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Crimewave (1986) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Crimewave (1986) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
1986 · 83 min · English
JustWatch #4,678 8
Directed by
Sam Raimi
Starring
Louise Lasser, Brion James

A young Canadian girl recounts her family's strange encounter with Steve, a frustrated writer deeply inspired by film noir. Unable to overcome his creative block, Steve seeks help from the mysterious Dr. Jolly. Their collaboration unexpectedly leads to a bizarre and escalating series of chaotic events, plunging them all into a darkly comedic nightmare.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Crimewave
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Crimewave (1986)

Where can you watch Crimewave? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on fuboTV, MGM Plus and Philo: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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5 main characters · contains spoilers

Crimewave Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Crimewave (1986), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Victor Ajax

    Victor Ajax is portrayed as a reluctant hero thrust into a world of chaos. Initially a hopeful technician, he transforms into a desperate man battling for love and survival. His character embodies naivety yet displays resilience as he navigates threats with wit and courage.

    • 👨‍🔧 Technician
    • ❤️ Love-struck
    • 🎭 Hero
  • Nancy

    Nancy is a captivating and enigmatic figure who unknowingly becomes the center of Victor's affections and the target of his adversaries. Her minimalistic approach to interactions adds layers of intrigue, drawing Victor deeper into the conflict while also symbolizing the object of his desire.

    • 💃 Alluring
    • 🌀 Mysterious
    • ❤️ Love interest
  • Mr. Trend

    Mr. Trend is a complex character who embodies corporate ambition and moral ambiguity. As a leader at Trend-Odegard Security, his decisions lead to catastrophic events, highlighting the lengths he will go to preserve his legacy and interests. His enigmatic presence influences the story's direction.

    • 👔 Corporate
    • 💼 Ambitious
    • 😈 Antagonist
  • Odegard

    Odegard is a shrewd and duplicitous character whose schemes ignite the turmoil surrounding Victor. His actions initiate the conflict, showcasing a ruthless mentality driven by profit and power. Odegard serves as a significant antagonist in Victor's chaotic journey.

    • 🕵️‍♂️ Schemer
    • 😈 Antagonist
    • 🚨 Deceptive
  • Mrs. Trend

    Mrs. Trend is inadvertently drawn into the chaotic events surrounding her husband’s empire. Her character adds depth to the narrative by revealing the personal cost of the corporate machinations and serving as a foil to Victor's journey. She embodies the complexity of loyalty and conflict.

    • 🚺 Supportive
    • 💔 Torn
    • 🎭 Intriguing

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:39

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Setting

Where and When Does Crimewave Take Place?

The setting of Crimewave (1986): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

The film presents a modern urban landscape that reflects a blend of corporate culture and criminal underworld. The setting encompasses a sense of urgency and confusion that underscores Victor's frantic quest for love and survival. The time period is relevant to the 1980s-1990s tech boom, but specific dates are not mentioned.

Location

Trend-Odegard Security

Trend-Odegard Security serves as a corporate backdrop, where technology meets intrigue. Known for its cutting-edge security solutions, the company becomes the focal point of a lethal power struggle as its management faces internal and external threats. The workplace setting amplifies the tension and absurdity of Victor's chaotic journey.

  • 🏢 Workplace
  • 🏙️ Urban

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:39

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3 major themes

Crimewave Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Crimewave (1986) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Love

    Love serves as a central theme, portrayed through Victor's infatuation with Nancy. His longing for a pure connection drives him through chaos and danger, highlighting how love can inspire bravery and resilience. Ultimately, their love triumphs over adversity, providing a sense of hope amid turmoil.

  • Chaos

    The theme of chaos permeates Victor's world as he inadvertently becomes embroiled in a series of bizarre murders and corporate duels. The escalating tension exemplifies how quickly life can spiral out of control, leaving Victor scrambling to reclaim his reality. This chaotic environment underscores the absurdity of his predicament.

  • Deception

    Deception is key to the plot, reflected in Odegard's duplicitous ambitions and Mr. Trend's shadowy measures to protect their interests. This theme resonates throughout the story as characters conceal their true intentions, leading to a web of conflicts and misunderstandings that Victor must navigate.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:39

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Character & theme questions

Crimewave Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Crimewave (1986): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is Crimewave primarily set?

The film takes place primarily at Trend-Odegard Security, a cutting-edge security firm that serves as a corporate battleground. This urban workplace setting becomes the focal point of lethal power struggles between management and rivals, blending technology with criminal intrigue.

  • trend-odgard security
  • setting
  • workplace
  • corporate
Q2

What time period does Crimewave take place in?

The movie is set in a modern urban landscape during the 1980s-1990s tech boom era. While no specific dates are mentioned, the setting reflects the period's blend of corporate culture and criminal underworld activity.

