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.

Drifter (2017) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Drifter (2017) 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 neon‑lit underbelly of Berlin, the city pulses with a relentless techno rhythm that becomes both soundtrack and confessional for a restless young man. Moritz, freshly bruised by a painful breakup, drifts through nightclubs, streets, and empty apartments, trying to make sense of a world that feels both exhilaratingly alive and achingly hollow. The film paints the capital as a sprawling, electric maze where every bass drop mirrors an inner heartbeat, and each fleeting connection hints at a deeper yearning for something more solid than the fleeting lights of the dance floor.

Against this backdrop, Moritz wrestles with unspoken desires that surface in the most vulnerable moments—when the music thins, when the crowds thin out, when the city’s raw edges are laid bare. The tone is a hypnotic blend of gritty realism and lyrical melancholy, inviting the viewer to feel the weight of a generation searching for authenticity amid a culture of excess. The narrative stays close to his perspective, letting the audience inhabit his confusion, his self‑destructive impulses, and his tentative steps toward self‑discovery, all while the city’s relentless energy offers both a refuge and a mirror.

As the story unfolds, the audience is drawn into a portrait of a young adult at a crossroads, where the search for identity intertwines with the lure of the night’s electric promise. The film’s atmosphere is charged with tension and promise, suggesting that within the dark undercurrents of Berlin’s techno scene lie the clues Moritz needs to confront the truths he has long avoided. The journey promises to be as much about the music that fuels him as the quiet moments where he must face himself.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 16:53

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a character's progressive downfall, frequently triggered by a single event like revenge. The pacing is steady, building a sense of inevitability as the protagonist is consumed by the surrounding violence, leading to a conclusion where they are physically or emotionally broken.

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These films are united by their focus on a character's psychological and moral unraveling. They share a dark tone, heavy emotional weight, and a straightforward plot that moves steadily towards a bleak ending, emphasizing the futility and trauma of the journey.

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Drifter Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Drifter

More About Drifter

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