Fragment of Fear

Fragment of Fear

Year: 1970

Runtime: 94 mins

Language: English

Director: Richard C. Sarafian

ThrillerHorrorMysteryCrime

Murder in Pompeii. Voices in the night. Despair in the gutter. A phantasmagoria of fright! A reformed drug addict travels to Italy to find out who murdered his aunt.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Fragment of Fear (1970)

Trace every key event in Fragment of Fear (1970) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Visit to aunt in Italy after memoir publication

Tim Brett, a former drug addict who has been clean for about a year, has published a memoir about his experiences. He travels to an Italian coastal hotel to visit his wealthy aunt, who expresses interest in helping some of Brett's former acquaintances.

Italian coastal hotel, Italy
2

Aunt found murdered during Pompeii tour

During a Pompeii tour, visitors discover the body of Brett's aunt, who has been strangled. The murder shocks Brett and prompts questions about who was involved and why.

Pompeii tour Pompeii, Italy
3

Funeral and the Stepping Stones card

At the elaborate funeral, Brett speaks with Signor Bardoni, the hotel owner who organized the service. Bardoni notes the irony that the aunt spent her life helping criminals, now killed by a criminal. A card on a wreath bears the name The Stepping Stones, which Bardoni tries to conceal.

Italy Italy (funeral)
4

Brett begins a relationship with Juliet

Brett starts a relationship with Juliet, one of the women who found his aunt's body, and they become engaged. Their bond develops quickly as they navigate the family's mystery.

After funeral, Italy Italy
5

Return to England and rising doubts

Six months after the murder, Brett has returned to England and grows dissatisfied with the police's progress. He begins to question the acquaintances of his aunt and looks for answers beyond official channels.

Six months after murder England
6

Warnings begin to mount

He starts receiving warnings from unknown people to stop his inquiries. These threats escalate in tone as he pushes forward.

After return to England England
7

Cryptic note on the train

On a train, an elderly woman hands him a note of supposed comfort and asks him to read it at home. The note is cryptic and hints at leaving the matter to the police.

On the train On a train in England
8

Personal invasion: notes and recordings

The note proves to be typed on his own typewriter, and a menacing laugh is recorded on his tape recorder. A cigarette end in his toilet shows that someone has entered his flat.

Brett's flat, England
9

Sgt. Matthews visit and police deception

A police sergeant named Sgt. Matthews visits him and mentions the complaint from the woman on the train. Brett later discovers there is no Sgt. Matthews working at the police station.

After train incident England – police contact
10

Secret agency explains The Stepping Stones

He contacts a secret government agency, which explains they are pursuing the people threatening him. They reveal that The Stepping Stones, originally founded to help criminals reform, has become a blackmailing organization.

After meeting agency Secret government facility
11

Nighttime assault and needle threat

Brett is assaulted on the streets at night by two men who leave him lying on the ground with a hypodermic needle. He throws the needle away into a gutter.

Night England – streets at night
12

Wedding threats escalate

A phone call threatens Juliet at their wedding, signaling that the danger has reached her. Brett's already fragile mental state deteriorates further under the pressure.

Wedding day England – around wedding venue
13

Paranoia erupts at the church

At the wedding, Brett becomes overwhelmed by paranoia and drags Juliet out of the church before they are married. The ceremony collapses into chaos as guests watch in disbelief.

Wedding day Church, England
14

Final train journey and conclusion

On the train after the failed wedding, Brett's hallucinations continue to surge. In the closing scene, Juliet pushes the unstable Brett in a wheelchair, leaving their future uncertain.

Closing scene Train, England

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 09:16

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Fragment of Fear Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Fragment of Fear

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Fragment of Fear

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