Dark Ride

Dark Ride

Year: 2006

Runtime: 94 mins

Language: English

Director: Craig Singer

HorrorThrillerHorror

Ten years after a psychotic murderer brutally killed two girls, he escapes from a mental institution and heads back to his old hunting ground—the abandoned theme‑park attraction known as Dark Ride. When a group of college students on a road‑trip inadvertently discovers the park, they become entangled in his twisted game, turning their carefree vacation into a fight for survival.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Dark Ride (2006)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Dark Ride (2006). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Present day

The events unfold in contemporary times, centered on a spring break road trip and a reopened Dark Ride attraction. The narrative toggles between the present-nightmare of the ride and memories of a ten-year-old tragedy. The setting relies on familiar modern horror tropes and a looming, inescapable danger.

Location

Dark Ride, Amusement Park

Dark Ride sits inside an amusement park as the central setting of the film. The attraction is a re-opening ride that blends practical effects with eerie theater to trap its visitors in a claustrophobic space. The park environment becomes a backdrop for the killer’s pursuit and the group’s desperate attempts to escape.

🎡 Amusement Park 🕳️ Haunted Attraction 🌃 Nighttime Setting

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:50

Main Characters – Dark Ride (2006)

Meet the key characters of Dark Ride (2006), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Sam (Samantha) — Chelsey Coyle

Sam is one of the two teenage twins involved in the ten-year-old tragedy. She is tough and competitive, which strains her relationship with her sister Colleen. Sam is kidnapped by Jonah during the Dark Ride incident, and her brutal fate set the horror tone for the past.

🔪 Victim 🧠 Trauma 🕰️ Past

Colleen

Colleen is Sam’s twin sister, anxious and scared, and one of the victims from the earlier incident. Her fear and vulnerability contrast with Sam’s tougher streak. Colleen’s fate is part of the backstory that haunts the present-night events.

😨 Fearful 🔪 Victim 🕰️ Past

Cathy — Jamie-Lynn Sigler

Cathy is one of the present-day protagonists. She initially stays out of the ride but eventually drives into the building to kill Jonah, showcasing courage and quick thinking under pressure. Her escape and the trauma of the night drive the emotional core of the story.

🛡️ Survivor 💪 Courage 🧭 Resolve

Liz — Jennifer Tisdale

Liz is Cathy’s friend who joins the trip en route to the Dark Ride. She becomes a casualty of the killer’s rampage, and Cathy later discovers Liz’s body, reinforcing the horror’s consequences.

💔 Victim 🧠 Trauma 🕰️ Past

Bill — Patrick Renna

Bill is a member of the present-day group who carries a deceptive air of confidence. He reveals a family link to the earlier killer and ultimately participates in the violence, even stabbing Jim. The finale hints that he may be more than just a bystander, culminating in him wearing Jonah’s mask.

🧬 Family ties 🔪 Villainy 🎭 Deception

Steve — David Clayton Rogers

Steve is one of the male friends who participates in the trip. He acts out in anger after a prank, and he is later killed by Jonah during the ride, becoming another casualty of the escalating nightmare.

🔥 Anger 💀 Victim 🧠 Trauma

Jim — Alex Solowitz

Jim is one of the friends who ventures into the ride. He is attacked by Jonah and later stabbed by Bill, making him another casualty in the violent culmination.

🗡️ Victim 👥 Friend ⚰️ Death

Jen — Andrea Bogart

Jen is the hitchhiker who joins the group and becomes a target inside the ride. She is decapitated by Jonah, marking one of the film’s grisly moments.

💔 Victim 🧭 Prank ⚔️ Violence

Jonah — Dave Warden

Jonah is the killer who escapes from a mental hospital and hunts the group inside the Dark Ride. He is responsible for Sam, Liz, and Jen’s deaths and is ultimately defeated in the present by Cathy’s actions, though the film leaves a ominous hint with Bill wearing his mask.

🗡️ Killer 🧠 Manipulator 🏷️ Mask

Attendant #1 — David Ury

An attendant at the Dark Ride who appears during the ride’s opening and contributes to the atmosphere of danger and control of the environment.

🧭 Minor role 🎭 Theme park

Attendant #2 — Atticus Todd

Second attendant on the Dark Ride, a minor role that helps set the mood of the park’s eerie attraction.

🧭 Minor role 🎭 Theme park

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:50

Major Themes – Dark Ride (2006)

Explore the central themes of Dark Ride (2006), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔪 Survival

Survival dominates the narrative as characters must outlast a hastily escalated threat inside the Dark Ride. The film uses a claustrophobic environment and sudden violence to test nerve, resourcefulness, and loyalty. It also shows how past trauma can shape present decisions and fear.

🚨 Fear

Fear drives character choices, from paranoia and deception to moments of courage under pressure. The killer’s unpredictable moves keep the group on edge while the past event shadows every action. The tension escalates as escape seems increasingly unlikely.

⚔️ Revenge

Revenge threads through the plot as family ties surface—Bill claims a link to the earlier killer and acts with dangerous ambiguity. The revelation that Bill and Jonah are brothers reframes present events as a cycle of violence. The ending, with Bill wearing Jonah’s mask, hints at a sinister continuation.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:50

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Slashers in Sinister Confinement like Dark Ride

Stories where groups are hunted in terrifying, inescapable locations.If you enjoyed the trapped-in-a-haunted-ride premise of Dark Ride, explore more movies like it where groups are hunted in terrifying, inescapable locations. These similar horror stories feature relentless killers, claustrophobic settings, and a brutal fight for survival, perfect for fans of classic and modern slashers.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a predictable but effective slasher structure: a group enters an isolated or confined setting, often ignoring warnings, and is picked off one by one by a mysterious or known killer. The plot is driven by suspenseful chase sequences, gruesome reveals, and a final confrontation that leaves few, if any, survivors.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their core premise of confinement and pursuit. They share a high-intensity, fast-paced rhythm, a dark and bleak tone, and a focus on the visceral thrill of the hunt. The similarity lies in the specific terror of being trapped with nowhere to run.

Bleak Legacy of Violence stories like Dark Ride

Horror stories where confronting a killer doesn't end the terror.For viewers who appreciated the bleak ending and enduring threat in Dark Ride, this section features similar horror movies where evil persists beyond the final confrontation. Discover films like Dark Ride that explore the theme of a killer's dark legacy, with cynical twists and endings that offer no clean resolution.

bleakgrimsuspensefulparanoidtenseunsettlingcynicalheavy

Narrative Summary

The narrative builds towards a confrontation with the source of evil, but the resolution is subverted. The hero may survive, but the villain escapes, is revealed to have a successor, or the true scale of the horror is only just uncovered. The story arc emphasizes that some evils are cyclical or institutional, impossible to fully eradicate.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their cynical and bleak thematic conclusion: that evil endures. They share a heavy emotional weight, a dark tone, and a narrative structure that prioritizes the persistence of terror over a satisfying victory. The similarity is in the feeling of hopelessness and the concept of a threat that can't be killed.

Unlock the Full Story of Dark Ride

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

Dark Ride Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Dark Ride, 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.

Dark Ride Summary

Dark Ride Timeline

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

Dark Ride Timeline

Dark Ride Spoiler-Free Summary

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Dark Ride Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Dark Ride

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