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Forbidden Zone (1980) movie poster

Timeline

Forbidden Zone (1980) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1980 · 74 min · English
JustWatch #7,985 3
Directed by
Richard Elfman
Starring
Martin von Haselberg, Susan Tyrrell, Brian Routh, Gene Cunningham, Gisele Lindley, Hyman Diamond

A group of performers, the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, find themselves embarking on a bizarre and surreal journey. They travel through the unusual kingdom of Little King Fausto, encountering eccentric characters and facing unexpected challenges alongside the king and his mysterious queen. This fantastical comedy-musical blends humor and music in a unique and unforgettable adventure.

Fantasy Comedy Musical Cast, crew & box office
On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Forbidden Zone
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Forbidden Zone (1980)

Where can you watch Forbidden Zone? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on FlixFling, Midnight Pulp and Night Flight Plus: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Forbidden Zone Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Forbidden Zone (1980) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Huckleberry's Discovery

    On Friday, April 17 at 4 pm, in Venice, California, Huckleberry P. Jones, a local pimp and narcotics dealer, stumbles upon a mysterious door while hiding heroin in one of his vacant properties. This door leads him to the bizarre and dangerous realm known as the Sixth Dimension, from which he rapidly escapes after a brief encounter.

    When
    April 17, 4 pm
    Where
    Venice, California

  2. The Sale to the Hercules Family

    After his escapade in the Sixth Dimension, Huckleberry sells the house, unknowingly still containing the ominous door, to the Hercules family. This sale sets off a chain of events that will drastically change the lives of both families involved.

  3. Squeezit's Troubling Tale

    On their way to school, Frenchy and Flash Hercules encounter Squeezit Henderson, who shares horrifying stories of his traumatic childhood and his visions of his transgender twin sister, René. Squeezit reveals that René has fallen into the Sixth Dimension through the door located in their basement.

  4. Frenchy's Curiosity

    Intrigued by Squeezit's story, Frenchy becomes curious and decides to sneak a 'little peek' behind the forbidden door in the basement. This decision takes her on an unexpected journey into the mysterious Sixth Dimension.

  5. Captivity in the Sixth Dimension

    Upon entering the Sixth Dimension, Frenchy is quickly captured by the enigmatic Princess and presented to the rulers of this realm, King Fausto and Queen Doris. The king's sudden infatuation with Frenchy ignites a jealous rivalry, leading to her imprisonment.

    Where
    Sixth Dimension

  6. Flash's Desperate Search

    The following day, Flash, now aware of the danger facing both his sister and Frenchy, becomes frantic to rescue them. He first seeks assistance from Squeezit, but when that fails, he turns to Gramps for help.

  7. The Plan to Save Frenchy

    In the Sixth Dimension, Flash and Gramps encounter an elderly Jewish man who devises a plan to rescue Frenchy from her cruel fate. However, their plans are disrupted when they fall into the hands of Bust Rod.

    Where
    Sixth Dimension

  8. Doris's Sinister Plan

    Queen Doris decides to punish Frenchy and orchestrates a sinister scheme, leading to the relocation of all inhabitants of Cell 63 to a torture chamber. Tension escalates as hope for escape seems to fade.

    Where
    Cell 63

  9. The Ex-Queen's Tale

    In a twist of fate, Flash and Gramps manage to escape and meet an ex-queen who shares her tragic story of being usurped by Queen Doris. This encounter provides them with motivation and insight for their mission of rescue.

  10. Pa Hercules's Arrival

    Amid the chaos of the La Brea Tar Pit Factory explosion, Pa Hercules is unexpectedly blasted into the Sixth Dimension, further complicating the rescue efforts for his family. This incident adds to the unfolding pandemonium.

    Where
    La Brea Tar Pit Factory

  11. Squeezit's Turn to Help

    After confronting his personal challenges, Flash reaches out to Squeezit once more, who finally agrees to assist in the plan to rescue Frenchy. However, upon arriving in the Sixth Dimension, Squeezit gets caught in Satan's grip and faces dire consequences.

    Where
    Sixth Dimension

  12. The Epic Showdown

    As tensions rise in the Sixth Dimension, a climactic showdown begins to unfold. Squeezit's severed head, now sprouting chicken wings, becomes a symbol of the madness, while alliances shift and betrayals arise during the fierce battle against Queen Doris.

