Criminal

Criminal

Year: 2004

Runtime: 87 min

Language: Punjabi

Director: Gregory Jacobs

DramaThrillerComedyCrime

A couple's already strained marriage is further complicated when they unknowingly harbor a group of dangerous prison escapees in their home. The situation escalates into a chaotic and thrilling pursuit as Inspector Vikram arrives to investigate. As the escapees and the couple's lives become dangerously intertwined, a tense cat-and-mouse game unfolds, ultimately leading to an unexpected resolution focused on love and understanding.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Criminal (2004)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Criminal (2004). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Casino-bar, Hotel

The story moves between a glitzy casino-bar where Rodrigo showcases his con-artist charm and a polished hotel where Valerie works as a concierge. These luxurious spaces act as stages for manipulation, social climbing, and high-stakes deceit. The atmosphere relies on appearances and sleek environments to heighten the tension of the cons.

🎰 Casino-bar 🏨 Hotel 🌆 Urban setting

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:08

Main Characters – Criminal (2004)

Meet the key characters of Criminal (2004), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Richard Gaddis

A small-time crook who dresses as a respectable businessman to recruit partners for elaborate cons. He is unprincipled and clever, using manipulation and charm to control others while plotting to cheat them out of profits. His relentless drive for gain fuels the central conflict.

❗️ Con artist 🧠 Strategist 💰 Opportunist

Rodrigo

A young man whose naive demeanor makes him trustable enough to serve as the face of the con. His loyalty to his ailing father motivates his cooperation, but his trust is exploited by Richard. As the scheme evolves, Rodrigo's role becomes crucial to the deception.

🧭 Naive 🎭 Frontman 🧩 Manipulable

Valerie Gaddis

Gaddis' sister and a hotel concierge who becomes entwined in the scam through her proximity to wealth and her brother. She is perceptive and protective of family, using her position to influence outcomes while weighing her own stake in the inheritance.

💼 Concierge 🧭 Cunning 💖 Sibling

Michael

Richard's brother who has been cheated out of his share of their inheritance. His distrust grows as the con unfolds, and he presses for justice and a rightful portion. He becomes a pivotal figure in the twist around rightful ownership.

🤝 Family 💸 Inheritance 🔒 Hidden motives

William Hannigan

A wealthy collector who is drawn to Valerie and becomes the target of the fraudulent silver certificate scam. His wealth and vanity drive the plot forward as the con unfolds around his investment and perception of value.

💎 Collector 💰 Wealth 🕵️‍♂️ Mark

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:08

Major Themes – Criminal (2004)

Explore the central themes of Criminal (2004), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🃏 Deception

A layered confidence game drives the plot, with characters adopting false identities and manipulating trust to extract money and advantage. Appearances are deliberately misleading, and cleverness is used to outmaneuver others. The twist redefines who is deceived and who profits.

🤝 Trust & Inheritance

Family ties are entwined with financial motives as siblings and lovers become pawns in a scam aimed at securing or denying an inheritance. The pursuit of wealth exposes loyalty, greed, and the fragility of trust. The plan hinges on misrepresentation to claim what may rightfully belong to others, culminating in a reevaluation of the inheritance.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:08

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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.

Con artist thrillers and deception plots like in Criminal

Narratives built on layers of lies, where trust is the ultimate gamble.If you liked the intricate confidence game in Criminal, explore more movies where manipulation and cunning schemes drive the plot. These films feature clever twists, morally ambiguous characters, and a constant sense of suspense where the line between hunter and hunted is blurred.

cunningsuspensefulduplicitousmanipulativecleverunsettlinganxious

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread often follow a methodical build-up of a scheme, introducing characters whose true allegiances are hidden. The plot typically involves a series of tests or escalating maneuvers, leading to a major reveal that re-contextualizes everything that came before. The central conflict is intellectual and psychological, pitting wits against wits.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their focus on elaborate deception as the core plot mechanism. They share a tense, sharp tone and a steady, deliberate pacing that allows the complexities of the con to unravel convincingly. The experience is defined by intellectual suspense and the thrill of the reveal.

Thrillers where home becomes a trap, similar to Criminal

Threats that invade personal spaces, turning familiar safety into a tense trap.For viewers who enjoyed the tense scenario in Criminal where escapees invade a couple's home, this collection highlights movies where personal spaces are violated. These films explore the psychological strain of being trapped or betrayed in a familiar environment, creating high-stakes suspense.

anxiousunsettlingclaustrophobicsuspensefulparanoidtenseduplicitous

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a rupture of the domestic sphere, where a safe haven becomes a prison or a battlefield. The story unfolds through escalating tension within a confined space, testing relationships and personal resolve. The central theme is the fragility of safety and the psychological impact of having one's sanctuary compromised.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a specific vibe of psychological siege and domestic unease. They are connected by a tense, anxious mood, a steady pacing that builds claustrophobia, and a medium intensity focused on psychological threat rather than overt violence. The experience is one of sustained suspense in a relatable, vulnerable setting.

Unlock the Full Story of Criminal

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

Criminal Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Criminal, 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.

Criminal Summary

Criminal Timeline

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

Criminal Timeline

Criminal Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Criminal 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.

Criminal Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Criminal

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