A Thief in the Night

A Thief in the Night

Year: 1972

Runtime: 69 mins

Language: English

Director: Donald W. Thompson

DramaHorrorFantasy

Patty, a carefree young woman focused on the present, awakens to discover her husband gone and a radio broadcast announcing that millions worldwide have mysteriously vanished. She soon learns there will be nowhere to hide as extraordinary, earth‑shaking events unfold, and realizes she is living through the biblical end‑times prophecy.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – A Thief in the Night (1972)

Explore the full timeline and setting of A Thief in the Night (1972). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Set in a contemporary era, the story hinges on a sudden disappearance that mirrors biblical prophecy. Scenes alternate between present-day life and flashbacks, climaxing with a dream sequence about the fate of the faithful and the looming tribulation.

Location

The action unfolds in a contemporary world centered around Patty's life—her church, home, and the urban environment where UNITE's authority imposes control. The plot uses familiar modern locales to depict a sudden, worldwide upheaval and the chilling rise of a total emergency regime.

🏙️ Urban setting ⛪ Religious community 🌐 Global crisis

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:34

Main Characters – A Thief in the Night (1972)

Meet the key characters of A Thief in the Night (1972), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Patty Myers (Patty Dunning)

A member of a liberal church who reads the Bible and attends services sporadically. She embodies uncertainty about prophecy and the Tribulation, navigating fear, loyalty to her husband, and the pull of genuine faith.

🧭 Doubt 🛐 Faith 👩 Protagonist

Jerry Bradford (Thom Rachford)

Patty's husband, described as a born-again Christian who disappears with millions in the Rapture. His absence drives Patty's emotional arc and underscores the personal cost of the coming judgment.

💍 Spouse 🕊️ Faith 👤 Supporting

Jenny (Colleen Niday)

Patty's friend who considers Jesus Christ her Savior, representing a devout path contrasted with Patty's uncertain faith.

👭 Friend 🙏 Faith 🕊️ Devotion

Diane Bradford (Maryann Rachford)

Patty's worldly-minded friend, illustrating how different destinies unfold under the looming crisis and forcing Patty to confront competing worldviews.

👗 Worldliness 🔎 Destiny 🕊️ Faith

Rev. Matthew Turner (Russ Doughten)

Pastor depicted as unbelieving, highlighting the theme of hypocrisy within religious leadership and challenging Patty's trust in spiritual guidance.

⛪ Pastor 🗝️ Hypocrisy

Leader of U.N.I.T.E. (Gareld L. Jackson)

Head of the UNITE emergency regime enforcing the Mark, embodying the film's portrait of crisis-driven authority.

🏛️ Global Authority 🗺️ Control

Duane (Duane Coller)

Supporting character glimpsed in the film's broader post-disappearance world, representing ordinary people under UNITE's rule.

👤 Supporting 🧭 Survival

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:34

Major Themes – A Thief in the Night (1972)

Explore the central themes of A Thief in the Night (1972), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕊️ Rapture / End Times

Patty's world is upended by millions vanishing, forcing her to confront faith, prophecy, and the possibility of the Great Tribulation. The film uses her doubt and fear to explore what it means to be truly saved and left behind.

🏛️ Totalitarian Control

UNITE imposes the Mark and arrests those who refuse, showing how crisis can justify oppressive power. The plot examines state surveillance and civil liberties under apocalyptic pressure.

⛪ Church Hypocrisy

Patty's bared relationship with a pastor who is revealed as unbelieving reveals a gap between professed faith and personal conviction. The film questions whether outward religiosity is enough in the face of prophetic warnings.

🙏 Doubt and Salvation

Patty wrestles with accepting Christ and resisting the Mark, illustrating a tense inner battle between faith, fear, and the hope of salvation. The dream twist tests her beliefs and readiness for what the world becomes.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:34

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Bleak End-Times Survival Thrillers like A Thief in the Night

Desperate characters navigate a hostile new world order after a cataclysmic event.Explore movies like A Thief in the Night that depict the chaotic aftermath of an apocalyptic event. These stories feature desperate survival, oppressive dystopian regimes, and characters grappling with a radically changed world where hope is scarce and the stakes are ultimate.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative often begins with a sudden, world-altering event that establishes a new, terrifying status quo. Characters must quickly adapt to survive, facing external threats from an authoritarian system and internal crises of faith or morality. The journey is typically one of escalating desperation, culminating in a bleak confrontation with the futility of their struggle.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a high-intensity, tense atmosphere built on the premise of a collapsed world. They explore themes of faith under pressure, forced conformity, and the psychological terror of isolation, creating a coherent experience of dystopian dread and urgent survival.

Movies about Spiritual Crisis like A Thief in the Night

Stories where characters' beliefs are tested by supernatural or existential horrors.If you liked the faith-based horror and psychological terror in A Thief in the Night, discover similar movies. These films focus on characters facing a spiritual awakening or crisis, often within a framework of religious prophecy, where their beliefs are tested by frightening, supernatural events.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives often follow a character who is spiritually complacent or skeptical. A supernatural or prophetic event forces them to confront the reality of their beliefs, leading to a journey of desperate seeking, doubt, and fear. The conflict is internal as much as external, pitting faith against terror and culminating in a moment of profound realization or judgment.

Why These Movies?

They are connected by a heavy emotional weight centered on faith and eternity. The tone is consistently tense and eerie, driven by psychological terror rather than just physical danger. They share a focus on religious prophecy, spiritual awakening, and the isolating fear of grappling with ultimate truths.

Unlock the Full Story of A Thief in the Night

Don't stop at just watching — explore A Thief in the Night in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what A Thief in the Night is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

A Thief in the Night Summary

Read a complete plot summary of A Thief in the Night, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

A Thief in the Night Summary

A Thief in the Night Timeline

Track the full timeline of A Thief in the Night with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

A Thief in the Night Timeline

A Thief in the Night Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of A Thief in the Night that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

A Thief in the Night Spoiler-Free Summary

More About A Thief in the Night

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about A Thief in the Night: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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