Cheap Thrills

Cheap Thrills

Year: 2014

Runtime: 88 min

Language: English

Director: E.L. Katz

ThrillerComedy

Facing eviction and struggling to make ends meet, Craig finds himself in a desperate situation. A reunion with an old friend at a bar leads to a series of increasingly dangerous dares, all for the allure of quick money offered by a peculiar couple. Craig's choices become riskier as the stakes escalate, forcing him to examine his values and the lengths he's willing to go to escape his troubles.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Cheap Thrills (2014)

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

Time period

The events of the movie are set in a contemporary time frame, reflecting the modern struggles of financial instability and personal relationships. As Craig navigates his desperate circumstances, the themes of friendship and betrayal resonate within the current societal context.

Location

Rundown bar, Lavish home

The movie unfolds in a rundown bar, serving as a backdrop for Craig and Vince's bittersweet reunion and escalating dares. The lavish home of Colin and Violet contrasts sharply with the bar, symbolizing wealth and danger as the couple hosts the escalating game that tests the limits of friendship and morality.

🍻 Bar 🏡 Home

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:10

Main Characters – Cheap Thrills (2014)

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

Craig

Craig is a talented auto mechanic whose life spirals into chaos after losing his job. Eager to support his family, he finds himself participating in dangerous dares that test his moral compass and strength of will. His character evolves from reluctant participant to desperate player, ultimately facing the repercussions of his choices.

👨‍🔧 Mechanic 💔 Family man 🥊 Fighter

Vince

Vince, an old high school friend of Craig, becomes increasingly consumed by greed and the thrill of the dares. His descent into darker motivations strains his friendship with Craig as he battles internal conflicts between loyalty and ambition. Vince's character portrays the dangers of succumbing to temptation.

👨‍🦱 Friend 🤬 Betrayal 🎭 Conflict

Colin

Colin appears as a charismatic but sinister character who catalyzes the disturbing game. His seemingly harmless demeanor hides a manipulative nature, showcasing the duality of a charming host who entraps others in a web of threats and violence. He embodies the allure and danger of wealth.

💼 Wealthy 🎭 Manipulator 🤔 Charismatic

Violet

Violet, Colin's partner, entices the characters into the game with her charm. Her role highlights the complexities of desire amid chaos, as she becomes a point of tension between Craig and Vince. Violet's character underscores the moral compromises faced by the participants.

👩‍❤️‍👨 Temptress 🎉 Party 😈 Tension

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:10

Major Themes – Cheap Thrills (2014)

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

💰 Greed

Greed is a central theme of 'Cheap Thrills,' driving the characters to engage in increasingly reckless and dangerous dares for financial gain. As Craig and Vince become captivated by the potential rewards, they confront moral dilemmas that threaten their friendship and well-being.

🤝 Friendship

The movie explores the fragility of friendship amidst desperate circumstances. Craig and Vince's bond is tested as their involvement in the dares leads to betrayal and conflict, illustrating how financial strain can impact personal relationships.

⚠️ Desperation

Desperation drives the characters to risky choices, showcasing the lengths they will go to escape their financial woes. This theme is personified in Craig's struggle, as his need to provide for his family forces him into compromising situations.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:10

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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.

Movies about dangerous dares and moral collapse like Cheap Thrills

Desperate characters are pushed to their limits in high-stakes games of wealth and cruelty.If you loved the high-stakes tension and moral decay of Cheap Thrills, explore these movies about characters pushed to their limits for money. These films share a dark tone, brutal consequences, and a fast-paced descent into chaos, capturing the grim feeling of games gone terribly wrong.

tensebrutaldesperateunsettlingclaustrophobicanxiousgrimmanipulative

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread follow a clear, escalating structure where a protagonist is tempted by a quick financial fix. What begins as a simple challenge rapidly spirals into a series of increasingly brutal or humiliating acts, forcing the character to confront how far they are truly willing to go and what they are willing to sacrifice.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here based on their shared focus on the toxic allure of wealth, the destruction of personal integrity, and the claustrophobic pressure of being trapped in a cruel game. They deliver a similar experience of tense, uncomfortable viewing and a bitter exploration of human desperation.

Claustrophobic single-location thrillers with high tension like Cheap Thrills

Tense stories where a single location becomes a pressure cooker for violent escalation.Fans of the confined, high-anxiety setting of Cheap Thrills will enjoy these movies that take place largely in one location. These stories use their limited space to build relentless tension, focus on character dynamics under pressure, and create a feeling of inescapable, fast-paced dread.

claustrophobictenseunsettlingcontainedanxiousbrutaldesperatesingle location

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves characters entering a seemingly ordinary confined space where the power dynamics quickly shift. A catalyst event triggers a chain reaction of conflict, betrayal, and violence, with the characters unable to escape the escalating situation until a bloody or traumatic resolution is forced.

Why These Movies?

These movies are united by their use of a single, claustrophobic setting to create an atmosphere of suffocating tension and inevitability. They share a fast pace, high intensity, and a focus on how confined spaces can accelerate moral decay and brutal confrontations.

Unlock the Full Story of Cheap Thrills

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

Cheap Thrills Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Cheap Thrills, 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.

Cheap Thrills Summary

Cheap Thrills Timeline

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Cheap Thrills Timeline

Cheap Thrills Spoiler-Free Summary

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Cheap Thrills Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Cheap Thrills

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Cheap Thrills: 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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