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Crimewave (1986) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

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 (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Crimewave
  6. 6 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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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Crimewave Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Crimewave (1986) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Victor's Near-Fatal Situation

    Victor Ajax finds himself strapped into an electric chair, teetering on the brink of death. The ominous hum of the chair fills the air, setting the stage for a tumultuous flashback that reveals the chain of events leading to this moment.

  2. Victor's Early Days at Trend-Odegard Security

    Once an eager young technician, Victor works closely with Mr. Trend and his partner, Odegard. This period is filled with hope and ambition as Victor navigates his role in the company, oblivious to the brewing trouble ahead.

    Where
    Trend-Odegard Security
  3. Discovery of the Duplicitous Scheme

    Odegard's treacherous plan to sell the company to Renaldo 'The Heel' comes to light. This revelation forces Mr. Trend to take drastic actions to protect their enterprise from impending danger.

  4. Engagement of Eliminators

    To safeguard the company, Mr. Trend hires two skilled eliminators tasked with eliminating any threats to their business. This decision plunges Victor into the lethal game that is now unfolding around him.

  5. Victor’s Distraction and Quest for Love

    Distracted by Mr. Trend's cryptic lecture about their dire circumstances, Victor decides to seek out his perfect match. This quest ultimately leads him to the intriguing and elusive Nancy, who captures his attention.

  6. The Fascination with Nancy

    Victor finds himself irresistibly drawn to Nancy, a captivating woman who is oblivious to the chaos surrounding her. Their interactions are marked by her intriguing minimalism, leaving Victor both enchanted and yearning for more.

  7. Strange Murders Emerge

    As Victor becomes increasingly entangled in his feelings for Nancy, a string of peculiar murders begins to unfold. Accusations against him arise, shoving him deeper into a chaotic world that threatens to unravel his sanity.

  8. Mrs. Trend's Accidental Involvement

    The chaos escalates as Mrs. Trend inadvertently becomes an integral part of Victor's turmoil. Her presence adds a layer of complexity to Victor's already bizarre circumstances, further complicating his life.

  9. Victor's Fight for Nancy

    As tensions rise, Nancy becomes a central figure in Victor's life, attracting the deadly attention of the hired exterminators. In a thrilling climax, Victor bravely battles to rescue Nancy, employing both wit and valor.

  10. The Climactic Rescue

    In a chaotic and comedic showdown, Victor confronts the assassins threatening his and Nancy's lives. His courage and quick thinking turn the tide, allowing him to overcome the adversaries and protect the one he loves.

  11. The Return to the Electric Chair

    As the flashback concludes, Victor finds himself back in the electric chair, facing his grim fate once more. The buildup of tension captures the audience, leaving them apprehensive about his potential demise.

  12. Nancy’s Daring Rescue Attempt

    In a surprising twist, Nancy arrives with a nun in a spectacular joyride to save Victor. Their audacious entrance is a last-minute attempt to rescue him from the clutches of fate.

  13. The Effective Disruption

    Nancy bursts onto the scene just as the executioner is poised to pull the lever. Her dramatic arrival interrupts the execution, shifting the narrative from despair to hope in an instant.

  14. Revelation of the Truth

    With the executioner’s plan thwarted, Victor and Nancy finally confront the truth surrounding their tumultuous journey. The revelation allows them to focus on their love and win the battle against adversity.

  15. The Joyous Reunion

    As the chaos subsides, Victor and Nancy share a jubilant reunion, celebrating their love and survival. The couple's strength and resolve underscore the triumph of love over the tumultuous challenges they faced.

Last updated: November 21, 2024 at 10:07

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Timeline questions answered

Crimewave Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Crimewave (1986): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why was Victor Ajax on death row?

Victor was framed for a series of bizarre murders that occurred after he became entangled in the corporate conspiracy at Trend-Odegard Security. While caught up in the chaos of Mr. Trend hiring eliminators to deal with threats to the company, Victor was mistakenly accused of the killings, leading to his conviction and sentence in the electric chair.

Foreshadowing: The film opens with Victor strapped to the electric chair, immediately establishing his dire situation before revealing how he got there.

