Five Desperate Women

A violent inmate, whose face is not shown, escapes from a state mental facility. He makes his way to a private beach, where he drowns a man sunbathing and steals the victim's work uniform. This brutal prologue establishes a dangerous intruder who will later stalk the island.

Five women reunite for their five-year college reunion at an exclusive cottage on a remote island. Several of them bring personal issues that complicate interactions. Meeker, who ferries them to the island, and Wylie, the caretaker, introduce a tense dynamic from the start.

The next morning, the island's dog is found dead, signaling that something is terribly amiss. The discovery chills the group and primes suspicions around Meeker and Wylie. The mood grows more paranoid as they sense they are being watched.

Later that day four women return from the beach to discover the fifth has been strangled. They fear one of the men is the killer and debate whether to stay or try to escape. The island's isolation makes rescue unlikely.

The women plan to sail off or call for help, but the supply boat explodes as it approaches. Now stranded with no reliable contact, they must decide how to survive. Meeker and Wylie remain potential threats in their minds.

Back in the cottage, the four surviving women lock the men out and vow not to leave each other alone for the night. They are told, via the locked door, that one of the women has been killed, but both men deny knowledge of it. They resolve to stay together to protect themselves.

In the company cabin, Meeker and Wylie grow suspicious of each other and vow not to let the other out of sight. They discuss the possibility that someone else might be on the island. Paranoia heightens as fear and mistrust rise.

Meeker asks for air and goes outside, prompting a tense confrontation when Wylie tries to stop him. They fight; Meeker defeats Wylie and escapes into the night. Meeker's escape compounds the danger around the remaining women.

The next morning, a direct confrontation reveals that Wylie is the murderer. He then murders Meeker and convinces the women that Meeker was responsible, planting a dangerous sense of safety among the group.

As the supply boat looms, one woman thanks Wylie for his help while the others search the beach. They discover the drowned man's body and, via an identifying bracelet, learn his real name is Wylie. The revelation exposes the imposter and sows panic.

The lone woman who spoke with Wylie realizes he is unbalanced. Three other women approach, calling her name, and she tries to flee. Wylie chases and begins choking her, but her friends intervene by striking him with a rock, killing him in a burst of panic and resolve.

With the killer dead, the survivors gather their courage and make their way toward the island's pier. They are shaken but determined to seek rescue and leave the nightmare behind them.