A Score to Settle

A Score to Settle

Year: 2019

Runtime: 103 min

Language: English

Director: Shawn Ku

Echo Score: 35
ActionDramaThrillerCrime

After serving nineteen years in prison, a hardened mob enforcer seeks retribution against those who betrayed him. Facing a terminal illness and with limited time, he meticulously plans and carries out a violent reckoning. His quest for vengeance involves confronting former associates and settling old scores, leaving a path of destruction and deadly consequences in his wake.

A Score to Settle (2019) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at A Score to Settle (2019) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a rain‑slick city that never forgets, the world feels both stale and suddenly alive when a former prisoner is finally let out of his iron cage. The streets pulse with the hum of neon and the low‑grade perfume of danger, hinting at an underworld that never sleeps. A sense of urgency hangs in the air, not just from the looming threat of the law, but from a personal clock ticking far louder than any siren.

Frank Carver steps back into this unforgiving landscape carrying more than the weight of his nineteen‑year sentence. A seasoned enforcer once bound to a code of iron, he now faces a terminal illness that pushes him toward the edge of his own mortality. With the promise of a brief, precious future, he is driven by a singular purpose: to settle the scores left unfinished by those who once turned on him. This quest pulls him toward an uneasy reunion with his son, Joey, whose own scars mirror his father’s, setting the stage for a fraught, hopeful partnership.

The film’s tone walks a tightrope between gritty realism and stylized revenge, wrapping every scene in a coat of simmering tension. Dark alleys, polished suits, and flash‑filled nightclubs become backdrops for a methodical mind that plans each move like a chess master. Along the way, old acquaintances—some still clutching the remnants of their former lives—offer fleeting alliances that blur the line between friendship and leverage.

What drives the story forward is less about the specifics of the violence and more about the looming question of redemption: can a man haunted by his past find a sliver of peace before his own time runs out? The atmosphere invites the viewer to wonder how far a man will go when time is short, loyalty is fragile, and the city itself seems to echo his inevitable reckoning.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 01:44

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Ticking Clock Tragedies like A Score to Settle

Protagonists with limited time enact desperate, morally complex revenge.If you enjoyed watching a character race against time in A Score to Settle, you'll find similar tension in these movies. This list features action and crime thrillers about protagonists with a limited lifespan seeking violent, final retribution. Explore more movies like this for stories of desperate, time-sensitive vengeance.

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Narrative Summary

A narrative pattern defined by a protagonist's knowledge that their time is running out. This urgency fuels a methodical, often violent plan for revenge or redemption, forcing them to confront their past and leave a final mark. The journey is typically linear and focused, building towards an inevitable and often tragic conclusion shaped by the central deadline.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here because they share the core premise of a protagonist operating under a severe time constraint, which heightens the stakes and intensity. They explore themes of legacy, desperation, and the moral compromises made when there's no future to consider, creating a consistently tense and emotionally heavy viewing experience.

Grief-Stricken Reckonings like A Score to Settle

Stories where vengeance is intertwined with profound loss and psychological collapse.Fans of the psychological unraveling and tragic grief driving the revenge in A Score to Settle will appreciate these similar movies. This collection highlights thrillers and dramas where a character's violent quest is fueled by profound personal loss, often resulting in a breakdown of reality. Discover more films that explore revenge as an expression of deep sorrow.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a character whose violent actions are a direct response to a core, life-shattering loss. As they pursue revenge, their grip on reality often weakens, manifesting as hallucinations or paranoia. The plot reveals that the external conflict is a manifestation of an internal, psychological battle with grief, leading to a bleak or tragic realization.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a focus on revenge as a symptom of profound psychological trauma. They blend high-intensity action with heavy emotional drama, exploring how grief can distort perception and drive a person to self-destruction. The tone is consistently dark and melancholic, prioritizing psychological depth alongside physical conflict.

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A Score to Settle Summary

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A Score to Settle Summary

A Score to Settle Timeline

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A Score to Settle Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in A Score to Settle

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Characters, Settings & Themes in A Score to Settle

More About A Score to Settle

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