An Eye for an Eye

An Eye for an Eye

Year: 1981

Runtime: 106 min

Language: English

Director: Steve Carver

ActionAdventureThrillerCrime

Set in the dangerous Katlehong underworld, a man named Caesar finds himself seeking retribution against a powerful and ruthless crime lord. He must journey through treacherous streets and nightclubs, battling to survive and maintain his freedom while carrying out his mission of vengeance.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen An Eye for an Eye 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 – An Eye for an Eye (1981)

Trace every key event in An Eye for an Eye (1981) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Informant rendezvous in a dark alley

Sean Kane and Dave Pierce meet informant Tony Montoya in a dark alley, hoping to learn the name of the drug ring's leader. Minutes later Pierce is killed in a brutal sequence—shot, hit by a car, and set ablaze—leaving Kane traumatized and vengeful. The failure of their operation sets the whole investigation on a collision course with violence.

Dark alley, San Francisco
2

Kane quits the force to seek vengeance

Discipline nearly derails Kane after he launches a lethal throw that sends a killer out a window, witnessed publicly. Rather than face punishment, he resigns from the police and chooses a path of personal justice. He sets out to hunt the drug dealers and clear the failure that cost Pierce his life.

Police precinct
3

Linda Chan vows to expose the gang

Linda Chan, Dave's journalist girlfriend, vows to take down the drug gang through investigative reporting. She begins pursuing the clues Kane and Pierce couldn't uncover, determined to bring the truth to light. Her resolve foreshadows the peril that lies ahead.

Newsroom
4

Linda Chan is killed

Linda uncovers a critical secret about the drug ring but is killed before she can publish. Her death catalyzes Kane and the others to push harder for justice and to expose the corrupt players. The loss deepens the personal stakes for everyone involved.

Newsroom / on-air
5

Stevens takes charge; McCoy's role revealed

Captain Stevens assumes control of the investigation, sidelining broader aspects of the case. Kane asks his ally Tom McCoy to keep him informed, but the assignment becomes tangled with mistrust and hidden agendas. The team dynamic grows tense as betrayal edges closer.

Police headquarters
6

Kane and Chan survive a hitman attack

Kane and Linda's ally Detective Heather Sullivan are targeted by cartel hitmen while pursuing leads. They survive the assault with Heather's help, and Kane remains focused on the next lead. The danger escalates as they draw closer to Montoya's location.

City streets
7

Montoya spotted in Linda's news report

Through Linda's televised report, Kane and Heather spot Montoya near a ship, providing a potential clue to the operation's reach. The fragmentary glimpse confirms the cartel's reach extends to the docks and ships. They resolve to press that lead despite the growing risk.

Broadcast studio / dock area
8

Montoya exposed as bait; killed by hitmen

Kane and Chan confront Montoya, who reveals he was bait to draw them into a trap. Before he can name the leaders or reveal key details, the hitmen strike and kill him. The death underscores the cartel's ruthlessness and hints at a mole within their ranks.

Near a ship / dock
9

Sulu Sea shipment and fireworks drug reveal

Heather explains that the ship is the Sulu Sea; Kane checks the cargo hold and discovers drugs hidden inside fireworks from Hong Kong. He ignites the fireworks to create a distraction and escapes as police watch from a distance. The discovery marks a turning point in exposing the drug operation.

Sulu Sea freighter, cargo hold
10

Linda's tape reveals Canfield and McCoy

Heather finds Linda's tape in a train-station locker, with a key hidden in a shoe; the tape contains a phone conversation between Canfield and the dealers. It implicates Canfield as the ringleader and reveals McCoy as a traitor. The revelation shifts the motive and targets toward the estate and its occupants.

Train station locker
11

McCoy's rooftop confrontation and death

McCoy chases Kane on a rooftop and a brutal fight ensues; Kane defeats him, ending McCoy's betrayal. The death removes one more layer of corruption from the investigation. Canfield's network remains at large, fueling the confrontation to come.

Rooftop near Canfield's estate
12

Showdown at Canfield's estate

Kane and Chan assault Canfield's men at his estate as the drug shipment arrives and the police close in. Chan confronts the Professor, who killed Linda, but is briefly incapacitated by the brute strength before Kane arrives to intervene. The fights culminate in Kane delivering a final blow to the Professor and taking control of the showdown.

Canfield's estate
13

Realization and arrest of Canfield

Kane recalls seeing Canfield's dog in the car that killed Dave, confirming Canfield's guilt. Stevens explains that evidence had been lacking, but the recovered tape and shipment provide the necessary leverage. Kane hands the tape to Stevens, and Canfield is taken into custody.

Canfield's estate / police station
14

Resolution and departure

Kane and Stevens part ways amicably after Canfield's arrest, choosing not to pursue further vengeance. Kane leaves the estate with Heather and Chan, accepting a measure of closure and a new future. The personal losses have tempered Kane's need for revenge with a renewed sense of responsibility.

Canfield's estate / city outskirts

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:58

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An Eye for an Eye Summary

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An Eye for an Eye Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in An Eye for an Eye

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