Killer Workout

Killer Workout

Year: 1987

Runtime: 84 mins

Language: English

Director: David A. Prior

HorrorThrillerThrillers and murder mysteriesGory gruesome and slasher horrorSuspenseful crime thrillers

A seemingly ordinary fitness class turns deadly when a mysterious workout begins claiming victims. Two years earlier, Valerie survived a severe burn after a tanning‑salon accident, and her friend Rhonda now runs the local gym. As members start dying under strange circumstances, the community fears the exercise routine itself may be a lethal trap.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Killer Workout 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 & Setting – Killer Workout (1987)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Killer Workout (1987). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Los Angeles, tanning salon, fitness club, locker room, concrete plant, wooded area

The story unfolds in Los Angeles, centering on a women's fitness club and its surrounding spaces. Key locations include a tanning salon where Valerie's past begins, the gym's locker rooms, and a nearby concrete plant where violence erupts. The wooded area later becomes a stark backdrop for confrontations, while the concrete plant adds an industrial edge to the climactic moments. These varied settings underscore the film's shift between public workout spaces and private, threat-filled zones.

🏙️ Urban setting 🏋️ Gym environment 🧭 City backdrop

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:24

Main Characters – Killer Workout (1987)

Meet the key characters of Killer Workout (1987), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Valerie

A former model who survived a tanning salon fire and now lives with a hidden past. Five years after the accident she operates under the alias Rhonda Johnson, running a fitness club while concealing her scarred body. Her calculated restraint and willingness to manipulate others drive the murders as she fights to protect her rebuilt life.

💔 Tragedy 🎭 Deception 🧭 Identity

Rhonda Johnson

Valerie’s alias and public persona as the gym’s owner. She exerts control over the club and its people with a confident, icy demeanor, masking jealousy and ruthlessness beneath a charming surface. Her refusal to be exposed makes her the central architect of the killings and the ultimate survivor of the past.

🎯 Ambition 🗝️ Secret past

Jaimy

An aerobics instructor at the gym who is reprimanded by Rhonda for missing a class. She becomes entangled in the club’s dark events as a victim in the locker room and a witness to the escalating danger, illustrating the vulnerability of staff in a high-pressure fitness environment.

💪 Loyal 🧭 Vulnerable

Detective Morgan

The lead investigator assigned to the series of murders. He questions Rhonda and Jaimy, trying to connect the dots while confronting the possibility that the killer is closer to the gym than anyone suspects. His pursuit ultimately ends in a violent confrontation that highlights the perilous mix of crime and personal history.

🕵️‍♂️ Investigation 🔎 Mystery

Chuck Dawson

A manager figure hired by Rhonda’s senior partner who gets into a conflict with a patron. His murder marks one of the early high-profile acts in the serial killings, intensifying the sense that the gym is a dangerous crossroads for personal agendas.

⚔️ Conflict 🗝️ Hidden agendas

Jimmy Hallik

A patron and possibly a romantic rival who proclaims love for Rhonda and ends up killing Chuck to shield her. He is later killed by Rhonda, his murder recontextualized as an act within a convoluted love-triangle dynamic.

💘 Obsession 🔪 Serial violence

Rachael McClee

A client found dead in the locker, a victim in the early wave of murders. The discovery of a knitting needle as a misleading clue underscores the killers’ manipulation and the danger lurking in seemingly ordinary spaces.

💀 Victim 🧷 Locker room

Diane Matthews

A gym client whose locker contains a blood-stained knitting needle. Her murder, like Rachael’s, serves as a chilling reminder that appearances at the gym mask lethal intent and that suspects abound within the club.

💀 Victim 🧷 Locker room

Tom

A club patron who becomes a suspect in Detective Morgan’s investigation before being murdered in the locker area. His death is another piece of the puzzle that deepens the sense of danger around the club.

💀 Patron 🧭 Suspect

Debbie

Jimmy’s ex-girlfriend and a club patron who becomes involved in the gym’s social dynamics. Her presence adds friction to the relationships within the gym, illustrating how personal histories intersect with the killing spree.

💬 Patron 💔 Complication

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:24

Major Themes – Killer Workout (1987)

Explore the central themes of Killer Workout (1987), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Dual Identity

Valerie survives the tanning accident and adopts the alias Rhonda Johnson to run a gym and keep her scar hidden. The plot continually plays with who is seen versus who hides, turning appearances into strategic tools. Rhonda's outward charm conceals a calculated, dangerous edge that drives the murders. The twist that Valerie and Rhonda are the same person reframes the entire story as a masked struggle for a new life.

💘 Obsession

Jealousy and fixation drive the killings, tying romance to violent outcomes. Jimmy's claim of having killed Chuck out of love for Rhonda reveals a toxic code of devotion that justifies murder to protect a relationship. Debbie's presence and the broader gym-culture atmosphere intensify the sense that affection can become a weapon. The narrative shows how obsession can corrupt loyalty and escalate to serial violence.

🕵️ Investigation & Vigilantism

Detective Morgan investigates a string of brutal deaths, unraveling inconsistencies that point toward the club's inner circle. The case blurs the line between law enforcement and personal vendetta as Rhonda's secret remains protected by the absence of prosecution. Morgan's confrontation ends with his death at Rhonda's hands, illustrating a vigilante-like resolution outside formal justice. In the end, Rhonda is celebrated by patrons, complicating the morality of justice.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:24

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.

Unlock the Full Story of Killer Workout

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

Killer Workout Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Killer Workout, 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.

Killer Workout Summary

Killer Workout Timeline

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

Killer Workout Timeline

More About Killer Workout

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

Similar Movies to Killer Workout

Discover movies like Killer Workout 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.