    Where
    Sixth Dimension

  13. Interruption of Queen Doris

    Just when Queen Doris prepares to deliver the final blow to Frenchy, she is halted by the unexpected arrival of the ex-queen, reigniting the fierce conflict. This moment brings hope back to the beleaguered characters as they join forces.

    Where
    Sixth Dimension

  14. Casualties and Losses

    As the battle escalates, casualties mount as characters fight for survival and for the liberation of Frenchy. The chaos of battle reveals the true cost of their adventures in this strange realm.

  15. The Grand Musical Finale

    In the aftermath of the tumultuous events, the film concludes with a grand musical number featuring the surviving characters. They reflect on their wild adventure while discussing dreams of conquering the universe, leaving the audience in awe of the journey they've undertaken.

Last updated: October 25, 2024 at 10:21

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Timeline questions answered

Forbidden Zone Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Forbidden Zone (1980): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does King Fausto become infatuated with Frenchy?

King Fausto develops an immediate obsession with Frenchy the moment she enters his realm. His infatuation appears to be driven by his nature as a lecherous ruler who becomes fixated on new, unfamiliar faces. This sudden attraction triggers Queen Doris's intense jealousy, setting off the central conflict of the film.

  • king fausto
  • frenchy
  • infatuation
  • queen doris
  • jealousy
Q2

How does the door to the Sixth Dimension work?

The mysterious door is hidden in the basement of a house in Venice, California. Huckleberry P. Jones discovers it while hiding heroin and briefly enters before escaping. The door remains in the house when he sells it to the Hercules family. Anyone who opens the door and enters will be transported to the bizarre Sixth Dimension realm, as demonstrated when Frenchy, and later her family, pass through it.

  • sixth dimension
  • door
  • basement
  • hercules family
  • portal
Q3

Why does Queen Doris want to punish Frenchy?

Queen Doris becomes consumed with jealousy after King Fausto shows obvious attraction to Frenchy. This jealousy drives her to order the frog servant Bust Rod to imprison Frenchy and later orchestrate a sinister plan to move all Concubines from Cell 63 to a torture chamber. Her rage stems from feeling replaced and threatened by the newcomer.

  • queen doris
  • frenchy
  • jealousy
  • punishment
  • bust rod
  • cell 63
Q4

What deal does Squeezit make with Satan in the Sixth Dimension?

After finally agreeing to help Flash rescue Frenchy, Squeezit enters the Sixth Dimension but gets captured by Satan (portrayed by Danny Elfman). Satan coerces Squeezit into making a deal that could have fatal consequences, though the exact terms are not fully detailed in the summary. This deal adds to the escalating stakes of the rescue mission.

  • squeezit
  • satan
  • deal
  • capture
  • danny elfman
Q5

How does Pa Hercules end up in the Sixth Dimension?

Pa Hercules arrives in the Sixth Dimension unexpectedly during an explosive incident at the La Brea Tar Pit Factory. He is blasted into the stratosphere and somehow transported directly into the strange realm, adding another layer of chaos to the family's predicament.

  • pa hercules
  • la brea tar pit factory
  • explosion
  • transport
Q6

What is Cell 63 in the Sixth Dimension?

Cell 63 is the prison where King Fausto keeps his most cherished concubines, including René (Squeezit's transgender twin sister who previously fell into the dimension). When Queen Doris decides to punish Frenchy, she orders all inhabitants of Cell 63 to be moved to a torture chamber, putting René and the other women in grave danger.

  • cell 63
  • concubines
  • rene
  • torture chamber
  • prison
Q7

Why does the ex-queen help Flash and Gramps?

The ex-queen was previously overthrown and usurped by Queen Doris, making her a natural enemy of the current queen. When Flash and Gramps escape and encounter her, she shares her tragic backstory and decides to assist them in their rescue mission. Her personal vendetta against Doris motivates her to help stop the current queen's schemes.

  • ex-queen
  • queen doris
  • usurped
  • flash
  • grams
  • revenge
Q8

What happens to René in the Sixth Dimension?

René is Squeezit Henderson's transgender twin sister who previously fell into the Sixth Dimension through the door in the basement. She becomes one of King Fausto's concubines held in Cell 63. When Queen Doris relocates the concubines to a torture chamber, René's life is put in danger, though the final resolution of her storyline is not detailed in the summary.

  • rene
  • squeezit
  • cell 63
  • concubine
  • transgender
Q9

Why does Squeezit's head grow chicken wings?

