It's a Disaster

It's a Disaster

Year: 2013

Runtime: 88 min

Language: English

Director: Todd Berger

DramaComedy

When a global catastrophe threatens, four very different couples find themselves unexpectedly bound together during a Sunday brunch. As the looming disaster unfolds and panic rises, they are forced to confront their relationships and personal flaws. This darkly comedic drama explores themes of love, survival, and the often-absurd nature of human connection in the face of crisis.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – It's a Disaster (2013)

Trace every key event in It's a Disaster (2013) 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

Brunch Gathering

Four couples come together for their usual brunch, setting a tone of cheerful camaraderie. However, the atmosphere quickly shifts as tensions arise, hinting at deeper issues surfacing among friends.

2

Introduction of Glenn

Glenn is introduced to the group for the first time as he is dating Dr. Tracey. The others are curious about him and speculate on his compatibility with Tracey, who is known for her discerning nature.

3

Waiting for Late Arrivals

As the brunch proceeds, the group awaits the arrival of Jenny and Gordon, the fifth couple. Their absence adds to the awkwardness, creating a sense of impatience among the attendees.

4

Men Away for Football

The men excuse themselves to catch a football game, creating an opening for the women to discuss their personal lives. The playful atmosphere among the women quickly drops when the men return to realize they are cut off from the outside world.

5

News of the Attack

Neighbor Hal unexpectedly arrives wearing a hazardous materials suit, delivering alarming news about multiple dirty bombs detonating across the nation. The couples are shaken when they learn one bomb is just 12 miles away.

6

Emergency Preparations

In light of the emergency, the couples frantically gather supplies and secure the house with duct tape. The urgency reveals hidden tensions and starts to surface unexpected secrets within the group.

7

Shocking Secrets Revealed

Amidst the chaos, shocking confessions arise, exposing affairs between some of the couples and advances made towards Glenn. The atmosphere becomes increasingly fraught as trust begins to erode.

8

Hedy's Revelation

Hedy, a chemistry teacher, realizes the seriousness of the situation when they hear on the radio that the bombs contained VX nerve agent. Understanding they may have mere hours to live, she transitions from shock to action.

9

Dance Party Begins

In a surprising twist, Hedy starts a dance party with Lexi and Buck after concocting a batch of 'poor man's ecstasy.' This moment of levity contrasts sharply with the looming threat outside.

10

Shane's Paranoia

Shane grows increasingly paranoid, utilizing survival tactics from comic books to protect the group. His suspicious behavior causes friction, particularly with Dr. Tracey, as they argue about the nature of danger they face.

11

Desperate Proposal

Feeling overwhelmed, Shane suggests they abandon the house in search of other survivors. However, their plans derail when they discover that the SUV’s battery is dead, forcing them to reconsider their options.

12

Decision to Stay Together

Facing the grim reality, the group opts to remain together and enjoy the meal they originally planned. They attempt to make the best of their situation, embracing a sense of camaraderie despite the impending doom.

13

Glenn's Disturbing Plan

Glenn ventures into the cellar and is caught adding poison to their wine. He believes they are facing The Last Judgment and wishes to spare his friends from the horrors of the end times.

14

Final Toast Preparations

As the group discusses Glenn's disturbing mindset, they come to a shared realization of their dire situation. Tensions rise as they prepare to drink the poisoned wine, acknowledging a swift death may be less painful than the alternative.

15

Fateful Decision

Ultimately, the group collectively decides to drink the poisoned wine, preparing for their fate. They count down, grappling with fear and uncertainty in the chilling atmosphere, as they toast to an unknown future.

Last Updated: November 08, 2024 at 02:03

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Explore Movie Threads

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Claustrophobic social collapse movies like It's a Disaster

Where a confined space and a looming threat reveal the darkest truths.If you enjoyed the tense, confined setting of It's a Disaster, this thread gathers movies where groups are trapped together during a catastrophe. These films use a single location to explore how relationships fracture and true natures emerge under the pressure of a shared existential threat, creating a deeply anxious and character-driven experience.

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The narrative typically begins with a group of people in a contained environment. An external threat—be it apocalyptic, supernatural, or human—seals them in, turning their sanctuary into a prison. The story unfolds in real-time or over a short period, as the characters' pre-existing tensions are amplified by the crisis, leading to paranoia, desperate decisions, and often a bleak resolution.

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These films are grouped by their shared use of a confined setting to generate intense psychological drama. They prioritize character revelation over action, using the high-stakes scenario to explore themes of trust, survival, and the fragility of civilization on a micro-scale. The experience is defined by a building sense of dread and a focus on interpersonal dynamics.

Apocalyptic character satire similar to It's a Disaster

Using the end of the world as a mirror for our personal absurdities.For viewers who liked the darkly comedic take on the apocalypse in It's a Disaster, this collection highlights films that satirize human behavior during crises. These movies balance high stakes with character-driven humor, finding the comedy in moral collapse, social hypocrisy, and the ridiculousness of maintaining appearances even as the world falls apart.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a catastrophic event that serves as a backdrop for a character study. The plot progression is less about surviving the event itself and more about how the event exposes the characters' true selves. The humor arises from the absurdity of their priorities, their denial, and the dramatic irony of their actions in the face of certain doom, often leading to a cynically humorous or bleakly ironic conclusion.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their unique tonal blend of high-stakes scenarios and sharp, often dark, social satire. They share a common goal: to use the ultimate pressure test of an apocalypse to comedically dissect themes like relationship drama, existential crisis, and the superficiality of modern life. The experience is a mix of laughter and existential dread.

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It's a Disaster Summary

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It's a Disaster Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in It's a Disaster

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Characters, Settings & Themes in It's a Disaster

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More About It's a Disaster

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