Shoot 'Em Up (2007) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Smith is driven by pure instinct. When he sees the woman in the yellow coat being pursued, he doesn't hesitate, he immediately follows and intervenes. This reactive nature hints at his background as a former assassin; his combat reflexes kick in without conscious thought, setting the entire chain of events in motion.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Smith is shown sharpening his carrot with military precision, foreshadowing his deadly combat skills.

• smith
• woman chase
• intervention
• motivation

Hertz is not working alone, he's part of a larger conspiracy connected to Senator Rutledge. The Senator needs the baby for a nefarious scheme tied to a firearm bill. The exact nature of what the baby represents to the conspiracy is revealed when Smith uncovers the connection at the metal club, linking Oliver's mother to a sinister operation involving babies.

• hertz
• baby
• conspiracy
• senator rutledge

Senator Rutledge is the mastermind behind the conspiracy. He needs the baby to further a scheme related to a firearm bill, essentially using the infant as leverage or part of a larger corrupt plan. Smith discovers this connection while investigating the dark secrets linked to Oliver's mother at the metal club, ultimately confronting the Senator directly.

• senator rutledge
• conspiracy
• firearm bill
• plot twist

Hertz discovers the dead mother's body and deduces that the newborn would desperately need milk. This leads him to track down DQ, the lactating wet nurse at the church-brothel. He cruelly interrogates her for information about Smith's whereabouts, forcing Smith to return and rescue her.

Foreshadowing: Smith initially offers DQ $5000 to care for the baby, establishing her as someone who could provide what the infant needs.

• hertz
• dq
• church
• brothel
• tracking

DQ refuses the $5000 because she recognizes the danger involved. She doesn't want to get entangled in the violent situation surrounding Smith and the baby. Her refusal is pragmatic, she values her safety over the money, though she later becomes actively involved when circumstances force her into the conflict.

• dq
• refuse
• baby
• decision

Smith names the baby Oliver after the classic story Oliver Twist. This choice is significant, it reflects his sudden thrust into an unexpected paternal role. Just as Oliver Twist faces hardships and adventures, this infant is now caught in a dangerous world, and Smith becomes his reluctant protector, drawing a parallel between their situations.

• oliver
• name
• smith
• meaning

Hertz's background as an FBI Forensic Behaviour Consultant explains his ability to anticipate Smith's moves. He uses forensic psychology to analyze behavior patterns and predict next actions. This expertise allows him to track Smith effectively, knowing personal details about the protagonist and staying one step ahead throughout the cat-and-mouse chase.

• hertz
• fbi
• forensic
• psychology
• background

In a rare moment of mercy, Smith chooses not to kill the stylish hitman. He realizes that every second matters with the baby in danger, and killing the hitman would delay his escape. This decision showcases Smith's code, he kills when necessary but avoids unnecessary bloodshed, demonstrating a moral complexity beneath his violent exterior.

• smith
• hitman
• mercy
• washroom
• decision

The baby exhibits an unusual reaction to music, he calms when heavy metal plays but cries during political commentary. This detail adds to the film's quirky, absurdist tone. It's one of many comedic touches that underscore the movie's self-aware, over-the-top style while providing brief moments of levity amid the chaos.

• baby
• heavy metal
• music
• comfort

At the end, Smith waits for a green bus outside the church, a symbol of hope and potential reunion with DQ and Oliver. The green bus represents a normal life he might finally achieve. However, the film being Shoot 'Em Up wouldn't be complete without one final chaotic twist, leading to another action-packed confrontation even in the closing moments.

• green bus
• ending
• church
• reunion

Smith executes the Senator as an act of revenge and accountability. Rutledge is revealed to be the puppet master behind the conspiracy that endangered the baby and killed its mother. In the film's aerial confrontation, Smith demands answers and then eliminates the corrupt politician, viewing this execution as justice for all the harm caused by the conspiracy.

• senator rutledge
• smith
• kill
• revenge
• accountability

When dozens of attackers swarm Smith's loft, he improvises a clever escape. He uses the baby's newspaper diaper as a decoy, creating a distraction that helps them evade the attackers. This moment showcases Smith's resourcefulness, he turns ordinary objects into survival tools, a recurring theme throughout the film.

• loft
• attack
• diaper
• decoy
• smith
• escape