A Walk Among the Tombstones

A Walk Among the Tombstones

Year: 2014

Runtime: 114 min

Language: English

Director: Scott Frank

Budget: $28M

ActionDramaMysteryThrillerCrime

Haunted by his past, former NYPD detective Matt Scudder now works as an unlicensed private investigator in New York City's criminal underworld. When a heroin dealer approaches him to find the men who murdered his wife, Scudder reluctantly accepts the case. His search for justice leads him through a dangerous web of violence and deceit, forcing him to confront his own demons and the blurred lines between good and evil in a relentless pursuit of the killers.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen A Walk Among the Tombstones yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014)

Explore the full timeline and setting of A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1991, Eight Years Later

The movie begins in 1991, a period shadowed by crime and the struggles of law enforcement against increasing drug-related issues. Eight years later, the characters grapple with the consequences of their actions, set against a backdrop of urban decay and moral ambiguity.

Location

Red Hook, Cemetery

Red Hook is a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, known for its vibrant culture as well as its darker undercurrents linked to crime and the drug trade. The cemetery serves as a somber backdrop for intense confrontations, symbolizing the intersection of life and death amidst the chaos of the drug trafficking world.

🏙️ Urban ⚰️ Cemetery

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 18:55

Main Characters – A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014)

Meet the key characters of A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Matthew Scudder (Liam Neeson)

Matthew Scudder is a seasoned detective haunted by his past decisions and the bloodstains of his previous cases. His transition to sobriety reflects a desire for redemption as he grapples with the moral implications of his actions while chasing justice for victims like Carrie.

🕵️‍♂️ Detective 🍂 Redemption

Kenny Kristo (Dan Stevens)

Kenny Kristo emerges as a desperate man, grappling with loss and guilt over his wife’s abduction and murder. Initially portrayed as a flawed character, his vulnerability and emotional turmoil reveal deeper layers of his personality as he seeks Matt's help.

💼 Wealth 😢 Grief

Peter (Boyd Holbrook)

Peter is a frantic junkie whose plea for help thrusts Matt into a web of crime and loss. His chaotic life and addiction present a stark contrast to Matt’s more focused sobriety, highlighting the devastating effects of drug culture.

💊 Addiction 📉 Desperation

Ray (David Harbour)

Ray serves as one of the antagonists, embodying the brutal reality of the drug trade. His menacing presence escalates the tension as he represents the violent underworld that Matt is trying to dismantle.

🔫 Violence 🦹 Antagonist

TJ (Astro)

TJ is a young street kid whose innocent perspective provides Matt with crucial insights into the grim realities of the cases he investigates. His drawings symbolize hope amidst despair, grounding the narrative in a sense of youthful innocence.

🎨 Innocence 🌟 Hope

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 18:55

Major Themes – A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014)

Explore the central themes of A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚖️ Justice

The theme of justice permeates the narrative as Detective Matt Scudder navigates the murky waters of crime and retribution. His quest to help Kenny and seek justice for Carrie’s tragic fate forces him to confront his own beliefs about legality and morality, blurring the line between right and wrong.

💔 Loss

Loss is a central theme as characters deal with the traumatic impact of violence and the death of loved ones. Matt’s exploration of Kenny’s case unveils a deeper emotional turmoil, as he confronts the ghosts of his past while seeking redemption in a world filled with grief and suffering.

🔍 Investigation

The investigative journey reflects the challenges and complexities faced by those pursuing the truth. As Matt delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a network of deception and betrayal, exemplifying the harsh realities of the detective profession.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 18:55

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Flawed detective noir movies like A Walk Among the Tombstones

Broken detectives confront their past while hunting monsters in a morally gray world.If you liked the complex, morally ambiguous detective in A Walk Among the Tombstones, explore these other films featuring haunted investigators. These movies focus on troubled protagonists whose pursuit of justice is deeply intertwined with their own personal struggles, offering similar dark crime stories and gritty character studies.

grittyatmospherictensehauntedbleaknoiroppressive

Narrative Summary

These stories typically follow a linear investigation that serves as a crucible for the protagonist. As they delve deeper into a violent or disturbing case, the line between their professional duty and personal vendetta blurs. The central conflict is often internal, pitting the need for justice against the risk of succumbing to the same darkness they are fighting.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are united by their focus on a deeply flawed central character navigating a corrupt world. They share a dark, gritty tone, a steady investigative pace, and a heavy emotional weight derived from exploring trauma, addiction, and moral compromise.

Gritty crime procedurals similar to A Walk Among the Tombstones

Steady-paced investigations that unveil the brutal reality of crime and its human cost.For viewers who appreciated the methodical, tense investigation in A Walk Among the Tombstones, this collection highlights other crime films with a steady, procedural pace. These movies immerse you in a dark, atmospheric world where each discovery deepens the mystery and raises the stakes, often featuring graphic violence and heavy themes.

grittytenseatmosphericbleakoppressivemethodicalnoirbrutal

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern is a linear, investigative procedural that methodically unravels a web of violence and deceit. The story avoids sudden twists in favor of a cumulative sense of dread and revelation. The setting acts as a character, with the city's grit and shadow reflecting the dark nature of the crimes and the protagonist's internal struggle.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared commitment to a realistic, steady-paced depiction of crime investigation. They prioritize atmosphere, tension, and the heavy emotional impact of violence over fast-paced action, creating a cohesive experience of bleak, urban noir.

Unlock the Full Story of A Walk Among the Tombstones

Don't stop at just watching — explore A Walk Among the Tombstones 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 Walk Among the Tombstones is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

A Walk Among the Tombstones Summary

Read a complete plot summary of A Walk Among the Tombstones, 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 Walk Among the Tombstones Summary

A Walk Among the Tombstones Timeline

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

A Walk Among the Tombstones Timeline

A Walk Among the Tombstones Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of A Walk Among the Tombstones 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 Walk Among the Tombstones Spoiler-Free Summary

More About A Walk Among the Tombstones

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

More About A Walk Among the Tombstones

Similar Movies to A Walk Among the Tombstones

Discover movies like A Walk Among the Tombstones that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.