Scream for Help

Scream for Help

Year: 1984

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: Michael Winner

HorrorMysteryCrimeThriller

Terrified and isolated, a teenage girl realizes her stepfather is plotting to kill her and her mother. When she confides in friends and authorities, everyone dismisses her warnings, leaving her to confront the danger alone. She scrambles for proof, evades traps, and must decide whom she can trust as the murderous threat closes in.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Scream for Help (1984)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Scream for Help (1984). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

New Rochelle, New York

New Rochelle, New York provides the film's suburban backdrop, with quiet streets and a house—especially the basement—where danger unfolds. The setting emphasizes ordinary life turning perilous as the family faces a hidden threat. The locale grounds the suspense in a relatable, residential environment that masks the violence beneath.

🏙️ Suburban setting 🧭 North American climate 🗺️ New Rochelle backdrop

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:04

Main Characters – Scream for Help (1984)

Meet the key characters of Scream for Help (1984), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Christie Cromwell (Rachael Kelly)

A determined teenage girl who suspects her stepfather's danger and refuses to stay silent. After her mother's safety is threatened, she takes matters into her own hands, tailing Paul and uncovering his scheming. Her quick thinking and courage drive the plot, even as she faces disbelief from adults and peers. She forms a cautious bond with Josh as they fight to expose the truth.

🧭 Determination 🕵️‍♀️ Courage 🧠 Resourcefulness

Paul Fox (David Allen Brooks)

A manipulative, controlling stepfather who schemes to murder Christie and Karen for money. He is calculating and duplicitous, carefully masking his wrongdoing while undermining those who suspect him. His charm masks a violent intent that escalates as Christie closes in on the truth.

🧠 Manipulation 🗡️ Threat 🕵️‍♂️ Calculating

Karen Cromwell (Marie Masters)

Christie’s mother, who is drawn into Paul’s web of deceit and manipulation. She suffers a physical and emotional breakdown as Paul’s plots unfold, ultimately becoming a survivor who fights alongside Christie. Her trust in her family is tested, but she remains a central figure in the plan to escape.

🧭 Protective 🛡️ Resilient 🧠 Strained trust

Brenda Bohle (Lola Lesheim)

Paul’s lover and, as later revealed, partner in a secret marriage with Lacey. She collaborates in a blackmail scheme that deepens the family’s danger. Her alliance with Lacey makes her a formidable but ultimately fatal obstacle for Christie and Karen.

🗝️ Secret alliance 🧠 Deception 🔥 Manipulation

Lacey Bohle (Rocco Sisto)

Brenda’s ruthless partner in crime, willing to do violence to protect their plan. He is directly involved in the nighttime invasion and the attempts to control Christie and Karen. His aggressive acts propel the final confrontations of the film.

🗡️ Violent 🕶️ Cunning 🧠 Calculating

Josh Dealey (Corey Parker)

Christie’s loyal best friend who eventually becomes her ally and supports her against Paul’s scheming. He stands up for Christie when she is blamed for Janey’s death and helps involve the police. His presence offers a counterbalance to the danger and a glimmer of trust beyond the family.

🤝 Supportive 🛡️ Loyal 🧭 Protective

Janey Ralston (Sandra Clark)

Christie’s friend who becomes a casualty in the conflict, killed in a hit-and-run under suspicious circumstances. Her involvement highlights the danger surrounding Christie and underscores the stakes of the investigation. Her absence amplifies the sense of vulnerability within the circle around Christie.

🕊️ Loyal ⚠️ Tragic 🗺️ Friend-to-ally

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:04

Major Themes – Scream for Help (1984)

Explore the central themes of Scream for Help (1984), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔎 Stalking

Christie’s relentless pursuit of Paul drives the plot, turning a quiet suburb into a tense cat-and-mouse chase. Her constant vigilance contrasts with the adults’ disbelief, highlighting how truth can be dismissed when trust is broken. The pursuit leads to dangerous confrontations at home and at the motel, culminating in a risky bid to expose Paul. The theme emphasizes suspense built from a young protagonist’s brave scrutiny.

🧠 Gaslighting

Paul manipulates Karen into doubting Christie and Brenda, presenting a distorted version of events. Authority figures and peers dismiss the daughter’s warnings, reinforcing the sense that truth is malleable. The couple’s manipulation turns the household into a trap where fear overrides rational judgment. The theme shows how deception can poison a family from within.

🗝️ Secrets

Brenda and Lacey’s hidden marriage and blackmail scheme reveal a hidden network of loyalties and betrayals. The revelation of Brenda’s and Lacey’s alliance shifts Christie from protector to target and alters who is trusted. Family secrets drive the escalation toward violent confrontation. The theme explores the corrosive power of concealed alliances.

🛡️ Survival

Christie and Karen band together to survive the night, turning the house into a battleground of wits and courage. They disrupt Paul’s plans by cutting power and using timing to escape. The final confrontations test their resilience and resourcefulness as they outsmart their attackers. The conclusion reinforces that agency and cooperation can prevail over brutality.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:04

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Scream for Help Summary

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Scream for Help Summary

Scream for Help Timeline

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Scream for Help Timeline

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