Year: 1942
Runtime: 94 mins
Language: English
Director: Archie Mayo
A Great New Star to thrill you! Strange romance to intrigue you! After a drunken night out, a longshoreman thinks he may have killed a man.
Get a spoiler-free look at Moontide (1942) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In the gray‑blue haze of San Pablo Bay, a night of hard drinking leaves a dock worker dazed and uncertain of his own actions. He awakens on a weather‑worn barge, the scent of salt and oil thick in the air, and learns from the bar’s owner—a stoic fisherman—that he has agreed to work for him. The setting is a tight‑knit waterfront community where the rhythm of tides matches the pulse of lives that cling to the water’s edge, and the lingering fog gives the whole place a dreamlike, almost noir quality.
Bobo—the longshoreman whose memory is as fragmented as the broken planks beneath his feet—finds himself caught between the urge to flee and the fear that a night’s excess may have led to something far darker. The barge becomes a temporary sanctuary, a place where the sea’s steady murmur masks the unease of a man who suspects he might have crossed a line he cannot recall. As he navigates this uneasy truce with his own conscience, the surrounding town offers a cast of vivid personalities: a gritty, protective friend who insists on loyalty, a philosophical watchman who measures life in quiet observations, and a mysterious woman whose presence adds a current of intrigue to the already charged atmosphere.
The tone sways between gritty realism and a strange, lingering romance, inviting the audience to wonder how much of the night’s chaos was imagined and how much will shape what comes next. Against the backdrop of creaking wood and the relentless surf, Bobo must decide whether to remain anchored by duty and the subtle pull of newfound connections, or to let the tide carry him back into the obscurity of the night that still haunts his thoughts.
Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 10:00
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.
Dark pasts and guilty consciences on the path to a second chance.If you enjoyed the mix of suspense and personal salvation in Moontide, discover more movies like it. This thread gathers atmospheric thrillers and dramas where troubled characters seek a fresh start, grappling with guilt and danger in a morally complex world.
The narrative typically begins with a protagonist burdened by a secret or a crime. A new relationship or opportunity offers hope, but the past resurges, creating external threats and internal doubt. The climax forces a confrontation with their history, leading to a cathartic resolution that allows for a hopeful, if scarred, future.
These films are united by a focus on moral ambiguity and the possibility of change. They share a tense, moody atmosphere, often borrowing from film noir, and balance serious themes of violence and guilt with a core of hopeful human connection.
Where foggy docks and tight-knit communities hide dark secrets.Fans of the foggy, tense harbor setting in Moontide will find more movies like it here. Explore thrillers and dramas where the world of docks, bars, and boats amplifies suspense, traps characters, and fuels narratives of murder and suspicion.
The narrative often revolves around a crime or secret that disrupts the fragile ecosystem of the waterfront community. The confined setting forces characters into close quarters, heightening tensions, allegiances, and betrayals. The environment's inherent danger and isolation mirror the characters' internal struggles.
These films share a powerful sense of place that dictates the mood and plot. The waterfront setting provides a unique blend of claustrophobia and vast, unknown horizons, creating a backdrop for stories where physical and emotional survival are intertwined.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Moontide 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 Moontide is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of Moontide, 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.
Track the full timeline of Moontide 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 Moontide. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Moontide: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
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