Cold Deck

Cold Deck

Year: 2015

Runtime: 80 min

Language: English

Director: Zack Bernbaum

DramaCrime

Facing insurmountable gambling debts, a desperate gambler devises a daring plan: a high-stakes heist that could secure his freedom or seal his fate.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Cold Deck (2015)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Cold Deck (2015). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The film captures a modern-day struggle with addiction and the complexities of family relationships. The context of gambling culture is evident through the portrayal of underground poker games and the financial desperation experienced by the characters.

Location

Chips' gaming hall, Bobby's home

Chips' gaming hall serves as a central hub of activity where high-stakes poker games unfold, drawing in players seeking fortune and thrill. It stands out for its vibrant atmosphere and the allure of danger that comes with gambling. Bobby's home represents a place of refuge but also despair, as it becomes the site of conflict between Bobby and his mother due to his compulsive gambling behavior.

🎲 Gambling 🏠 Home

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:12

Main Characters – Cold Deck (2015)

Meet the key characters of Cold Deck (2015), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Bobby

Bobby is a compulsive gambler grappling with his addiction while trying to mend his relationship with his mother. His journey reflects the struggle between desire for financial reward and the destructive consequences of his actions. He is torn between the allure of high-stakes poker and the responsibility he feels towards his family.

🎲 Gambler 💔 Troubled

Audrey

Audrey is Bobby's mother who bears the emotional burden of his gambling addiction. She embodies the conflict between maternal love and the need to set boundaries, ultimately reaching a breaking point as she confronts Bobby's recklessness. Her character represents the impact of addiction on familial relationships.

👩‍👦 Mother 😢 Despair

Kim

Kim is a waitress and aspiring actress who serves as a pivotal support for Bobby but also challenges him to confront his demons. Her character is marked by a mix of compassion and frustration as she pressures Bobby to abandon his destructive lifestyle. She reveals deeper layers through her connection to Chips, adding complexity to her motives.

🌟 Aspiring Actress ❤️ Supportive

Ben

Ben is Bobby's friend who encourages him to take greater risks, ultimately leading them into a dangerous heist. His persuasive nature highlights the duality of friendship and the potential for negative influence within toxic relationships. He represents the lure of quick financial gain amidst dire circumstances.

🤝 Friendship 🔥 Risk-Taker

Turk

Turk is a wealthy and shrewd gambler who organizes high-stakes poker games. His character introduces a layer of danger and excitement, representing the risks associated with gambling culture. As an antagonist, he challenges Bobby and ultimately becomes a pivotal figure in the climax of the story.

💰 Wealthy Gambler 🔥 Antagonist

Chips

Chips is a seasoned gambler who vouches for Bobby at the high-stakes game. Initially a mentor-like figure, he becomes a source of tension when his success breeds resentment in Bobby. His character embodies the complicated dynamics of poker culture and competition within the high-stakes environment.

♠️ Poker Player 💢 Rival

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:12

Major Themes – Cold Deck (2015)

Explore the central themes of Cold Deck (2015), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💸 Addiction

The theme of addiction is prevalent, primarily through Bobby's compulsive gambling habits that lead to a cycle of debt and despair. It highlights the destructive effects of addiction not only on the individual but also on family relationships, specifically the strain it places on Bobby's bond with his mother.

👨‍👩‍👦 Family Dynamics

Family dynamics are central to the narrative, focusing on the relationship between Bobby and his mother, Audrey. Their interactions reveal the emotional toll of Bobby's gambling addiction, illustrating how it inversely impacts familial bonds and engenders resentment and conflict.

⚔️ Conflict

Conflict emerges both internally within Bobby as he battles his addictions and externally with the various characters, especially Turk and Chips. The heightened stakes of the poker games symbolize the larger struggles at play, with life-altering consequences hanging in the balance.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:12

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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 desperate gambles and moral collapse like Cold Deck

Characters pushed to the brink by debt or addiction, resorting to dangerous crimes.If you liked the high-stakes, high-pressure world of Cold Deck, explore this collection of movies featuring desperate characters driven to crime by addiction or debt. These films share a gritty, tense atmosphere and explore the heavy consequences of moral decay.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow a linear descent, where a character's desperation—often stemming from gambling, drugs, or financial ruin—escalates into a single, high-risk plan. The narrative builds relentless tension as the plan unfolds, forcing the protagonist to betray allies and sacrifice their integrity, culminating in a resolution that is seldom a clean victory.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their core theme of a character's desperate, last-ditch effort to escape their fate. They share a dark, gritty tone, a fast-paced narrative driven by impending doom, and a heavy emotional weight centered on the cost of survival.

Claustrophobic crime thrillers with a tense atmosphere like Cold Deck

Tense, character-driven stories where the walls feel like they're closing in.Fans of the oppressive, high-tension vibe of Cold Deck will appreciate these similarly claustrophobic crime thrillers. Discover movies that trap their characters in desperate situations, building relentless pressure in a gritty, unforgiving world.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist who is trapped, either by their location, their circumstances, or their own flawed decisions. The plot unfolds with a fast or steadily increasing pace, focusing on the psychological pressure and the limited, often bad, options available. The conclusion typically reinforces the inescapable nature of the situation, leaving a bittersweet or bleak aftertaste.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their ability to generate a palpable sense of unease and confinement. They share a high-intensity, dark tone, and a focus on the gritty, harsh realities of their worlds, making the viewer feel the character's anxiety and desperation firsthand.

Unlock the Full Story of Cold Deck

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

Cold Deck Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Cold Deck, 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.

Cold Deck Summary

Cold Deck Timeline

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

Cold Deck Timeline

Cold Deck Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Cold Deck 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.

Cold Deck Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Cold Deck

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Cold Deck: 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 Cold Deck

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