Jackrabbit (2015) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Eric's suicide is never fully explained in the film. What is known is that he became involved with anti-Vopo hackers and was eventually sent to juvenile detention. The encrypted message he left behind suggests he discovered something significant about Vopo or The Reset that may have contributed to his decision. The film leaves his exact motivations ambiguous, letting the mystery drive the investigation rather than providing closure.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes hint that Eric's involvement with hackers and potential discoveries led to his isolation, but no single cause is confirmed.

• eric suicide
• character death
• jackrabbit mystery

The Reset was a global event that occurred 25 years before the film, causing the collapse of advanced technology. After The Reset, humanity rebuilt using salvaged 1980s-era technology, creating a dystopian world where corporations like Vopo Technologies gained control over surviving cities. The event serves as the catalyst for the film's setting, explaining why City Six operates under strict surveillance and why technology is primitive.

Foreshadowing: The post-apocalyptic aesthetic and constant references to scavenging older technology establish The Reset's impact on society.

• the reset
• apocalypse
• world building
• dystopian

Simon reveals at the end of the film that he informed on Eric to save himself when Eric was sent to juvenile detention. This betrayal explains why Max already knew about Simon's action despite never confronting him directly. Simon's choice reflects his desire for self-preservation within Vopo's system, contrasting with Max's continued loyalty to Eric's memory.

Foreshadowing: Simon's guilt throughout the film and his hesitation to fully commit to Max's investigation hint at this past betrayal.

• simon betrayal
• eric
• inform
• juvenile detention

Max believes Vopo killed his mother. This revelation comes from a tape recording he kept, which he initially thought contained music but instead held a recording of his mother's voice. The tape is played during the curfew night at Grace's house, confirming Max's deep-seated hatred for Vopo and his personal motivation for joining the resistance.

Foreshadowing: Max's intense hostility toward Vopo from the beginning foreshadows a deeply personal loss tied to the organization.

• max mother
• vopo
• tape recording
• revenge

Tom was Paul Bateson's idealistic partner and a talented computer hacker who co-founded Vopo Technologies. Bateson mentions Tom during his conversation with Simon, suggesting Tom left Vopo because he became disillusioned with how the organization evolved. Tom later left a hidden message expressing regret about what Vopo became, inviting anyone who could decode it to join him in searching for other surviving cities beyond City Six.

Foreshadowing: Bateson's conversation with Simon hints that Tom's departure was tied to a conflict between idealism and the need for stability.

• tom
• bateson
• vopo founder
• hacker
• hidden message

Tom's hidden message, uncovered through an anonymous hacker, expresses regret about how Vopo and City Six have turned out. It invites anyone who can decode his message to join him in searching for other surviving cities. This message reframes the investigation from a personal mystery into a broader quest for remnants of civilization outside Vopo's control.

Foreshadowing: Tom's message was encrypted for a reason, Vopo actively suppresses information about other potential settlements.

• tom message
• hidden message
• other cities
• resistance

Simon declines Max's offer to leave City Six, revealing that he has chosen to ally himself with Vopo. His decision comes after witnessing both the dangers of the outside world and the internal corruption within Vopo. Despite his earlier doubts, Simon appears to accept Bateson's argument that stability and safety are preferable to chaos, though the film leaves his exact reasoning ambiguous.

Foreshadowing: Simon's guilt over betraying Eric and his growing comfort with Vopo's systems foreshadow his ultimate choice to remain.

• simon choice
• vopo
• ending
• desert
• max

Vopo Technologies is the corporation that controls City Six after The Reset. Founded by Paul Bateson and his partner Tom, Vopo maintains order through extensive surveillance and strict control over the population. The name appears to be a play on 'vanguard' and 'police.' While Vopo presents itself as necessary for survival and stability, the film portrays it as an oppressive regime that suppresses dissent and eliminates those who challenge its authority.

Foreshadowing: The constant surveillance, curfews, and harsh enforcement throughout the film establish Vopo's authoritarian nature.

• vopo
• corporation
• surveillance
• city six
• control

Grace is killed by an unknown man immediately after Max and Simon leave her house. Her murder demonstrates Vopo's reach beyond the city's walls and serves as a warning to anyone investigating the conspiracy. The killer appears to be associated with Vopo or their allies, eliminating potential witnesses and suppressing information that could expose the organization's secrets.

Foreshadowing: Grace's involvement in helping them and her knowledge of the safe house made her a target for elimination.

• grace death
• murder
• vopo
• consequence

Max flees into the desert after Simon refuses to join him, choosing instead to pursue the possibility of finding other surviving cities based on Tom's message. Despite the danger of drones and the unknown outside City Six, Max's desperation for freedom and his desire to continue Eric's work drive him to escape alone. His departure represents the film's bittersweet ending, hope for liberation tempered by isolation and uncertainty.

Foreshadowing: Max's earlier statement that he would leave City Six if given the chance, combined with his personal vendetta against Vopo, sets up his final choice.

• max escape
• desert
• ending
• freedom
• drone

The encrypted message Eric sent Max contained cryptic video footage that led Max and Simon on their investigation through various clues. The message ultimately connected to Steven, a fellow hacker who was working with Eric, and eventually to Tom's hidden message about other cities. The encrypted file was the catalyst for the entire plot, serving as Eric's final contribution to the resistance against Vopo.

Foreshadowing: Eric's technical skills and connections to anti-Vopo hackers suggest he encoded crucial information for the right people to find.

• encrypted message
• eric
• max
• video footage
• steven

Max approached Simon because Simon had access to Vopo's systems through his job and possessed the technical skills needed to crack Eric's encryption. While Max was a skilled hacker, Simon's Vopo credentials and internal access provided advantages that Max lacked. Simon's position also made him a potential liability if discovered working with anti-Vopo elements, adding tension to their partnership.

Foreshadowing: Simon's initial refusal to help and his eventual agreement set the investigation in motion.

• simon max partnership
• vopo access
• decoding
• teamwork