doors and installs motion detectors to capture evidence of the entity. The sensors go wild whenever the family cat is near, suggesting the cat is central to the haunting. Kellie hopes to prove the supernatural presence once and for all.
When:Night Where:House interior
- 7
The entity retaliates with deadly force: cat killed
The entity's presence intensifies around the cat, and a bookcase suddenly falls, crushing the cat. The tragedy marks a brutal escalation of the haunting and drives the family deeper into fear. Kellie realizes the threat is real and not a prank.
When:Night Where:Living room / hallway
- 8
Abduction attempt on Abby; Bernard's disbelief
That night, the entity grows stronger and tries to abduct Abby. The family pleads for help from Bernard, who initially refuses to believe their claims. The situation pushes them toward a desperate, last-ditch effort.
When:Night Where:House
- 9
Todd arrives with the plan and Bernard dies from a ruse
Todd arrives with information on how to destroy totems, and Kellie hides him in her room. In a cruel ruse, Kellie uses Bernard's inhaler and drains the puffs, causing Bernard to die. The loss intensifies the danger and fuels Kellie's resolve.
When:Night Where:House
- 10
Kellie kills Todd and abjures Robin's fate
Kellie ambushes Todd and kills him with a blow to the head. She rushes to pull Abby from the crawlspace, while James discovers the bodies and realizes Kellie is responsible. In a separate act of desperation, Kellie pushes Robin into a bathtub, where Robin hits her head and seems to drown.
When:Night Where:House
Show the other 3 events of Totem Hide the last 3 events
- 11
James confronts Kellie as she clamps down on the totem
James, who has been knocked to a chair, tries to reason with Kellie about their bond and the life they could share. Kellie pushes forward with destroying the totem, showing how far the entity's grip has driven her. The conflict culminates in a perilous standoff.
When:Night Where:Living room
- 12
Mother's spirit intervenes; Kellie dies
The spirit of Kellie's mother appears, scaring Kellie and interrupting her rampage. She is impaled on a spike from a piece of art, ending the immediate danger. The haunting's immediate threat is neutralized, though the cost is high.
When:Night Where:House interior
- 13
Ending: survivors relocate to a tiny house, seeking safety
The trio ends up in a tiny house parked in a deserted, serene location, suggesting a fragile new start. They appear to be healing, though Abby continues to talk to someone unseen. The film closes with a sense of uneasy calm rather than true closure.
When:Ending Where:Deserted location; tiny house
Who Are the Main Characters in Totem?
6 characters, among them Abby (Lia McHugh), Robin (Ahna O'Reilly) and Kellie (Kerris Dorsey): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Abby (Lia McHugh)
Played by Lia McHugh
Abby is Kellie's younger sister who navigates the eerie events with quiet resilience. She seeks safety for her family while maintaining hope that their lives can return to normal. Her empathy and vigilance keep her connected to Kellie even as the haunting strains their bond.
- 🫶 Compassionate
- 🧭 Curious
-
Robin (Ahna O'Reilly)
Played by Ahna O'Reilly
Robin moves in as James's girlfriend and tries to normalize life for Kellie, often clashing with the girl’s grief and volatile outbursts. She shares a past with Lexy and a mutual concern for Abby's safety. Robin faces danger alongside the family and becomes a stabilizing, though contested, presence.
- 🤝 Caring
- 🧭 Protective
- K(
Kellie (Kerris Dorsey)
Played by Kerris Dorsey
Kellie is a volatile 17-year-old whose grief over her mother's death twists into a dangerous obsession with power. She uses the totem to manipulate her surroundings, harming those around her and endangering her family. Her fragile attachment to what she believes she needs drives a murderous path.
- 🔥 Aggressive
- 🪄 Manipulative
- J(
James (James Tupper)
Played by James Tupper
James is Kellie's father, initially skeptical of the supernatural claims and protective of his family. He becomes entangled in the crisis, trying to reason with Kellie while facing threats to his loved ones. His attempts to preserve the family are tested as violence erupts.
- 🛡️ Protective
- 🕯️ Skeptical
- B(
Bernard (Lawrence Pressman)
Played by Lawrence Pressman
Bernard is Lexy's father who arrives with a mix of memory and doubt, eventually recognizing the possible supernatural danger. His refusal to believe the threat shifts to a reluctant, protective stance as the danger escalates. His illness adds a fragile, tense urgency to the crisis.
- 🪶 Grizzled
- 🧭 Investigative
- T(
Todd (Braeden Lemasters)
Played by Braeden Lemasters
Todd is Kellie's boyfriend who offers a fragment of knowledge about destroying totems. He is caught in Kellie's escalating violence and becomes a victim, highlighting the price of meddling with the supernatural.
- 💥 Helpful
- ⚔️ In peril
Where and When Is Totem Set?
Totem is set in Family home, School track area, Crawlspace and Tiny house in a deserted location (Present day). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Present day
The events unfold in contemporary times, centered on a teenage sister duo and a fractured family. Everyday routines—the track practice, Christmas ornaments, and shared meals—contrast with sudden supernatural disturbances. The setting emphasizes a modern domestic space where a totemic force disrupts normal life.
Where
Family home, School track area, Crawlspace, Tiny house in a deserted location
The story centers around a family home where Kellie and Abby live, with key scenes at a school track and the siblings' memories of their mother. The crawlspace and the family's later move to a secluded tiny house emphasize a claustrophobic setting ruled by an unseen force. The locations shift from ordinary domestic spaces to a remote hideaway as the haunting intensifies.
- 🏠 Home
- 🕯️ Supernatural
- 🧭 Mystery
What Are the Themes of Totem?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Haunting, Grief & Family and Object Power.
-
01
Haunting
A malevolent totem threads the sisters' lives with a vengeful spirit connected to their mother. The haunting manifests through visions, rearranging objects, and dangerous manipulations that escalate family fear. The supernatural force tests trust within the household and reveals hidden traumas.
-
02
Grief & Family
The death of Lexy casts a long shadow over Kellie and Abby, fueling rivalry and protective instincts. Family members misinterpret signals as sabotage, exposing fragility and resentment. The story uses grief to explore how love can slip into control, jealousy, and danger.
-
03
Object Power
The totem becomes a dangerous conduit for emotion, amplifying anger and fear instead of healing. Todd's information hints at a way to destroy it, but the ritual costs escalate, including deadly consequences. The artifact exposes how easily humans are manipulated by objects that resonate with loss.
What Kind of Film Is Totem?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A steadily tense and unsettling supernatural horror film that charts a teenage girl's psychological breakdown amidst unbearable grief, creating an oppressive atmosphere of familial dread and paranormal menace.
- unsettling
- oppressive
- anxious
- tense
- melancholic
- claustrophobic
- supernatural horror
- grief and loss
- family trauma
- psychological breakdown
Content notes: animal death, child endangerment, murder, psychological trauma, suggested incestuous desire.
Quiz
How well do you remember Totem? Test yourself on the story.
