Night Visions

Night Visions

Year: 1990

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: English

Director: Wes Craven

CrimeHorrorThrillerTV Movie

An invisible serial killer! Become one with the killer’s thoughts! A Los Angeles detective teams up with a psychic to hunt down a serial killer.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Night Visions 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 – Night Visions (1990)

Trace every key event in Night Visions (1990) 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

Ray confronts Aura in the club

Ray sits in a club, his jealousy boiling as Aura dances with other men. He angrily pulls her off the floor, sparking a brief fight. Aura storms out and takes the car home, leaving Ray fuming.

opening scene Club
2

Aura is murdered in the parking lot

Later, in the parking lot, Aura is choked to death with a hose. The killer leaves her body on the ground with her legs spread apart.

Parking lot
3

Ray questioned as 'Spread-Eagle Killer' emerges

The papers report that the 'Spread-Eagle Killer' has struck a fourth time and Ray is brought in for questioning. Sergeant Thomas Mackey conducts the interrogation roughly, testing his nerves and instincts.

Police Station
4

Dr. Sally Powers joins the case

The extremely intuitive Dr. Sally Powers, a specialist in criminal psychopathology, is brought in to help understand the killer's mind. Mackey is allowed to forego a ten-day suspension and to continue to work on the case if he agrees to supervise Powers.

Police Headquarters
5

Next murder scene reveals rape motive

At the scene of the next murder, Powers writhes on the floor inside the tape outline of the victim and declares that the victim was raped. Her claim reinforces the killer's predatory profile and foreshadows deeper trauma.

Murder Scene
6

Powers relives a childhood murder

That night in bed, Powers relives a murder she survived as a child. The experience underscores how her mind fragments into other personalities as a defense.

Night Bedroom
7

Hunch leads to the health club

The next morning, Powers is called to the station to meet with the captain, but a stronger instinct drives her to a health club. Her hunch sets in motion her hands-on involvement in the investigation.

Morning Health club
8

Powers demonstrates imitation to unlock the case

Inside the health club, she emulates the instructors' behavior to take over a class when the next body is found in another room. The display of imitation convinces Mackey of Powers's talent for reading killers' minds.

Health club
9

Next location predicted: the biker bar

After an argument with Mackey, Powers predicts the next location will be a biker bar. Her insight showcases her evolving psychological approach to the case.

Biker Bar
10

Mackey catches Powers with a knife at the biker bar

Mackey follows her to a back room in the biker bar and finds her with a knife in her hand beside a freshly murdered woman. The victim was not stabbed; instead, the blows from a blunt object left the body damaged.

Biker Bar – Back Room
11

Diner confrontation and waitress mimicry

Mackey apologizes to Powers at a diner, and he witnesses her imitate the waitress's mannerisms. The moment highlights her uncanny ability to adopt other personas.

Diner
12

Powers embraces the killer's mindset, fears it

Powers begins to think like the killer, encouraged by Mackey, but the realization frightens her and she runs away. The line between observer and participant grows dangerously thin.

13

Commissioner explains Powers's trauma-fueled dissociation

The commissioner explains to Mackey that Powers is the survivor of an attack on her family, which forced her to retreat into other personalities. This history explains her dissociative tendencies and the danger of powerful empathy with the killer.

Police Headquarters
14

Vitruvian Man map reveals killer's plan

Powers maps the murders on a diagram inspired by Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man and concludes that the killer is assembling a 'perfect' woman. Her analysis crystallizes the pattern and motive driving the crimes.

Office/Map Room
15

Final rooftop showdown and death

Powers corners the killer at the rooftop for a final confrontation with Mackey. The killer tries to murder them but ends up falling to his death, bringing the case to a dramatic close.

Rooftop

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:03

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Night Visions Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Night Visions, 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.

Night Visions Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Night Visions

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Night Visions

More About Night Visions

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