Year: 2002
Runtime: 12 mins
Language: English
Director: Reza Parsa
A suicide-bomber leaves a message in videotape for his daughter minutes before the attack.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen Meeting Evil 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!
Read the complete plot breakdown of Meeting Evil (2002), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
John Felton, a gentle and unassuming real estate agent living in Orly County, finds his life turned upside down after a series of devastating events. Residing in a small, unnamed southern state—likely Louisiana—John’s world begins to unravel when he is unexpectedly fired from his job, leaving him feeling vulnerable and uncertain about his future. That same day, he returns home to discover a foreclosure notice plastered on his door, a harsh reminder of mounting financial despair. Despite the chaos, his wife Joanie and their two children, Sam and John Jr., organize a surprise birthday party, attempting to bring some joy into their lives amidst the hardships.
As John contemplates his bleak situation, he gazes at the freshly dug hole for their new swimming pool in the backyard, deep in thought and overwhelmed by feelings of despair. His moment of introspection is interrupted by an unexpected, loud banging at the front door. When he answers, he encounters a man calling himself Richie, dressed in a suit and fedora, who claims his stalled 1972 Pontiac GTO needs help pushing it. John, feeling sympathetic, helps push the car, but during the process, the car backfires, injuring his left knee. Richie then reveals a concealed revolver beneath his coat, creating an unsettling tension, although he quickly conceals it upon seeing a little girl walking her dog nearby.
Richie offers to take John to the hospital, but John, not realizing he’s leaving behind his wallet and cell phone, reluctantly agrees. During their ride, the strangeness of Richie becomes apparent—he constantly whistling Dixie adds an eerie undertone to their conversation. Eventually, Richie pulls into a bar, prompting John to cross the street to a nearby cell phone shop, where a rude clerk named Rhonda refuses to let him use a phone to contact Joanie for a ride home.
At the bar, John unexpectedly comes face-to-face with [Trevor] and [Tammy Strate], both of whom have complicated histories with John. Trevor was the man who fired him, and Tammy, with whom John had an affair, was Trevor’s former girlfriend. Their interactions hint at unresolved tensions, revealing the complicated web of relationships that have contributed to John’s current tough circumstances.
Soon, police cars arrive at the scene, adding to the sense of impending trouble. Richie suggests they leave quickly, and the trio departs in Tammy’s car. Their journey takes a dark turn when a trucker—who turns out to be Rhonda’s boyfriend—is aggressive and forces them to pull over. The situation escalates as the trucker approaches John with a tire iron, believing John is responsible for Rhonda’s death. In a shocking act of violence, Richie intervenes by striking the trucker with his car, killing him instantly. It’s later revealed that Richie is a dangerous psychopath who had previously murdered Rhonda.
As the chaos spirals out of control, local police officers like [Frank] and [Latisha] suspect John of being the killer, complicating his efforts to clear his name. Realizing he’s entangled in a deadly situation, John teams up with Tammy to escape Richie’s grasp. Tammy manages to flee from Richie, and John, desperately trying to get away, is captured when Richie disguises himself as a deputy. Facing increasing peril, John finally forces Richie to release him, only to learn that Richie is threatening the safety of Joanie and the children.
The story reaches a violent climax after a brutal massacre at a local store and a subsequent arrest of John by Officer Frank, who refuses to believe his innocence. However, Tammy’s testimony and additional murders committed while John is in custody support his story, leading to his eventual release. That night, John returns home with his family, attempting to restore normalcy, but their relief is short-lived.
Unbeknownst to them, Richie is still alive and lurking nearby. As heavy rains pour down, Richie shows up at the Felton house, threatening the family during dinner. He reveals that Joanie had hired him to kill John for insurance money, fueling their confrontation. In a desperate struggle, Joanie tries to stab John, but he disarms her. In the chaos, John stabs Richie, and Joanie uses a golf club to attack him too. The confrontation ends with John and Richie falling into the backyard pool, which has filled with rainwater, as they struggle fiercely.
Law enforcement arrives amid the chaos. Officer Latisha shoots and kills Richie, ending his reign of terror. As the night settles, Joanie softly asks John if everything is going to be okay, sensing the turmoil may not be over. He remains silent, turning off his light and ominously whistling Dixie—echoing Richie’s earlier behavior—suggesting that a dark presence still lingers over their lives. This haunting conclusion leaves viewers with a chilling sense of foreboding, emphasizing how quickly peaceful lives can descend into violence and chaos.
Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 05:12
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.
When the safety of home is violently shattered by a charming psychopath.If you liked the terrifying home invasion in Meeting Evil, explore more movies where a family's sanctuary is shattered by external evil. These films share a similar vibe of claustrophobic terror and the psychological unraveling that occurs when safety is violently stripped away.
Narratives typically begin with a seemingly normal domestic setting that is abruptly invaded, often by a single, highly manipulative antagonist. The plot revolves around the psychological and physical siege, escalating tension as the protagonist's resources and sanity are tested within the confines of their own home.
These movies are grouped by their core premise of a violated sanctuary and the intense, claustrophobic dread that follows. They share a high-stakes, personal threat, a fast-paced spiral into chaos, and a focus on the psychological impact of having one's safe haven turned into a prison.
Watch an average person unravel into violence under extreme pressure.Fans of Meeting Evil who were captivated by John's harrowing descent will find similar stories here. These films explore the theme of an ordinary man's moral unraveling, featuring similar fast-paced narratives, heavy emotional weight, and dark, ambiguous conclusions about human nature.
The narrative pattern follows a linear, fast-paced descent. An everyman protagonist, often burdened by personal struggles, is confronted with a catalyst of extreme violence or manipulation. This triggers a chain reaction of events that strip away their morality, forcing them to become as ruthless as the forces opposing them, often culminating in an ambiguous or bleak ending.
Movies in this thread share a core character arc: the destruction of an ordinary life and the protagonist's grim adaptation to survive. They are united by a heavy emotional weight, a dark tone, and a pacing that feels like a runaway train, leaving little room for respite as the character fundamentally changes.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Meeting Evil 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 Meeting Evil is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Meeting Evil with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Meeting Evil. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Meeting Evil 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.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Meeting Evil: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.