Drifter

Drifter

Year: 2017

Runtime: 86 min

Language: German

Director: Chris von Hoffmann

ThrillerHorrorCrime

Following a painful breakup, 22-year-old Moritz finds himself lost and adrift in Berlin's vibrant techno scene. He descends into a cycle of self-destructive behavior as he grapples with repressed desires and searches for his identity amidst the city's dark underbelly. The experience challenges him to confront difficult truths about himself and the world around him.

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Drifter (2017) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

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On the road, seeking vengeance for the murder of their father, brothers Miles and Dominic rob a store. The owner shoots Miles in the hand, and then the brothers kill him. Dominic improvises a bandage for Miles, and they rest for the night in the desert. When Miles expresses doubt in their mission, Dominic angrily threatens to leave him to die. The two reconcile and push onward.

While asleep in their car, Miles is surprised by several gunmen. After beating him, they announce that they intend to kill Miles and steal his car. Before they can, Dominic returns and kills all three, despite Miles’ pleas for the violence to end.

Miles and Dominic arrive at a small town and encounter an old man walking down the street. The man initially refuses to speak, but seems willing to help once they offer him food. After he punctures one of the car’s tires with a knife, Dominic begins beating him. A young woman named Vijah stops him at gunpoint and ushers the brothers into her house, where she tends to Miles’s wounds. Vijah explains that the town’s leader, Doyle, is dangerous, and urges them to stay inside for safety; Dominic, however, refuses to heed the warning.

Exploring the ruins of the town, Dominic meets Sasha, who seduces him. As they lie together, Sasha’s boyfriend, Latos, appears. While Sasha keeps Dominic at gunpoint, Latos grabs Miles and chastises Vijah for sheltering the brothers from Doyle. Latos beats Dominic with a baseball bat but leaves the killing blow to Doyle. He forces Miles to watch as Doyle murders his brother. Later, when Doyle questions Miles about why they trespassed in his territory, Miles refuses to cooperate, drawing Vijah’s concern. Doyle and his gang taunt Vijah, and Doyle himself slashes one of her ears to teach her a cruel lesson about loyalty.

Latos delivers food to Miles and explains they’re interested in recruiting Miles into their gang. He also notes that Dominic was too strong-willed and independent to be of use to them. When Miles remains uncooperative, Latos taunts him, insinuating that the food might be his brother’s flesh. Vijah visits Miles again and gives him a shard of glass. The two caress each other wordlessly, and Miles studies her scarred ear.

Doyle invites everyone to a dinner. Miles, already furious, is further incensed when he finds Dominic’s head on a platter as Doyle’s gang noisily eats and taunts him. Miles grabs the glass shard and stabs Sasha in the throat. Latos pounces on him and begins to feast on Miles’s face as Doyle watches coldly. Vijah kills Latos, but another gang member takes her hostage. Doyle mercilessly kills that gang member and takes Vijah as a hostage himself. Miles shoots Vijah in the gut; the bullet passes through her and kills both Vijah and Doyle. After tenderly closing Vijah’s eyes, Miles lowers the gun and, in a quiet final moment, points it toward the old man they met earlier, who has also begun eating Dominic’s flesh. The old man whimpers wordlessly as Miles steadies himself, then lowers the gun and walks away.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 01:16

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