Night Screams

Night Screams

Year: 1987

Runtime: 84 mins

Language: English

Director: Allen Plone

Horror

On the night a football star throws a party for his friends, the celebration turns deadly when two deranged inmates escape from a nearby asylum. Desperate to evade the police, they stumble into the same gathering, turning the night into a terrifying hunt.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Night Screams (1987)

Trace every key event in Night Screams (1987) 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

Farewell party opens as uninvited guests crash the celebration

In Wichita, David's friends throw him a serious farewell party to celebrate his college scholarship. Three unseen intruders—Runner, Snake, and a former mental patient—secretly gatecrash the gathering and hide around the house. The party atmosphere quickly devolves into fear as the guests sense they are being hunted.

Evening David's house, Wichita, Kansas
2

Mason is brutally murdered in the living room

Mason sits alone in a rocking chair when the killer strikes, impaling him with a fireplace poker. The sudden violence shocks everyone and confirms that the intruders intend to kill. Panic spreads as guests realize they are targets.

Early evening Living room
3

Brenda leaves, then is killed in the driveway

Brenda, feeling rejected by Mason, exits the party and enters her car. Someone in the back grabs her, forcing her to flee and hide under an abandoned car. The killer destroys the car lifter, causing Brenda to be crushed to death.

Late evening Front driveway / near an abandoned car
4

Chris and Doug pursue sex as the danger looms

Inside the chaos, Chris and Doug decide to pursue sex in a different part of the house. The other guests drink and bicker while the intruders move through the home, setting the stage for more brutal killings. The party atmosphere gives way to mounting fear and distrust.

Evening House interiors (various rooms)
5

Doug dies in the sauna from a poison-gas trap

Doug rests in the sauna when the killer uses a light-bulb cable to toss into the hot stones, releasing poison gas. He dies swiftly in the heat, signaling the attackers' ruthless reach. The remaining guests realize the danger is no longer theoretical.

Shortly after Sauna room
6

Chris is killed by an axe in the pool

Chris finishes his moment with a poolside encounter and goes to swim, unaware of the lurking danger. The killer strikes from the shadows, killing him with an axe to the head. The pool area becomes another deadly scene in the sequence of murders.

Soon after Pool area
7

Chuck is murdered after the Jacuzzi encounter

Frannie and Chuck make out in the Jacuzzi, but Chuck’s night ends when the killer forces his face into a grilling pan and stabs his neck. The attack happens quickly, turning romance into horror. The kitchen and Jacuzzi areas become connected crime scenes as the killer works through the house.

Later in the party Jacuzzi and kitchen
8

Lisa is strangled by Snake in the cellar

Lisa descends to the cellar to fetch more wine and is grabbed by Snake, who strangles her to death. The basement becomes a grim stage for the attackers’ methods. The body count continues to rise as fear grips the survivors.

Mid to late evening Cellar
9

Runner is suffocated by Snake after Lisa's death

Runner, distressed by the carnage, is cornered by Snake and suffocated with cling film. The methodical strangulation demonstrates the killers' control over the house. The remaining guests scramble to hide and survive.

Late evening Cellar / surrounding area
10

Russell dies at the pool via pool cue confrontation

Russell is pulled into a deadly struggle and choked to death with a pool cue. The pool area becomes a vicious crime site as the killer’s reach extends. The party’s survivors are left terrified and quieter as the night wears on.

Evening Pool area
11

Frannie is electrocuted in the Jacuzzi

Frannie sits in the Jacuzzi when the killers trigger a fatal shock, electrocuting her in the hot water. The Jacuzzi becomes a chilling crime scene and adds to the escalating body count. The remaining guests sense the end of any safety inside the house.

Evening Jacuzzi
12

D.B. discovers corpses and is stabbed by the killer

D.B. finds the corpses of Russell, Runner, and Lisa and begins searching for others. As he moves through the dim house, he is stabbed in the gut by the unseen killer. The situation grows bleaker as more lives are lost.

Evening to night House interior
13

Snake is killed by D.B. in a final confrontation

Snake attacks David as the danger tightens, but the dying D.B. arrives and fatally stabs Snake. The act marks the end of the immediate threat from one of the intruders, but trouble remains for David. The survivors brace for the final confrontation.

Night House interior
14

Final confrontation and revelation of Joni's insanity

David reunites with Joni and learns she is insane and responsible for more killings, though Lisa allegedly remains an exception in the revelation. Joni then tries to stab David as his parents and a police officer arrive and open fire. The night's chaos culminates in a violent showdown and a grim reveal about David's temper.

End of night House / exterior

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:36

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Night Screams Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Night Screams

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