Deadbeat at Dawn

Deadbeat at Dawn

Year: 1988

Runtime: 81 mins

Language: English

CrimeActionDramaHorrorCrime

After pleading with him to quit, Goose’s girlfriend is killed, forcing him to abandon the gang life he once led. Determined to start anew, he struggles to stay out of the criminal underworld, but old loyalties and relentless pressure soon drag him back into a cycle of violence.

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Timeline & Setting – Deadbeat at Dawn (1988)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Deadbeat at Dawn (1988). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Dayton, Ohio

Set in the urban streets of Dayton, Ohio, the film paints a stark portrait of a working-class city where rival gangs rule the night. The Ravens and the Spiders move through barrooms, apartments, and train yards, shaping the lives of those who live by violence and loyalty. The city becomes a character itself, its decay mirroring the characters’ desperation and choices.

🏙️ Urban Midwest 💥 Crime 🧭 Gritty city

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:51

Main Characters – Deadbeat at Dawn (1988)

Meet the key characters of Deadbeat at Dawn (1988), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Goose (Jim Van Bebber)

Leader of The Ravens, Goose loves the criminal life but longs for a fresh start with Christie. He quits the gang after Christie threatens to leave, then plans one last drug deal to fund a new life. When Christie is killed, he spirals and returns to violence, moving in with his Vietnam veteran father. He orchestrates and endures a brutal confrontation that ends with him collapsing in the street.

🗡️ Gang Leader 💀 Violent 🧭 Loyal to a fault

Christie (Megan Murphy)

Goose’s girlfriend who pushes him toward leaving the Ravens. Her threat to depart triggers the final chain of events, culminating in her murder by the Spiders. Her death becomes a catalyst for Goose’s actions and the film’s brutal end.

❤️ Love 💔 Loss 🕊️ Tragic

Danny Carmodi (Paul Harper)

Leader of the Spiders and a sadistic antagonist in the gang war. He orchestrates the hit and the trap against the Ravens, escalating the deadly feud. His ruthlessness drives much of the violence that unfolds around Christie’s death.

⚔️ Rivalry 👿 Sadistic 🧨 Power

Dad (Charlie Goetz)

Goose’s Vietnam veteran father, a presence that looms over the story as a source of memory and dysfunction. The father’s addiction and history of hardship contribute to the bleak, intergenerational cycle of violence. He offers a rough shelter for Goose in the aftermath of tragedy.

🪖 Vietnam Vet 💊 Junkie 🧭 Family

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:51

Major Themes – Deadbeat at Dawn (1988)

Explore the central themes of Deadbeat at Dawn (1988), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💥 Crime & Rivalry

Violence and gang loyalty drive the plot as the Ravens clash with the Spiders. A planned heist exposes fragile alliances and the brutal code that governs street life. The men chase money and status, risking everything for respect in a ruthless urban underworld. The uneasy truce during the operation quickly collapses into a dangerous trap.

💔 Betrayal & Loss

Goose’s relationship with Christie pushes him toward one last crime to secure a future with her. Christie is murdered by the rival gang, triggering Goose’s descent into violence. He responds with cold pragmatism, including disposing of Christie's body and hiding the truth from her sister. The aftermath culminates in a deadly chase through the streets.

🪖 Legacy & Trauma

Goose’s father is a Vietnam veteran, hinting at the long shadows of war on the family. Addiction and post-war scars color the characters’ choices and fuel the cycle of violence. The film links past trauma to present brutality, suggesting cycles that are hard to break. The environment reverberates with echoes of conflict across generations.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:51

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Bleak urban crime spiral movies like Deadbeat at Dawn

Desperate characters pulled back into a world of violence with fatalistic endings.If you liked the fatalistic descent and gritty violence of Deadbeat at Dawn, explore more movies about failed escapes from the criminal underworld. These similar crime dramas feature heavy emotional weight, fast-paced action, and bleak endings where characters are consumed by the world they tried to leave.

grittyhopelessbrutalrevenge-drivendesperatefatalisticraw

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow a linear, straightforward plot where a decisive tragedy—often the death of a loved one—shatters a character's attempt at a peaceful life. This event triggers a violent return to their old world, leading to a series of escalating confrontations that end in a conclusive, tragic finale for the protagonist.

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Movies are grouped here based on their shared dark tone, high intensity, and heavy emotional weight derived from themes of inescapable fate and urban decay. They feature similar narrative arcs of forced re-entry into a violent world and a consistently bleak, hopeless atmosphere.

Raw revenge tragedy films similar to Deadbeat at Dawn

Personal loss ignites a bloody, single-minded quest for vengeance with no happy outcomes.For viewers who appreciated the raw, revenge-driven narrative of Deadbeat at Dawn, this list features movies with similar themes of grief-fueled vengeance. Discover other intense action dramas where a personal tragedy leads to a brutal, single-minded quest for retribution in a grim and hopeless world.

revenge-drivenbrutalgrief-strickenaggressivedysfunctionalrawhopeless

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern is defined by a catalyst of extreme personal tragedy—such as the murder of a loved one—that strips the protagonist of their future. The rest of the story is a direct, aggressive march toward violent retribution, where the act of revenge itself is the primary goal, often resulting in the protagonist's own destruction.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a core focus on revenge as a response to grief, executed with high intensity and a dark, oppressive tone. They are united by their raw, unpolished aesthetic, heavy emotional weight, and the central theme that vengeance is a costly, ultimately hollow pursuit.

Unlock the Full Story of Deadbeat at Dawn

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Deadbeat at Dawn Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Deadbeat at Dawn, 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.

Deadbeat at Dawn Summary

Deadbeat at Dawn Timeline

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

Deadbeat at Dawn Timeline

Deadbeat at Dawn Spoiler-Free Summary

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Deadbeat at Dawn Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Deadbeat at Dawn

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