Killshot

Killshot

Year: 2009

Runtime: 95 min

Language: English

Director: John Madden

DramaThrillerCrime

A hardened hitman and his unpredictable apprentice are tasked with hunting down a couple who stumbled upon a dangerous secret. Seeking safety in the Witness Protection Program, the couple soon discovers that government protection offers little defense against the relentless assassins determined to permanently silence them. Mickey Rourke and Joseph Gordon-Levitt lead the cast in this suspenseful thriller.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Killshot (2009)

Trace every key event in Killshot (2009) 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

Blackbird's accidental shooting of his younger brother

During a job, Blackbird accidentally shoots his younger brother. This event haunts him and foreshadows the brutal violence that marks his future.

2

Hired for a hotel hit; witness killed

Years after the incident, Blackbird is hired by a Mafia boss to kill the man's father-in-law at a hotel. During that job, he also kills a key witness, heightening his reputation and reach.

years later hotel
3

Walpole Island encounter: Lionel and Wayne

While visiting Walpole Island, Blackbird runs into Lionel, a fellow First Nations member, and notices Wayne Colson, a recently fired ironworker. The meeting plants seeds for future conflict as the trio's fates become intertwined.

Walpole Island
4

Wayne and Carmen separate; Michigan move

Wayne and his wife Carmen have separated, and Wayne travels to Michigan to collect belongings from their house. This move sets the stage for the later confrontation between Blackbird and the Colsons.

Michigan
5

The hitman learns he's marked; teams with Richie Nix

Blackbird learns the Mafia boss intends to kill him for the earlier witness death and decides to act. He teams up with Richie Nix to extort Nelson Davies, Carmen's boss, drawing them into a broader criminal scheme.

6

Mistaken identity at Carmen's office

Blackbird and Richie visit Carmen's office to ask for a job, but Wayne is mistaken for Davies by the pair. The mistaken identity raises the stakes and foreshadows the danger Wayne will face.

Carmen's office
7

Extortion attempt at the Colsons' house

Richie demands money at gunpoint, but Wayne fights back and hurls Richie out a window. Blackbird escapes with Richie, and Blackbird vows to kill Wayne and Carmen.

Colsons' house
8

Lionel killed on Walpole Island; Wayne identified

Blackbird recognizes Wayne from Walpole Island and, with Richie, pressures Lionel for Wayne's whereabouts before killing him. The killing tightens the noose around the Colsons and signals escalating violence.

Walpole Island
9

Morning FBI briefing; Witness Protection

In the morning, the FBI informs the Colsons about Blackbird and they are placed into Witness Protection. The revelation shifts their immediate safety and the dynamics of the pursuit.

morning FBI/Witness Protection
10

Donna's presence and Missouri move

Richie and Donna stay with Richie's girlfriend, while the Colsons move to Missouri. Carmen suspects the FBI is using them as bait, but she reconnects with Wayne as they start anew.

Missouri
11

Fake deaths; DNA proof

Blackbird and Richie coerce the Mafia boss into burning one of his brother's bodies with another corpse to fake their deaths. DNA testing links the corpse to Blackbird's incarcerated brother, convincing the FBI that the killers are dead.

12

Donna's murder; pursuit to Colsons

Jealous of Donna's advances toward Blackbird, Richie shoots her before they depart to kill the Colsons. The act escalates the danger and tightens the pursuit.

Donna's residence
13

Carmen finds Richie and Blackbird; hostage torment

Carmen returns home to find Richie and Blackbird waiting; Richie torments Carmen, spraying buck lure, and forcing her to stay in her underwear while threatening her with a gun.

Colsons' home
14

Final standoff; Richie's death

Blackbird shoots Richie dead after tiring of his taunts about Donna. He disarms Carmen, then Wayne arrives to recover his shotgun as the confrontation escalates.

Colsons' home
15

Carmen and Wayne end the threat

Carmen aims the gun she found at Blackbird, but remembers the bullet she spat earlier. Wayne crawls to his shotgun as Blackbird moves in, and the two fire simultaneously, killing Blackbird as they embrace.

Colsons' home

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 10:30

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Killshot

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