During the climactic showdown in the Sixth Dimension, Squeezit's severed head sprouts chicken wings. This surreal, absurdist moment exemplifies the film's bizarre, cartoonish tone. The wings appear to be a supernatural manifestation rather than a logical plot development, fitting the movie's chaotic and whimsical nature.

  • squeezit
  • chicken wings
  • severed head
  • absurd
  • surreal
Q10

What does the ending musical number represent?

The film concludes with a grand musical number featuring the surviving characters. They gaze toward a hopeful future and discuss ambitions of conquering the universe. This finale reinforces the movie's happy, lighthearted tone and wraps up the wild adventure on an optimistic note, though it remains deliberately open-ended about the characters' specific futures.

  • ending
  • musical number
  • survivors
  • universe
  • happy ending
Q11

How do the Hercules family get involved with the Sixth Dimension?

Huckleberry P. Jones, a local pimp and slumlord, discovers the door while hiding heroin in one of his vacant properties. After his brief encounter with the Sixth Dimension, he sells the house to the Hercules family without revealing the door's existence. When Frenchy and Flash encounter Squeezit, who tells them about René falling through the door, Frenchy's curiosity leads her to open it, pulling the entire family into the conflict.

  • hercules family
  • huckleberry jones
  • house sale
  • door
  • basement

Movie threads

More Movies Like Forbidden Zone, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Forbidden Zone tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Surreal Musical Journeys like Forbidden Zone

Bizarre, whimsical adventures where music drives the narrative through a strange reality. If you liked the bizarre, music-driven fantasy of Forbidden Zone, you'll enjoy these movies. This section features films that blend surreal humor, fantastical worlds, and musical performance into one chaotic and unforgettable experience, perfect for fans of unique cult cinema.

  • surreal
  • musical
  • absurd
  • fantastical
  • playful
  • chaotic
  • Tone: whimsical, absurd
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern often involves a journey into a distorted, alternate reality or a heightened version of our own. Characters, sometimes performers themselves, navigate a series of absurd encounters and challenges, with musical numbers punctuating and propelling the plot forward in a non-linear, dream-logic fashion.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a core identity built on surrealism, musicality, and a playful, irreverent tone. They prioritize creative spectacle and a unique vibe over conventional storytelling, creating a cohesive experience for viewers seeking something truly out of the ordinary.

Forbidden Zone movie poster

Forbidden Zone

1980
Strange Magic movie poster

Strange Magic

2015
Pufnstuf movie poster

Pufnstuf

1970
The Horn Blows at Midnight movie poster

The Horn Blows at Midnight

1945
Symphony in Slang movie poster

Symphony in Slang

1951
Solid Serenade movie poster

Solid Serenade

1946
Help! movie poster

Help!

1965
Delirious movie poster

Delirious

1991

Absurdist Cult Comedies like Forbidden Zone

Movies that embrace bizarre logic, dark whimsy, and a proudly nonsensical sense of humor. Fans of the chaotic and irreverent humor in Forbidden Zone will find more to love here. Discover movies that share its cult status, absurdist antics, and darkly whimsical tone, offering a similar experience of unpredictable comedy and bizarre character interactions.

  • absurd
  • irreverent
  • cult classic
  • bizarre
  • dark whimsy
  • eccentric
  • Tone: irreverent, whimsical
  • Pacing: fast, unpredictable
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread are frequently loose and episodic, serving as a framework for a series of comedic sketches or bizarre situations. The plot is secondary to the delivery of absurd gags, surreal imagery, and the introduction of increasingly strange characters, often culminating in a climax that embraces the chaos rather than resolving it neatly.

Why they belong together: They are united by a shared commitment to absurdist humor and a cult film sensibility. The connection is based on a specific tonal mix of dark whimsy, irreverence, and a fast-paced, visually striking style that prioritizes memorable, bizarre moments over traditional narrative cohesion.

UHF movie poster

UHF

1989
Delirious movie poster

Delirious

1991
Keep an Eye Out movie poster

Keep an Eye Out

2021
Forbidden Zone movie poster

Forbidden Zone

1980
Witches’ Brew movie poster

Witches’ Brew

1980
Never Been Thawed movie poster

Never Been Thawed

2005
Waiting for Guffman movie poster

Waiting for Guffman

1997
Schizopolis movie poster

Schizopolis

1997

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Every angle

Forbidden Zone (1980) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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