Good to Go

Good to Go

Year: 1986

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: Blaine Novak

CrimeThrillerMusic

After police give him false leads about a rape and murder that took place near a well‑known Washington, D.C., go‑go club, a weary journalist decides to investigate the venue himself. His digging reveals a deeply entrenched racist system that underpins the club’s operations and its ties to the surrounding community.

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Good to Go (1986) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Good to Go (1986), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

S.D. Blass, Art Garfunkel, is a beat journalist for the Washington Daily Tribune in Washington, D.C. His editor-in-chief pressures him to deliver more featured stories, since Blass hasn’t had a strong article printed in a while. He reaches out to Detective Matthew Harrigan, Harris Yulin, hoping for a lead that could become a standout piece.

He learns about a nurse who was raped and murdered on her way home after working the night shift at Washington Metropolitan Hospital. Unbeknownst to Blass, the detective fabricated the police report and placed the primary blame on go-go music and its concertgoers. Blass writes and publishes the story with the provocative headline: “Nurse Murdered at Go-Go: Music and Drugs Blamed for Violence.”

Meanwhile, Max, Robert DoQui, is the owner of Maxx Saxx Entertainment and steers three of the city’s top go-go bands. After fifteen years of performing in local clubs, he believes the moment has arrived to take go-go music national. He arranges a high-stakes meeting at the Watergate complex with Gil Colton, a Los Angeles–based record producer, hoping to secure a recording contract for his artists. Colton is impressed by the live energy and the music, but he worries about the bad press and the potential fallout, and ultimately decides not to sign the acts, returning to L.A.

Little Beats, an up-and-coming conga player for one of Max’s bands, has an older brother known as Chemist, a once-promising chemistry student who slides into PCP (aka “Luv Boat”) addiction and turns to robbing and stealing to fund his habit. He moves with Mr. Ain and his street crew as they roam the city, leaving a trail of chaos that includes the nurse’s rape and murder.

Eventually, Chemist is falsely accused and charged with the offenses. Little Beats is apprehended by Det. Harrigan, in hopes of extracting more information about Chemist’s whereabouts. Blass, now aware that the detective has manufactured many police reports, withdraws his support for Harrigan. He then reaches out to Little Beats, Chemist, and their mother to help clear Chemist’s name and to expose the misconduct plaguing the police department.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:39

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Gritty journalism thrillers like Good to Go

Haunted journalists risk everything to uncover entrenched, dark truths.If you liked the investigative drive and street-level corruption of Good to Go, explore more movies like it. These films feature journalists and outsiders uncovering dark systemic truths, offering similar tense, socially conscious thrillers with a gritty, realistic feel.

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The narrative typically begins with a protagonist, often a journalist or amateur sleuth, stumbling upon a case that seems straightforward. Their investigation quickly reveals that the crime is a symptom of a much larger, more powerful corrupt institution—be it political, corporate, or law enforcement. The plot unfolds as a steady, methodical uncovering of evidence, facing constant obstruction and danger, leading to a climax that may offer a partial victory but rarely a clean, happy resolution.

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Stories set in the unforgiving city, where systemic injustice defines daily life.For viewers who appreciated the street-level realism and sociopolitical themes of Good to Go, this list features similar movies with a bleak urban vibe. These films explore the harsh realities of city life, institutional racism, and crime, creating a heavy, anxious mood.

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These films are connected by their unflinching portrayal of urban decay and social inequality. They share a dark, heavy tone and a steady pacing that allows the weight of the environment to settle on the viewer. The experience is defined by a mood of anxiety, cynicism, and a focus on sociopolitical commentary.

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Good to Go

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