  • time period
  • 1980s
  • modern setting
  • tech boom
Q3

Who is Victor Ajax?

Victor Ajax is the reluctant protagonist of Crimewave, initially portrayed as a hopeful technician who transforms into a desperate man battling for love and survival. Despite his naivety, he displays resilience and courage as he navigates deadly threats with wit.

  • victor ajax
  • protagonist
  • hero
  • technician
Q4

What role does Nancy play in the story?

Nancy is a captivating and enigmatic figure who becomes the center of Victor's affections. Her minimalistic approach to interactions draws Victor deeper into the conflict, symbolizing the object of his desire while also becoming a target of his adversaries.

  • nancy
  • love interest
  • romantic interest
Q5

Who is Mr. Trend in Crimewave?

Mr. Trend is a complex character embodying corporate ambition and moral ambiguity. As the leader at Trend-Odegard Security, his decisions trigger catastrophic events, showcasing the lengths he will go to preserve his legacy and interests.

  • mr trend
  • corporate leader
  • antagonist
  • trend-odgard
Q6

What role does Odegard play?

Odegard serves as a shrewd antagonist whose duplicitous schemes ignite the turmoil surrounding Victor. His ruthless mentality, driven by profit and power, initiates the central conflict of the story.

  • odegaard
  • antagonist
  • villain
  • schemer
Q7

How is love portrayed in Crimewave?

Love serves as a central theme, embodied in Victor's infatuation with Nancy. His longing for a pure connection drives him through chaos and danger, highlighting how love can inspire bravery and resilience. Ultimately, their love triumphs over adversity.

  • love theme
  • romance
  • victor and nancy
Q8

What does the chaos theme represent in Crimewave?

The chaos theme permeates Victor's world as he becomes embroiled in bizarre murders and corporate duels. The escalating tension shows how quickly life can spiral out of control, leaving Victor scrambling to reclaim his reality amid absurd circumstances.

  • chaos
  • mayhem
  • escalating tension
Q9

How does deception drive the plot of Crimewave?

Deception is key to the plot, reflected in Odegard's duplicitous ambitions and Mr. Trend's shadowy measures. Characters conceal their true intentions throughout, creating a web of conflicts and misunderstandings that Victor must navigate.

  • deception
  • betrayal
  • secrets
  • lies
Q10

How does the corporate setting influence Crimewave's story?

The Trend-Odegard Security corporate environment amplifies both tension and absurdity. The workplace becomes a battleground where internal and external threats collide, reflecting the 1980s tech boom's competitive and cutthroat business environment.

  • corporate
  • business
  • security company
  • workplace

Movie threads

More Movies Like Crimewave, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Crimewave tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Frantic Noir Parodies like Crimewave

Fast-paced comedies that send up classic film noir with chaotic energy. If you enjoyed the chaotic, slapstick energy of Crimewave, you'll love these movies that expertly parody film noir. Discover similar films with fast pacing, darkly comedic tones, and plots that spiral into absurdity, all while paying homage to the classic detective and crime genres.

  • satirical
  • frantic
  • slapstick
  • noir-inspired
  • unpredictable
  • absurd
  • Tone: dark, satirical
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically involve an ordinary person or a hapless protagonist who gets entangled in a seemingly serious criminal plot. The narrative quickly escalates into a series of increasingly ridiculous events, misunderstandings, and chases, where the tension of the noir genre is consistently undercut by visual gags and absurd humor, leading to a comedic resolution.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together for their unique blend of tone and pacing. They share a dark but playful comedic sensibility, a fast and often frantic narrative drive, and a specific intent to parody the conventions of film noir, creating a distinctively chaotic and entertaining viewing experience.

Movies about Framed Protagonists like Crimewave

Stories of ordinary people wrongly accused, leading to wild, comedic flights. Fans of Crimewave's plot about a falsely accused man on the run will enjoy these films. Explore stories featuring ordinary people plunged into chaos, combining crime thriller elements with dark comedy, frantic pacing, and a journey to prove their innocence against all odds.

  • wrongly accused
  • chaotic
  • on the run
  • desperate
  • comedic tension
  • frantic
  • Tone: tense, comedic
  • Pacing: fast, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern centers on an inciting incident that falsely implicates the protagonist in a serious crime. This triggers a chain reaction of chaotic events, narrow escapes, and encounters with eccentric characters, all while the protagonist searches for the real culprit. The journey is often marked by a mix of genuine peril and comedic misadventure.

Why they belong together: These movies share a specific plot mechanism—the false accusation—that drives a particular kind of narrative energy. They combine the tension of being pursued with the absurdity of the situations this creates, resulting in a cohesive blend of crime, comedy, and frantic action.

If you liked this

Movies Like Crimewave

Similar movies to Crimewave: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

Crimewave (1986) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Crimewave in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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