Dead Heat

Dead Heat

Year: 1987

Runtime: 31 mins

Language: Japanese

Director: Toshifumi Kawase

AnimationAction

Formula X racer Makoto will do almost anything to reach the top, counting on an Open Cup win to thrust his crew onto the world stage. A mysterious benefactor provides a new engine that gives his mech a crucial edge, yet they soon discover that true victory belongs to those who keep their underdog spirit.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Dead Heat (1987)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Dead Heat (1987). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Late 1980s

The story unfolds in a contemporary late-80s milieu, where advances in medical research sit alongside gritty police work. Technology in the film is flashy and experimental, hinting at a world just before the digital boom fully reshapes society. The pacing relies on urban-night vibes and procedural investigation common to crime thrillers of that era.

Location

The action moves through a modern city—from a violent jewelry store raid to a returning morgue and into a secret research laboratory and a tomb. The settings blend gritty urban streets with sterile, high-tech interiors, underscoring the clash between street-level crime and laboratory experimentation. The juxtaposition of public spaces and hidden facilities drives the sense of unease and conspiracy.

🏙️ Urban setting 🧪 Lab environment 🕵️‍♂️ Crime thriller

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:25

Main Characters – Dead Heat (1987)

Meet the key characters of Dead Heat (1987), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Roger Mortis

A seasoned detective who refuses to quit even after a near-death experience. His undead state grants him a grim, unflinching resolve as he seeks vengeance and closure while solving the case. Despite his cold exterior, he remains committed to his partner and to uncovering the truth.

🧭 Detective 🧟 Undead 🗺️ Vengeance

Doug Bigelow

Mortis's partner, a capable detective whose courage and loyalty are tested by a resurrection saga. He endures the terror of waking to a body that should be lifeless and must regain his identity and memory amidst the chaos. His resilience anchors the duo through moral and physical hazards.

🕵️‍♂️ Partner 🧟 Undead 🧭 Loyalty

Rebecca

A coroner and ally who sees through the corpse’s revived shell to the deeper conspiracy. She helps the detectives understand the resurrection process and its limits, and she becomes entangled in the moral dilemma of powering life or ending it.

🧪 Medical 🧠 Forensic 🗝️ Secrets

Randi James

Public relations representative tied to Laudermilk's company and an informal heir to the resurrection business. She reveals herself to be undead, complicating loyalties as the plot moves toward a climactic confrontation.

🧪 Corporate 🧟 Undead 💼 Deception

Arthur Laudermilk

Wealthy industrialist at the center of the revival scheme. His influence and wealth fund the research that blurs the line between life and death. His death and hinted immortality ambitions propel the film's moral and existential questions.

💼 Riches 🧬 Experimentation 🗝️ Power

Dr. Ernest McNab

Head coroner and the mastermind behind the resurrection scheme. He weaponizes life extension for personal gain, and his manipulations drive the climactic collision of science and crime. His downfall is tied to the machine he uses to toy with the dead.

🧪 Science ⚖️ Manipulation 🧨 Villainy

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:25

Major Themes – Dead Heat (1987)

Explore the central themes of Dead Heat (1987), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧟 Undeath

Resurrection is a central engine of the plot, turning murder victims into undead players in a deadly game. The film explores the unsettling familiarity of the living-dead as it blurs the line between justice and vengeance. Characters grapple with the implications of restored life, including unreliable memories and the fragility of the body.

⚖️ Ethics

The resurrection tech is controlled by powerful interests, raising questions about who profits from death and who bears the risk. The antagonists manipulate life and death for personal gain, forcing the heroes to weigh loyalty against moral boundaries. The narrative probes what responsibility scientists and executives have when tampering with mortality.

🔬 Science

The film centers on a resurrection machine and the chemical preservative that ties victims to the lab. It deliberates the consequences of unchecked experimentation, including the possibility of permanent life at the cost of humanity. The science serves as both plot device and cautionary tale about playing God. The setting makes the tech feel both spectacular and dangerously fragile.

🕵️ Detective Narrative

Two detectives form a dynamic partnership as they pursue a case that spirals into the supernatural. The investigation blends action, humor, and personal stakes as Mortis and Bigelow chase clues across crime scenes, labs, and cryptic tombs. The pursuit tests their trust, resolve, and willingness to bend rules for truth. The climax centers on confronting a corrupt system that weaponizes death itself.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:25

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Unlock the Full Story of Dead Heat

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

Dead Heat Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Dead Heat, 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.

Dead Heat Summary

Dead Heat Timeline

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

Dead Heat Timeline

More About Dead Heat

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

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