Savage Weekend (1979) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Greg Pettis is Marie's estranged husband, a politician who suffered a high-profile scandal in New York City. After their divorce, Greg became obsessed with revenge and trailed Marie to the remote farmhouse. His motive is to force Marie into a murder-suicide at the lake, believing he has nothing left to live for after the scandal destroyed his career and marriage.

Foreshadowing: The movie hints at Greg's dangerous obsession early when Marie mentions her recent divorce from a politician whose scandal made headlines.

• greg
• marie
• ex husband
• murder suicide
• revenge
• politician
• scandal

The movie does not explicitly explain how Greg located the secluded farmhouse, but he was a politically connected figure with resources. Robert purchased the property recently, and Greg may have used his connections to track Marie's new boyfriend and discover their weekend destination.

• greg
• tracking
• location
• farmhouse
• stalking

Shirley purchased a grotesque face mask as a joke when the group stopped in the small town on their way to the farmhouse. Greg, who was secretly stalking them, stole or retrieved that same mask to disguise himself, making the murders appear random or connected to the group's own purchases.

Foreshadowing: The mask is bought early in the film as a lighthearted souvenir, making its later use as a murder weapon both ironic and disturbing.

• mask
• shirley
• killer disguise
• stealing mask
• irony

Nicky is attacked during a tango dance with Shirley on the second floor. The killer sneaks up behind him and stabs him through the head with a large sewing needle, killing him instantly while Shirley witnesses the attack.

• nicky
• death
• stabbed
• sewing needle
• tango

The killer ties Shirley to a table saw in the basement during the attack, but a power outage prevents the saw from activating and she survives the initial assault. The next morning, Mac arrives searching the house and unknowingly flips the basement light switch, restoring power to the saw which activates and kills Shirley while she remains restrained.

Foreshadowing: The killer deliberately ties Shirley to a functioning table saw, showing intent to use the machine as a murder weapon.

• shirley
• table saw
• accidental death
• mac
• basement power

Robert discovers Nicky's body upstairs while searching for the killer. Greg, still in pursuit, confronts Robert and throws him violently from a second-story window, killing him in the fall.

• robert
• death
• thrown
• window
• second floor

Mac arrives at the farmhouse the next morning to find it empty and silent. He goes to the basement and flips on the light switch, not knowing Shirley is still strapped to the table saw below. The restored power activates the saw, killing her instantly. It is a tragic accident born from his attempt to search the property.

Foreshadowing: Shirley was left bound to the saw after the power went out during the previous night's attack, creating this deadly ticking time bomb.

• mac
• shirley
• accident
• table saw
• basement light

After Greg attempts to drag Marie toward the lake for their planned murder-suicide, Mac arrives and fights him. The two men struggle on the ground until Otis, the local man who sold Robert the property, arrives on the scene. Otis kills Greg with a chainsaw, ending the murderous spree.

• greg
• death
• otis
• chainsaw
• lake
• murder suicide

Mac hints at a dark story when he mentions that Otis's father recently died under suspicious circumstances. Mac suggests Otis may have been involved in whatever happened to his father, implying Otis himself could be dangerous. However, the movie never fully explains what exactly occurred with Otis's father, and Otis ultimately arrives to save Marie from Greg.

Foreshadowing: This rumor adds early tension and makes Otis an ambiguous figure until his heroics at the end prove his loyalty.

• otis
• rumor
• father death
• mac
• local story

Nicky is openly gay and was earlier harassed by two men at the bar in town, whom he fought off. While the movie does not explicitly confirm why Greg chooses Nicky as a victim, it is suggested the killer may simply be selecting victims at random or targeting those who are most vulnerable. Nicky's presence as Marie's friend makes him a convenient target.

Foreshadowing: The bar encounter establishes Nicky as someone who can handle himself, making his later swift death more shocking.

• nicky
• gay
• targeted
• killer
• victim selection

Greg throws Robert from the second-story window to eliminate him as an obstacle. Robert was trying to stop Greg and protect Marie. By killing Robert, Greg removes the man Marie has moved on with and clears the path to take Marie to the lake for his murder-suicide plan.

• robert
• greg
• window
• murder
• eliminating rival

Greg reveals his intention to take Marie to the lake for a murder-suicide. He intends to kill her and then himself, believing their relationship must end in death rather than allowing Marie to move on with her new life and another man. This is the culmination of his obsessive revenge plot.

Foreshadowing: Greg's motive is established early through his pursuit of Marie after the divorce caused by his scandal.

• lake
• murder suicide
• greg
• marie
• plan
• intent