Hotline

Hotline

Year: 1982

Runtime: 96 mins

Language: English

Director: Jerry Jameson

ThrillerMysteryCrimeHorror

When a crisis‑helpline operator receives a disturbing call, she discovers the caller is a serial killer who toys with her by delivering cryptic, nursery‑rhyme riddles that hint at his next victim. As the puzzles grow more sinister, she must stay one step ahead or be silenced forever.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Hotline (1982)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Hotline (1982). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Bar, Brianne's home, Reno, Airport, Hotline clinic

The story unfolds largely in intimate indoor spaces—bars, Brianne's home, and the hotline clinic—creating a claustrophobic feel as danger inches closer. The plot travels to Reno for a key lead and includes an airport sequence that heightens the pursuit. These settings establish a tense, urban backdrop where surveillance, intrusion, and personal stakes drive the thriller.

🏙️ Bar setting 🏡 Domestic locale 🛬 Airport 🗺️ Reno

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:49

Main Characters – Hotline (1982)

Meet the key characters of Hotline (1982), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Brianne O'Neill (Lynda Carter)

An art student who volunteers at a hotline and becomes increasingly fixated on the Barber's clues. She demonstrates resourcefulness and courage while grappling with fear and paranoia. Her persistence to solve the mystery culminates in a tense confrontation that tests her resilience.

🎨 Artist 🔎 Curious 💪 Determined

Charlie Jackson (James Booth)

A Reno murder suspect connected to the Barber's trail, whose presence intensifies the mystery. He represents a potential lead that complicates Brianne's pursuit, adding danger as the clues converge.

🕵️‍♂️ Suspect 🧠 Enigmatic 🗺️ Connected

Tom Hunter (Steve Forrest)

An actor and long-time suitor of Brianne, whose affection is a driving emotional undercurrent. He becomes entangled in the investigation as others suspect his involvement, intensifying the love-driven tension.

🎭 Lover 🕵️‍♀️ Suspicious 💼 Actor

Kyle Durham (Monte Markham)

The Barber, a domineering and deceptive killer who orchestrates the horrors from afar and then physically confronts Brianne. His revelation as the murderer culminates in a deadly showdown that ends with his death at Brianne's hands.

🗡️ Killer 🧠 Manipulative 🧍‍♂️ Dominant

Justin Price (Granville Van Dusen)

A friendly psychiatrist connected to the hotline who initially follows Brianne home to protect her. He plays a pivotal role in evaluating suspects and guiding Brianne, offering rational analysis amid escalating paranoia.

🧑‍⚕️ Psychiatrist 🧠 Rational 🤝 Supportive

Rick Hernandez (Harry Waters Jr.)

Brianne's colleague at the hotline who shifts from skepticism to support as the calls become more threatening. He helps anchor the human, professional side of the crisis and provides practical backing.

🗨️ Colleague 🤝 Supportive 🧭 Steady

Barnie (Frank Stallone Jr.)

A bartender coworker who ties into the bar-based setting and the social circle around Brianne. His presence helps ground the group dynamic and the flow of information between shifts and investigations.

🍺 Bartender 🤝 Friendly 🗣️ Social

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:49

Major Themes – Hotline (1982)

Explore the central themes of Hotline (1982), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️‍♀️ Stalking

The Barber's constant surveillance of Brianne creates a pervasive sense of being watched. The thriller leans on fear, misdirection, and the constant threat of an unseen attacker. Brianne's investigative drive grows from the pressure of this stalking, pushing her toward dangerous, real-world consequences.

🧩 Mystery

Clues arrive as unsettling phone calls and coded messages, turning everyday interactions into a puzzle. Brianne pieces together disparate hints to identify the killer and his motive. The narrative keeps the audience guessing about who is behind the attacks until the final confrontation.

💔 Love Obsession

Romantic feelings and jealousy braid into the plot, shaping motivations and conflicts among characters. Justin's protective concern contrasts with Tom's hidden entanglements, driving suspicion and tension. The pursuit of affection becomes a dangerous incentive for the killer and a catalyst for the climax.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:49

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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.

Thrillers with a deadly cat-and-mouse chase like Hotline

A lone protagonist races against a brilliant killer in a deadly game of wits.If you liked the intense, high-stakes game between the helpline operator and the killer in Hotline, you'll enjoy these movies. This list features similar thrillers where a clever protagonist is hunted and manipulated by a brilliant adversary, creating a nerve-wracking race to stop the next murder.

suspensefulanxiousthreateningobsessivehigh-stakespsychological gamerace against time

Narrative Summary

These narratives focus on a direct, escalating conflict between a hunter and the hunted. The protagonist, often an ordinary person thrust into extraordinary danger, must use their intelligence and resourcefulness to decipher clues and survive the antagonist's deadly games, which frequently involve taunting communication and psychological torture.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their central, high-tension conflict between a vulnerable hero and a psychologically tormenting villain. They share a specific type of suspense built on intellectual challenge, personal threat, and a steady escalation towards a final, violent confrontation.

Claustrophobic thrillers with resilient heroines like in Hotline

A woman fights for survival from a confined or psychologically trapping space.Fans of Hotline's tense atmosphere and strong female lead will find more to love here. These movies feature women pushed to their limits, often isolated or confined, who must overcome a terrifying threat using intelligence and courage rather than brute force. They capture a similar feeling of paranoia and personal siege.

claustrophobicparanoidsuspensefulresourcefulfemale-drivenpsychological pressuresurvival

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern revolves around confinement—be it physical, like a single location, or psychological, like being the sole target of a stalker. The heroine's journey is one of escalating fear and empowerment, as she transforms from a victim into a survivor by confronting the threat head-on from within her constrained circumstances.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their focus on a female-centric perspective of terror and survival, a consistently tense and claustrophobic mood, and a plot that emphasizes mental fortitude over physical action. They deliver a specific brand of suspense that feels personal and immersive.

Unlock the Full Story of Hotline

Don't stop at just watching — explore Hotline 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 Hotline is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Hotline Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Hotline, 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.

Hotline Summary

Hotline Timeline

Track the full timeline of Hotline with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Hotline Timeline

Hotline Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Hotline 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.

Hotline Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Hotline

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Hotline: 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 Hotline

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Discover movies like Hotline that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.