Drive-In Massacre

Drive-In Massacre

Year: 1976

Runtime: 74 mins

Language: English

Director: Stu Segall

HorrorMysteryThrillers and murder mysteriesGory gruesome and slasher horrorSuspenseful crime thrillers

Two police detectives investigate a series of brutal murders at a rural California drive‑in theater, where a mysterious killer stalks patrons and slashes victims with a sword. As the body count rises, the investigators race against time to unmask the psychopath before more nightmares become reality.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Drive-In Massacre yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Drive-In Massacre (1976)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Drive-In Massacre (1976). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Rural California town, Drive-in theater, Warehouse

The story unfolds in a small rural town in California centered around a bustling drive-in theater. The drive-in serves as the primary backdrop for the killings, intimate car-side encounters, and tense confrontations. A warehouse later becomes the site of a high-stakes chase and showdown, expanding the film’s geography beyond the lot.

🚗 Drive-In 🏞️ Rural California 🏭 Warehouse

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:08

Main Characters – Drive-In Massacre (1976)

Meet the key characters of Drive-In Massacre (1976), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Alan (Myron Griffith)

Alan is part of the young couple that visits the rural drive-in and becomes one of the first victims when the killer strikes with a sword. His relationship with his partner anchors the opening violence and sets the investigators on their initial path.

💀 Victim 💔 Couple

Alan's Girl (Janus Blythe)

Alan's partner in the opening couple; she shares a tense, intimate moment with her companion before the brutal attack. Her fate mirrors the brutality of the killer’s method and adds urgency to the investigation.

💀 Victim 🧭 Key Witness

Austin Johnson (Robert E. Pearson)

The drive-in’s boorish manager who resists quickly closing the theater and is later revealed to keep a sword collection. He becomes a focal point in the investigation and is killed in the projection booth.

🧱 Manager 🗡️ Sword Collection

Germy (Douglas Gudbye)

The custodian who provides insider information about the sword collection and the voyeuristic killer. He becomes entangled in the investigation and is ultimately killed in the booth during a confrontation with Austin.

🧰 Custodian 🕵️ Informant

Det. Mike Leary (John F. Goff)

One of the lead detectives on the case who, sometimes in disguise, pursues the murderer and investigates tips from Germy and others around the drive-in.

👮 Detective 🗣️ Interrogator

Det. John Koch (Bruce Kimball)

The other lead detective who teams with Leary; actively chases leads, confronts suspects, and participates in high-tension showdowns at the drive-in.

👮 Detective 🕵️ Partner

Orville Ingleson (Norman Sheridan)

A suspect linked to the bloody clue in a car; he panics and attempts to flee, but is ultimately found dead after a confrontation. His alibis crumble under scrutiny.

🧭 Suspect 🚔 Red Herring

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:08

Major Themes – Drive-In Massacre (1976)

Explore the central themes of Drive-In Massacre (1976), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔪 Serial Killers

A masked, unseen killer stalks couples at a drive-in, using a sword to brutally end their lives. The film builds a mood of sudden, graphic violence that unsettles the small-town setting. Investigators struggle to connect disparate murders as their search for motive and identity intensifies.

🚨 Public Panic

Deaths begin to trigger fear and chaos as the community confronts the possibility of a serial killer in their midst. A tense public atmosphere is amplified by a fake public address warning, and the detectives race against time to protect patrons at the drive-in. The film culminates in a drive-in standoff that leaves the town on edge.

👁️ Voyeurism

Germy mentions a peeping tom observed cruising the area, highlighting a voyeuristic thread in the killer’s pattern. The story builds suspense around watching and being watched, with the killer exploiting the drive-in’s anonymity. The license-plate lead and the killer’s surveillance underscore the invasion of privacy at the heart of the terror.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:08

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of Drive-In Massacre

Don't stop at just watching — explore Drive-In Massacre 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 Drive-In Massacre is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Drive-In Massacre Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Drive-In Massacre, 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.

Drive-In Massacre Summary

Drive-In Massacre Timeline

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

Drive-In Massacre Timeline

More About Drive-In Massacre

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Drive-In Massacre: 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 Drive-In Massacre

Explore More About Movie Drive-In Massacre

Drive-In Massacre (1976) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Drive-In Massacre (1976) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Drive-In Massacre (1976) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow