Flinch (1994) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Finch and Dewey travel to the store

The film begins with Finch Weinberg and his homemade robot Dewey journeying through the post-apocalyptic ruins of St. Louis to gather supplies. They encounter a brief sandstorm, and Finch quickly hides to protect himself and Dewey. This opening establishes the dangers and environment of the world they inhabit.

Where

St. Louis

Sandstorm forces refuge inside

As Finch drives home, a huge sandstorm approaches, prompting Finch and Dewey to seek shelter indoors. They manage to get inside safely just before the storm hits. This event highlights the extreme weather conditions resulting from the devastated climate.

Finch's illness worsens

Finch, a former robotics engineer, realizes he is suffering from radiation poisoning, which is gradually killing him. Meanwhile, he is also focusing on building and perfecting a robot that can take care of his dog, Goodyear, after his death. This moment reveals Finch's deteriorating health and his sense of urgency.

Completion of the robot, Jeff, begins responding

Finch finishes assembling his robot, which begins to show signs of life by nodding to Finch and developing its own speech pattern. Finch is proud of his creation, but Goodyear reacts suspiciously to the robot, indicating the beginning of their complicated relationship. Finch implants a vast database into Jeff, making it highly knowledgeable.

Forewarned about the superstorm

Using weather monitoring technology, Finch learns about an impending superstorm expected to last 40 days. Realizing his shelter cannot withstand the storm, he decides to leave with his supplies, his dog, and Jeff in an RV, aiming to head toward San Francisco to avoid other survivors.

Road trip and learning to program Jeff

On their journey, Finch attempts to continue programming Jeff and teaches him practical skills like making popcorn in an abandoned theater. They also face a tornado, during which Jeff and Finch take cover inside the RV. Jeff later expresses a desire to be called Jeff, marking his emerging individuality.

Jeff tries to interact with Goodyear

Jeff makes efforts to better interact with Goodyear, but his attempts amuse and frustrate Finch. During their travels, Finch is forced to rest due to his worsening condition, which nearly causes the RV to drive itself uncontrolled. Jeff's learning curve continues as he tries to assist Finch.

Dewey's death and Finch’s reaction

While exploring a store with Dewey, Jeff’s meddling results in Dewey getting caught in a trap and being killed, devastating Finch. Finch yells at Jeff in grief, highlighting the emotional stakes and the loss of Finch’s companion, which deepens the narrative about survival and attachment.

Survivors follow the RV

Finch notices they are being followed by another vehicle and instructs Jeff to hide the RV under a bridge. After waiting for the survivors to leave, Finch recounts a harrowing story of violence from the early days of the apocalypse, illustrating the dangers of human threats in their world.

Finch reaches a safe location and basks in the sun

The group arrives at a place with low UV radiation, allowing Finch to go outside and soak up sunlight for the first time in years. Finch then shares a heartfelt story about his father, symbolizing a moment of peace amidst chaos and emphasizing human connection.

Finch's death

Finch succumbs to his illness while sitting outside, having enjoyed the sunlight and shared stories. Jeff finds his dead body and gives him a funeral, showing their growing bond and Jeff's emotional development. Finch’s death marks a significant turning point in the story.

Jeff’s resolve to continue the journey

After Finch’s death, Jeff’s speech and personality significantly improve, and he vows to continue the journey to San Francisco with Goodyear. This signifies Jeff's transition from robot to a more human-like character, carrying Finch’s legacy forward.

Journey to the Golden Gate Bridge

Jeff and Goodyear reach the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and find survivor posters with their locations. Jeff leaves a drawing of Finch, himself, and Goodyear as a message and walks into the city to search for other survivors, signaling hope and persistence beyond loss.

Where

San Francisco