Hard Tide

Hard Tide

Year: 2015

Runtime: 79 mins

Language: English

Director: Robert Osman

ThrillerDrama

An unlikely friendship if forged when a small-time drug dealer and a neglected nine-year-old girl are forced to go on the run together.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Hard Tide yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Hard Tide (2015)

Trace every key event in Hard Tide (2015) 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

Dad's arrest and Jake's reluctant inheritance

Jake's life changes when his father is arrested and jailed, and he is forced to inherit a drug business he never asked for. He is reluctant at first, watching Alfie plot to push the operation for power and security on the estate. The setup hints at the dangerous world he is being pulled into.

Council estate
2

Jake meets Jade on a rooftop

During a walk home after a deal, Jake spots Jade on a roof and talks her down to safety. He promises to steer her away from trouble, signaling a budding responsibility he hadn't planned.

Rooftop
3

Jade's father confronts Jake

Back near Jade's home, Jade's alcoholic father confronts Jake's interference. He sucker-punches Jake and Jade runs away, leaving the threat to kill hanging in the air.

Outside Jade's home
4

Jade's father dies; Jake hides it

At the council estate, Jade waits at the entrance as Jake brings her inside. After they watch TV, he takes her home and finds her father unconscious; in the scuffle, Jade's father slips and dies from a head injury. Panicking, Jake hides the death from Jade and brings her back to his apartment, where she sleeps and he misses a date with Kim.

Jake's apartment, council estate
5

Morning arrival and misunderstandings

In the morning, Alfie, Kim, and Leanne arrive. Jake tries to explain what happened but is interrupted; Alfie and Leanne drift to his room for sex while Jake apologizes to Kim, who leaves unsettled after Jade interrupts. He then lies that he's caring for a relative's child, sabotaging his relationship.

Jake's apartment
6

Alfie pushes Jade out; Flowers enters the plan

Alfie is furious to discover Jade is staying and orders she leave to avoid social services. Jake promises to get rid of her but is drawn into Alfie's new plan with Flowers, a dangerous figure his father warned him to avoid.

Council estate
7

Jade follows to Flowers' shop; Flowers threatens Jade

Jake takes Jade with him as he conducts deals, and Jade follows him to Flowers' shop. When Jake tries to back out, Flowers threatens Jade, and they flee; Flowers warns that Margate is small and there's nowhere to hide.

Flowers' shop
8

Jake poses as Jade's guardian; beach day

Jake returns to Jade's house to fetch her favorite toy and meets Mary, Jade's social worker. He claims to be Jade's cousin and babysitting for her father, a claim she half-believes. They spend a day at the beach, enjoying Jade's favorite activities.

Jade's house; beach
9

Jade exposed to drugs; hospital

Jake brings Jade to meet Leanne, Kim, and Alfie. Alfie remains hostile and reveals that ecstasy is candy, even offering one to Jade. Despite interventions, Jade takes the pill and Kim and Jake rush her to the hospital.

Jake's home; hospital
10

Jade abducted by Flowers; road out of town

While Jake steps out to call his father for guidance, Flowers seizes Jade at gunpoint and drives out of town. Alfie rages, lamenting that Flowers seems like the only way to get ahead.

Road out of town (Flowers' car)
11

Hospital arrival; Flowers claims Jade's father role

Flowers arrives at the hospital first and, after convincing Kim that he is Jade's father, leaves with Jade. Mary meets Jake afterward to hear his side of the story.

Hospital
12

Confrontation setup at Flowers' shop

At Flowers' shop, Jake insists on confronting Flowers alone. He gives himself ten minutes to return or call the police.

Flowers' shop
13

Final confrontation and arrest

A brutal confrontation unfolds at Flowers' shop; Flowers' father shoots Flowers and then commits suicide. When the police arrive, Jake is arrested amid Jade's protests, marking a grim end to a perilous day.

Flowers' shop

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:46

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about found family under fire like Hard Tide

An unlikely duo forms a fierce bond while on the run from danger.If you liked the protective bond between Jake and Jade in Hard Tide, explore more movies where an unlikely guardian and a child are forced into a desperate alliance. These tense thrillers and dramas focus on the powerful theme of found family forged in the crucible of danger.

protectivedesperatetensepaternalhigh-stakesbondingsacrifice

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows an initially self-interested or cynical individual who is thrust into a protective role for a child. Their journey is a race for survival against a powerful threat, during which a deep, paternal or familial bond develops, fundamentally changing the protagonist's priorities and sense of purpose.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their powerful core dynamic: the formation of a found family under extreme duress. They share a heavy emotional weight, tense tone, and a focus on the sacrifices made for protection, creating a consistently gripping and emotionally resonant experience.

Gritty urban crime thrillers with desperate characters like Hard Tide

Gritty stories of desperate people trapped in a ruthless criminal underworld.Fans of the gritty, crime-ridden setting and desperate characters in Hard Tide will find similar intensity in these movies. Explore tense thrillers and dramas set against a backdrop of urban decay, where small-time criminals face overwhelming odds and bleak outcomes.

grittydesperatetenseanxiouscrime-riddenurban decayoppressivebleak

Narrative Summary

Stories typically follow a low-level criminal or desperate individual who becomes entangled in a situation far beyond their control. The plot is a linear, cause-and-effect chain of escalating crises within a oppressive urban setting, driven by ruthless antagonists and a pervasive sense of inescapable doom.

Why These Movies?

They are unified by a specific atmospheric vibe: a tense, anxious, and oppressive mood generated by a gritty urban setting and high-stakes criminal conflict. The shared elements of fast pacing, high intensity, and often sad endings create a coherent experience of relentless desperation.

Unlock the Full Story of Hard Tide

Don't stop at just watching — explore Hard Tide in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Hard Tide is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Hard Tide Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Hard Tide, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Hard Tide Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Hard Tide

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Hard Tide. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Hard Tide

Hard Tide Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Hard Tide that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Hard Tide Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Hard Tide

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Hard Tide: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Hard Tide