Year: 1985
Runtime: 100 mins
Language: English
Director: Douglas Hickox
A police officer becomes convinced that a local husband and father, whose face was recently rebuilt after a car‑accident, is the same man who carried out a quadruple murder years earlier. His relentless pursuit of the truth transforms his obsession into her living nightmare.
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Blackout (1985), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
In Ohio, the brutal murders of Lucy Vincent and her three children unfold after a birthday party, leaving her husband Ed Vincent missing and the case mired in doubt as a seasoned homicide detective Joe Steiner is tapped to lead the investigation. With no body, no solid identification, and mounting uncertainty, the case promptly stalls and goes cold.
Weeks later, a collision in California upends everything: two men are involved in a car wreck, one dies in a blazing fire while the other survives with amnesia. One of them is identified as Allen Devlin, but the authorities are initially unsure which man he is because the other’s body is burned beyond recognition. The surviving man is believed to have been a hitchhiker, and the question of his true identity hangs in the air as investigators press on.
Over the next year, Allen Devlin undergoes a series of facial reconstructive surgeries and begins to piece together his past with the help of Chris Graham, a nurse who tended to him after the crash. Their collaboration deepens into a tender romance, and as time passes they build a life together: they are married, have children, and Allen becomes a successful realtor while Chris stays at home to nurture their family.
Even as the Devlins settle into domestic happiness, Steiner keeps digging. He learns that their precinct has received a tip—anchored to a newspaper article featuring the Devlins—that Allen bears a striking resemblance to Ed Vincent. Driven to uncover the truth, Steiner travels to California to confront the man he suspects might be Ed Vincent, while the local Police Chief [Michael Patterson] remains wary, urging him to drop the pursuit. Steiner theorizes that Allen may be living with a split personality, with Vincent existing as a hidden facet of his psyche—an internal voice that could reveal a concealed past, including killings.
To verify his suspicions, Allen hires a private investigator, John Davey. Davey tracks down Theo Grant, the man who lent the vehicle used in the crash and who may hold a crucial clue. When Allen asks about any possible resemblance to Vincent, Grant resists talking without proper compensation. The tension thickens as Chris begins receiving ominous calls from a voice distorted enough to accuse her of infidelity, hinting that danger remains close to home.
A new park attack—carried out by a figure wearing a leather mask—echoes the earlier Ohio assaults and reinforces Steiner’s theory that Vincent may be linked to a string of vicious crimes. The investigation takes a dark turn when Davey is found murdered, prompting Patterson to order a broader look into the Devlin residence, though nothing concrete surfaces. A renewed spate of threatening calls arrives for Chris, and when a leather mask turns up in her home, Allen’s professed innocence falters and he ultimately checks himself into a psychiatric hospital after consulting his lawyers.
Back at Patterson’s house, Steiner uncovers a troubling mural of Chris’s photographs, leading him to believe Patterson himself may have manipulated events to win Chris’s affections. Patterson admits he was still in love with Chris and concedes to sending the newspaper tip but denies making the calls. Steiner’s suspicions deepen: he suspects the Devlin case was a ruse designed to shatter Allen’s marriage so Patterson could pursue Chris. A rapist wearing a leather mask is caught in a subsequent arrest, seemingly aligning with Steiner’s theory. The couple is warned to be vigilant.
Eventually, Allen is released from the hospital and the case against him is dropped. Yet the danger is far from over. That night, Patterson confronts Chris and warns her about her husband, while a masked assailant targets her during a birthday preparation for their son. Chris manages to subdue the attacker and peels away the mask to reveal Allen, confirming that he truly is Ed Vincent and that the man killed in the California crash was the real Allen Devlin.
In a final confrontation, Steiner arrives just in time to shoot Allen before he can harm Chris. The aftermath leaves Chris to recover with the reassurance that Steiner’s intervention saved her and their children. A few days later, a grateful Chris visits Steiner and expresses her gratitude for protecting the family, acknowledging the uneasy truth of where fear and love converge in their lives.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:46
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.
Stories where an obsessive investigation becomes a personal nightmare.If you liked the relentless stalking and psychological unraveling in Blackout, explore more movies where a single-minded pursuit of a suspect or a secret turns the investigator's life into a living nightmare. These films share a tense, paranoid mood and a heavy emotional weight.
Narratives in this thread typically follow a protagonist—often a detective, journalist, or ordinary person—who becomes fixated on exposing a hidden threat. Their investigation, however, backfires, making them the target and forcing them to question everything they know, often within their own home or community.
Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the psychological toll of obsession, the theme of a hunter becoming the hunted, and the creation of a pervasive sense of paranoia and personal threat that drives the narrative forward.
Films where a safe family life is destroyed by a horrifying secret.Fans of Blackout who were captivated by the chilling reveal of a hidden killer within a family will find similar movies here. These stories explore the theme of a 'monster in the house,' where domestic safety is an illusion and the true horror comes from within.
The narrative pattern involves a protagonist, typically in a domestic setting, living a comfortable life that is slowly eroded by suspicions and clues about their partner's or family member's past. The central conflict is the agonizing realization of the truth and the subsequent fight for survival against the person they once trusted most.
These films are united by their exploration of the 'monster in the house' trope, focusing on themes of hidden identity, profound betrayal, and the destruction of domestic safety. They deliver a heavy emotional impact through psychological horror and personal terror.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Blackout 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 Blackout is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Blackout with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Blackout. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Blackout 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.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Blackout: 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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