Restraint

Restraint

Year: 2008

Runtime: 94 mins

Language: English

Director: David Denneen

DramaThrillerIntense violence and sexual transgressionTwisted dark psychological thrillerSuspenseful crime thrillers

Seclusion. Seduction. Survival. Two fugitives land in hot water when they take a hostage who poses a threat to their well-being.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Restraint (2008)

Trace every key event in Restraint (2008) 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

Ron kills Dale's boss

Ron shoots and kills Dale's boss, the owner of the strip club, before the main events begin. This murder triggers the fugitives' flight and sets the tone for the brutal chase. The act establishes Ron's volatility and Dale's uneasy complicity in the crime.

Pre-story Strip club
2

Gas station murder spotted by witness

On the run, Dale and Ron murder a gas station attendant who has seen the body in the trunk. The killing removes a potential witness and escalates the danger as their flight continues. Their need for a safe hideout becomes urgent.

During escape Gas station
3

Hideout at Andrew's estate

The couple stumbles onto Andrew's magnificent country estate and decide to hide there. Andrew is an agoraphobic art dealer, which creates a tense dynamic given the fugitives' need for safety and control. Their arrival marks the start of a deadly game of survival.

Early in the story Andrew's country estate
4

Ron's abuse and Dale's intervention

Ron becomes abusive and threatens to kill Andrew, showing how quickly the situation could turn deadly. Dale intervenes, trying to protect their host and keep the peace. The tense household becomes a battleground of fear and manipulation.

Initial confrontation Estate residence
5

Andrew's offer and the plan to fetch the goods

Andrew offers to provide AU 40,000 and valuable jewelry to aid their getaway. He suggests that one person must go to the bank to retrieve the goods and proposes that Dale pose as his fiancée Gabrielle. The plan hinges on maintaining the appearance of legitimacy while concealing the truth.

Soon after Estate
6

Dale travels to town as Gabrielle

Dale drives to town and enters the bank twice without arousing suspicion, presenting herself as Gabrielle. The bank visits demonstrate the feasibility of the ruse and the fragility of their plan. The tension lies in keeping up the deception under close scrutiny.

During the bank visits Town bank
7

Andrew reveals Gabrielle's past and the murder photo

While Dale is away, Andrew tells Ron that Gabrielle had left him after an affair with his father, and that he later hired a hit man to kill the father. He shows a photo as leverage to extract cooperation and keep Ron in line. The revelation deepens the manipulation at the heart of their alliance.

While Dale is in town Estate
8

Ron's cell and escape

Andrew locks Ron in the cellar, claiming to fetch the photo, but Ron escapes and regains the upper hand. The power shift heightens the sense of danger within the house. Ron's captivity is short-lived and his threat persists.

During the bank trip Cellar
9

Return and the gun mishap

Dale returns to find Ron ready to kill Andrew. She grabs a shotgun and fires, only to discover the gun is unloaded. Ron knocks her out and leaves her locked in a car filling with exhaust, taunting Andrew to face his agoraphobia to save her.

Return from town Estate
10

Andrew saves Dale and Ron is wounded

Andrew manages to save Dale and wounds Ron, who is then killed by Dale, ending the immediate danger. The showdown resolves the external threat but leaves their future relationship unsettled. The balance of power remains precarious as the trio's loyalties blur.

Climax Estate
11

Gabrielle's voice and their union

With Ron dead, Andrew tries to call the police, but Dale reasserts Gabrielle's persona and tells Andrew that she loves him in Gabrielle's voice. They have sex, further merging their fates and blurring consent with manipulation. The moment deepens the ambiguity of their dynamic.

After the confrontation Estate interior
12

Gabrielle's fate sealed

Dale asks what would happen if Gabrielle returned, and Andrew says she is gone. He burns Gabrielle's passport, hinting that he has killed her or that the persona will never come back. The act seals Gabrielle's fate and cements their dangerous bond.

After sex Estate
13

Final scene: Wagner and the forlorn gaze

Andrew plays Wagner downstairs while Dale gazes out the top-floor window, signaling a somber, unresolved ending. Both characters carry secrets that keep them tethered to the house and to each other. The finale leaves their escape unresolved and morally murky.

Ending Estate; top-floor window

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 08:55

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Restraint Summary

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Restraint Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Restraint

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Restraint

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Restraint Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Restraint

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