Deadlock

Deadlock

Year: 1970

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: Roland Klick

WesternCrimeDramaThriller

After pulling off a bank robbery two bandits meet in a deserted mining town to divide their loot but an old miner tries to steal it from them.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Deadlock (1970)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Deadlock (1970). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Desert near the California–Mexico border, Deserted mining compound

The story unfolds in a harsh desert landscape that suggests a border region between California and Mexico. Nearby, a desolate mining community provides the backdrop of failed industry and isolation. The deserted compound where Dump hides out becomes the claustrophobic hub for betrayals and tense standoffs. The setting emphasizes survival over civilization, fueling the characters' ruthless decisions.

🏜️ Desert setting 🏚️ Abandoned mining town

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:05

Main Characters – Deadlock (1970)

Meet the key characters of Deadlock (1970), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Charles Dump (Mario Adorf)

A former supervisor of a now-desolate mining community, Dump is calculating and cold, preferring to manipulate others to protect his own interests. He resists removing Kid's bullet wound, hoping the injury will do him in, and relies on mind games to disrupt the partnership between Kid and Sunshine. His greed and ruthless pragmatism make him dangerous even when backed into a corner.

💼 Power 🧠 Manipulation 🗝️ Secrets

Mr. Sunshine (Anthony Dawson)

An older, ruthless killer and Kid's ally-turned-rival, Sunshine is calculating and capable of brutal acts to secure the money. He enters the scene with a cold, pragmatic plan and quickly tests loyalties, betraying others when it serves his aim. His role peaks in the desert confrontation, where he helps seal or threaten the fate of the others.

🧭 Calculating 🗡️ Violence 🎭 Rivalry

Jessy (Mascha Rabben)

The mute daughter of Corinna, Jessy acts as a catalyzing presence in the camp. She indirectly influences Dump and Kid through her relationship with Corinna and her own quiet observations. Her presence drives the dynamics in the compound, and she becomes a target in the final acts as violence closes in.

🎭 Silent 🧭 Curious

Kid (Marquard Bohm)

A heat-battered, young bank robber who travels with a money-filled suitcase and a wound to his arm. He relies on cunning and quick decisions in a hostile landscape, and his relationship with Sunshine is fraught with double-crosses. He survives the desert ordeal and ends the film with the fate of the money unresolved.

💪 Determination 🗺️ Escape 🧭 Risk-taker

Enzo (Sigurd Fitzek)

Enzo is described as a wretched snoop slug whose role centers on surveillance and intrigue among the group. His presence underscores the atmosphere of mistrust and manipulation that threads through the plot.

🕵️ Snoop 🔍 Intrigue

Corinna (Betty Segal)

A former brothel operator living in the camp, Corinna acts as Jessy’s mother figure and Dump’s companion. Her past and now-wary alliance shape the camp’s dynamics, and she becomes a casualty of Sunshine's violence as the plot climaxes.

💄 Femme Fatale 🏚️ Abandoned past

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:05

Major Themes – Deadlock (1970)

Explore the central themes of Deadlock (1970), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💰 Greed

Greed propels the plot as Kid robs a bank and the trio fights over the money sealed in a metal case. Dump clings to wealth, manipulating others to protect his stake and plotting a theft of the payout. Sunshine’s willingness to betray allies to secure the haul underscores how money corrupts loyalties. The pursuit of wealth escalates violence and moral compromise throughout the narrative.

🤝 Trust

The relationships among Dump, Kid, and Sunshine are defined by fragile trust and calculated deception. Each man tests the others, turning allies into rivals as the money drives them to extremes. Jessy’s quiet presence intensifies the mind games and paranoia in the camp. The culmination of betrayals leaves loyalties shattered and survival as the only certainty.

🌵 Desert Isolation

The vast, empty desert isolates the characters from escape and clear moral choices, heightening tension and suspicion. The desert compound acts as a crucible where plans, wounds, and loyalties collide under oppressive heat and loneliness. The harsh environment forces snap decisions with deadly consequences. In this isolation, greed and betrayal become inescapable forces shaping every action.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:05

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Unlock the Full Story of Deadlock

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Deadlock Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Deadlock, 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.

Deadlock Summary

Deadlock Timeline

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

Deadlock Timeline

More About Deadlock

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