  • victor ajax
  • death row
  • framed
  • murders
  • electric chair
Q2

Why did Mr. Trend hire eliminators?

After discovering that his partner Odegard was planning to sell the company to the dangerous Renaldo 'The Heel', Mr. Trend hired two skilled eliminators to protect the business and remove any threats. This extreme decision dragged Victor into a lethal game he never intended to be part of.

Foreshadowing: The discovery of Odegard's duplicitous scheme sets the entire chain of events in motion.

  • mr trend
  • eliminators
  • renaldo the heel
  • corporate conspiracy
Q3

Why did Victor decide to find his perfect match during the crisis?

Victor was distracted by Mr. Trend's cryptic lecture about their dire circumstances, which prompted him to embark on a quest for love rather than focus on the corporate danger unfolding around him. This decision leads him to Nancy, who becomes both his love interest and a target for the assassins.

Foreshadowing: Victor's romantic distraction occurs precisely when the most dangerous elements of the plot are set in motion.

  • victor
  • nancy
  • perfect match
  • romance
Q4

Who is Nancy and why does she become a target?

Nancy is the captivating woman Victor meets during his quest for love, known for her intriguing minimalism in responses. She becomes a prime target because the eliminators threatening Victor also view her as a way to get to him, making her a central figure in the life-or-death stakes.

Foreshadowing: Victor's attraction to Nancy immediately places her in danger from the forces already threatening him.

  • nancy
  • eliminators
  • target
  • victor
Q5

What role does Mrs. Trend play in the story?

Mrs. Trend becomes accidentally caught up in the chaos surrounding Victor and the corporate conspiracy. Her involvement adds complexity to Victor's already bizarre circumstances, though she is not a central player in the original scheme.

Foreshadowing: Mrs. Trend's presence shows how the chaos spreads beyond the main players to affect innocent bystanders.

  • mrs trend
  • accidental involvement
  • chaos
Q6

How does Nancy save Victor from execution?

In the climax, Nancy arrives in a daring joyride with a nun, bursting onto the scene just as the executioner is about to pull the lever. Her dramatic intervention disrupts the execution and reveals the truth, ultimately saving Victor's life and leading to their jubilant reunion.

Foreshadowing: The opening scene's tension with the electric chair is resolved by this last-minute rescue twist.

  • nancy rescue
  • electric chair
  • execution
  • nun
Q7

Why is Victor framed for the murders?

Victor becomes entangled in the murder case because he was present during the chaotic events triggered by Mr. Trend's actions. As the eliminators carried out their assignments and the body count rose, Victor was in the wrong place at the wrong time, making him an easy suspect for authorities.

Foreshadowing: Victor's involvement in the company and his proximity to the violent events make him a convenient target for blame.

  • victor framed
  • murders
  • accused
Q8

How does the electric chair flashback structure work?

The film uses a flashback structure where Victor is already strapped in the electric chair at the beginning, and the entire story unfolds as a flashback revealing the events that led him there. After the flashback concludes, the narrative returns to the present moment of his imminent execution, which is then interrupted by Nancy's rescue.

Foreshadowing: The opening scene's electric chair serves as both a hook and a frame for the entire narrative.

  • flashback
  • electric chair
  • narrative structure
Q9

Who is Renaldo 'The Heel' and why is he dangerous?

Renaldo 'The Heel' is a fearsome figure to whom Odegard planned to sell the Trend-Odegard Security company. His involvement represents the external threat that triggers Mr. Trend's extreme response of hiring eliminators, setting the violent plot in motion.

Foreshadowing: Renaldo's threat is the catalyst that causes Mr. Trend to take drastic protective measures.

  • renaldo the heel
  • threat
  • corporate sale
Q10

How does Victor defeat the assassins?

In the thrilling climax, Victor fights to rescue Nancy using a blend of wit and courage. His quick thinking and bravery turn the tide against the hired exterminators, allowing him to overcome the adversaries and protect both himself and his love interest.

Foreshadowing: Victor's transformation from passive technician to active hero represents his journey throughout the film.

  • victor battle
  • assassins
  • rescue
  • nancy

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.

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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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