Apartment Zero

Apartment Zero

Year: 1988

Runtime: 124 mins

Language: English

Director: Martin Donovan

DramaThrillerHorrorIntense violence and sexual transgressionTwisted dark psychological thriller

Danger waits behind the secret doors of Apartment Zero. In a dilapidated Buenos Aires neighborhood at the dawn of the 1980s, Adrian LeDuc runs a failing cinema and a rundown apartment block populated by eccentric, quarrelsome tenants. To scrape together money he rents a roommate, the quiet American Jack Carney, and soon suspects that Carney is behind a string of political assassinations shaking the city.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Apartment Zero 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 – Apartment Zero (1988)

Trace every key event in Apartment Zero (1988) 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

Opening at the revival house

Adrian LeDuc is in his Buenos Aires revival theatre, watching the final scene of Touch of Evil. The screening reinforces his deep emotional attachment to cinema as both refuge and vocation. The theatre’s faltering finances hint at trouble to come.

Opening scene Buenos Aires, revival theatre
2

Money troubles and search for a roommate

As the theater loses more money, Adrian advertises for a roommate to help share the rent. He hopes a shared living situation will steady his finances and perhaps ease his loneliness. The move sets the stage for Jack Carney's entrance into his life.

During financial decline Adrian's apartment/theatre corridor
3

Jack Carney moves in

Jack Carney arrives as the chosen roommate and quickly unsettles Adrian with his confidence and ease. The two men form a tense bond, with Adrian both drawn to and intimidated by Jack. Living together begins to blur professional boundaries with something more intimate.

First meeting Adrian's apartment
4

Neighbors, jealousy, and closeness

Jack befriends several neighbors, including Laura, and Adrian grows increasingly jealous and paranoid. He worries Jack is spying on him through these social connections. Jack’s outward charm contrasts with Adrian’s growing insecurity.

Ongoing Neighborhood around the apartment
5

The photos and the lie

Adrian discovers photographs of Jack in paramilitary garb and suspects a dangerous secret. He confronts Jack and becomes paranoid that his roommate is secretly spying on him. Jack calms him temporarily, but the suspicion lingers and tightens its grip on both.

Discovery moment Adrian's apartment
6

The death squad footage and fear

Claudia’s committee uses Adrian’s theatre to screen footage of death squad members. Adrian is horrified to see the same sign appear in the film that is on Jack’s photos. Jack realizes Adrian’s suspicions have become a real threat.

Screening night Adrian’s theatre
7

Passport plan and murder

Fearing exposure, Jack falsifies Adrian’s passport and plans to flee to California. The passport is expired, so he murders a young man to steal his passport, then botches pasting in his own photos. The desperate act seals their shared peril.

Night City streets/near the apartment
8

Mother's death and disturbance

Meanwhile, Adrian is devastated by his mother's death. He drinks heavily and creates a disturbance in his apartment that unsettles the neighbors. The emotional blow deepens the tenuous grip on reality.

After his mother's death Adrian’s apartment
9

Neighbors confront Adrian

A TV report of a young man’s murder prompts the neighbors to suspect Adrian, and they confront and physically attack him in his apartment. Jack returns and tends to the badly injured Adrian, further entrenching his hold over him.

Following the TV report Adrian’s apartment
10

Claudia's death and disposal

During Adrian’s mother’s funeral, Claudia recognizes Jack from the photos. Claudia is murdered by Jack, leaving Adrian terrified and torn between fear and attachment. The two men dispose of the body together.

Around the funeral day Funeral and apartment
11

Dump and California plan

They dump the body in a garbage landfill outside the city and briefly contemplate fleeing to California together. Adrian’s suggestion foreshadows a possible escape, but Jack remains complicit. The act underscores their dangerous co-dependence.

Soon after the funeral Garbage landfill outside the city
12

The gunfight and aftermath

During a tense confrontation in the living room, Adrian reaches for Jack’s gun. A struggle erupts and the gun fires, ending with uncertainty about Jack’s fate. The immediate aftermath leaves Adrian shaken and begins the unraveling of their deadly bond.

That night Adrian’s apartment
13

The dinner scene and the ending

Some days later, Adrian is having dinner when Laura shows up seeking Jack's address. He lies and tells her he hasn't heard from him, then pours two glasses—one for himself and one for Jack’s corpse—demonstrating the macabre, complete transformation. The final shot follows a vast crowd outside Adrian’s cinema as he stands in Jack’s leather jacket, a stark symbol of his complete switch in persona.

Days after the gunfight Adrian’s apartment and outside the cinema

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:24

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.

Unlock the Full Story of Apartment Zero

Don't stop at just watching — explore Apartment Zero 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 Apartment Zero is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Apartment Zero Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Apartment Zero, 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.

Apartment Zero Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Apartment Zero

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Apartment Zero. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Apartment Zero

More About Apartment Zero

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Apartment Zero: 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 Apartment Zero

Similar Movies to Apartment Zero

Discover movies like Apartment Zero 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.