Shakma

Shakma

Year: 1990

Runtime: 101 mins

Language: English

Director: Hugh Parks

HorrorScience FictionHorror the undead and monster classicsGory gruesome and slasher horrorSci-fi horror creatures and aliens

A murderous baboon breaks free from a laboratory and roams the research facility, turning the corridors into a lethal hunting ground. Meanwhile, a group of teenagers trapped inside are playing a Dungeons‑and‑Dragons‑style role‑playing game, and they become the primate’s gruesome prey.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Shakma (1990)

Trace every key event in Shakma (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

Shakma injected and goes berserk

Sorensen injects Shakma with an experimental variation of corticotropin intended to inhibit aggression. The baboon awakens and lashes out, going berserk. Sorensen orders Sam to euthanize him, but Sam cannot bring himself to do it, leaving Shakma unconscious.

Night before the game Specimen room, animal facility
2

Necropsy planned for the next day

Sorensen insists on performing a necropsy on Shakma the following day, keeping the animal alive for study. He overrides any disposal plans, ensuring the animal will remain alive until the necropsy. Sam and others are kept in the dark about the plan.

Following day University animal facility / necropsy lab
3

Live-action game announced

Sorensen organizes a live-action role-playing game for Sam, Gary, Bradley, Richard, and Tracy. The objective is to reach Richard's younger sister Kim on the top floor, and players are issued walkie-talkies that connect only to Sorensen as gamemaster.

That night Campus building
4

Fire alarms disabled and building locked

Sorensen disables the fire alarm system and locks the offices and the building to prevent anyone from leaving until the game ends. This creates a controlled, claustrophobic environment that heightens the tension.

That night Building interiors
5

Bradley killed in the specimen room

Shakma regains consciousness and kills Bradley when he ventures into the fifth-floor specimen room. The group realizes something is seriously wrong as disappearances begin to mount.

During the game Fifth-floor specimen room
6

Richard killed on Sorensen's instruction

While investigating Bradley's disappearance, Richard is killed under Sorensen's orders. The gamemaster's control over the events shows how far the game has spiraled out of control.

During the game Fifth-floor corridors
7

Sorensen discovers Richard's body; is killed by Shakma

Sorensen investigates the disappearances and finds Richard's mutilated body. He is then attacked and killed by Shakma, signaling the shift from manipulation to direct danger.

During the game Near the specimen room / lab
8

Sam and Tracy realize Shakma is loose

The sounds of carnage alert Sam and Tracy to Shakma's presence, but they cannot use the elevator because Sorensen's body jams the door. They decide to move upward via the stairs to continue the search.

During the game Building interiors; stairs
9

Tracy blinds Shakma with a strobe light

Tracy goes to the electricity lab to fetch a strobe light and uses it to temporarily blind Shakma. She also holds the specimen room door shut while Sam goes to locate and remove Sorensen's body from the elevator.

During the game Electricity lab
10

Richard's presence confirmed; escape attempt continues

Tracy confirms Richard's presence in the specimen room and distracts Shakma while Sam attempts to recover Richard's body. Shakma returns before Sam can recover, forcing another narrow escape for the pair.

During the game Specimen room
11

Elevator deaths and sixth floor tragedy

Gary is killed while using the elevator, allowing Shakma access to the upper floors. Tracy is killed soon after in the sixth-floor restroom, further heightening the danger.

During the game Elevator and sixth-floor restroom
12

Sam goes to the top floor to warn Kim

Sam climbs toward the top floor to warn Kim, keeping Richard's fate from her for the moment. He arms himself with a kitchen knife in case Shakma confronts him, while Kim writes a note to Sam and prepares to act.

Late night, during game Top floor
13

Kim discovers Richard and is killed by Shakma

Kim finds Richard's body on the top floor but is killed by Shakma in the process. The loss compounds the survivors' desperation as they face a now all-out threat.

Shortly after Sam's warning Top floor
14

Sam finds more bodies and resolves to act

Sam discovers Bradley's and Kim's bodies and contemplates alerting the police from Sorensen's office. His grief over Tracy's death fuels a resolve to kill Shakma himself.

After Kim's death Sorensen's office
15

Final confrontation: Shakma's death and Sam's fate

Sam sets a trap to electrocute Shakma, but the creature evades it and mortally injures Sam. He lures Shakma into the incinerator and Shakma is burned to death as Sam collapses, saluting a nearby monkey doll and uttering 'I win' before dying.

Final moments Incinerator area / hallway

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:44

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