D.O.A.

D.O.A.

Year: 1988

Runtime: 96 mins

Language: English

Directors: Annabel Jankel, Rocky Morton

MysteryThriller

After being poisoned, English professor Dexter Cornell discovers he has only 24 hours before he dies. Determined to uncover who poisoned him and why, he races against time as a series of murders erupts among people in his circle. With the reluctant aid of his student Sydney Fuller, he pursues the killer before he becomes dead on arrival.

D.O.A. (1988) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at D.O.A. (1988) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the hushed corridors of a midsized university, Dexter Cornell has built a life of scholarly routine, his days measured by syllabi, tenure meetings, and the quiet predictability of academia. Beneath the orderly façade, however, a sudden, invisible threat erupts: the professor discovers that he has been poisoned and that his remaining time is limited to a single day. The revelation shatters his carefully calibrated existence, thrusting him from lecture halls into a frantic quest for answers before the clock runs out.

The film’s tone balances the cerebral atmosphere of campus life with the relentless pulse of a ticking countdown. As Dexter scrambles to piece together the circumstances of his affliction, he is reluctantly drawn into an uneasy partnership with his bright but cautious student, Sydney Fuller. Their interaction mixes intellectual sparring with a growing sense of urgency, each step forward revealing just enough of the hidden currents that flow through their shared world to keep the mystery alive without exposing its core. The juxtaposition of scholarly debate and desperate investigation creates a tension that feels both personal and universal.

Against the backdrop of libraries, dimly lit offices, and the quiet dread of an impending death, the story unfolds as a meditation on legacy, responsibility, and the lengths one will go to uncover truth when faced with mortality. The mood is steeped in suspense, while the college setting lends an unexpected elegance to the chase. Dexter’s race against time invites viewers to wonder what secrets lie beneath the surface of respectable institutions, and whether the answers lie in the people closest to him or in the shadows of his own past.

Last Updated: December 03, 2025 at 23:51

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Movies with a Ticking Clock like D.O.A.

Stories built around a relentless, high-stakes countdown to catastrophe.If you enjoyed the relentless urgency of D.O.A., this list features movies like it where characters are in a desperate race against time. Discover similar high-stakes thrillers and suspenseful mysteries built around a dangerous countdown.

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Narrative Summary

This narrative pattern hinges on a fixed, often short, timeframe that creates immense pressure. The plot is linear and propulsive, with each scene bringing the characters closer to their deadline. Obstacles and revelations arrive in quick succession, leaving little room for error or reflection.

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Movies are grouped here based on their shared core mechanic of a 'ticking clock'. They deliver a consistent experience of high-tension suspense, frantic pacing, and a protagonist pushed to their absolute limit by an unforgiving deadline.

Gritty Paranoid Thrillers like D.O.A.

Gritty tales where an amateur investigator uncovers a dark conspiracy.For fans of the claustrophobic and paranoid investigation in D.O.A., this list collects similar neo-noir thrillers. Explore movies like D.O.A. featuring amateur sleuths, dark conspiracies, and a pervasive atmosphere of distrust and betrayal.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically begins with a single, shocking incident that pulls an unlikely hero into a deepening mystery. As they dig deeper, allies become suspects, and the institutional world they trusted crumbles. The journey is as much about surviving the investigation as it is about solving the central crime.

Why These Movies?

This thread groups films that share a distinct neo-noir vibe: a cynical worldview, a protagonist in over their head, a convoluted conspiracy, and a mood of pervasive paranoia. The focus is on the feeling of the investigation rather than just the puzzle.

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D.O.A. Summary

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D.O.A. Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in D.O.A.

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Characters, Settings & Themes in D.O.A.

More About D.O.A.

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