Speed Kills

Speed Kills

Year: 2018

Runtime: 102 min

Language: English

Directors: John Luessenhop, Jodi Scurfield

Echo Score: 25

Budget: $15M

ActionDramaThrillerCrime

A charismatic speedboat racer’s lavish lifestyle hides a dangerous world of crime and corruption. As his illicit activities escalate, he finds himself increasingly entangled in a web of deceit and facing serious consequences. The pursuit of wealth and thrills leads him down a perilous path where the risks become increasingly high, and the stakes are life and death.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Speed Kills (2018)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Speed Kills (2018). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1927-1987

The movie spans several decades, from Aronow's birth in 1927 to his tragic murder in 1987. This period reflects notable historical events and cultural shifts, including the rise of power boating as a thrilling sport and the intertwining of organized crime and legitimate business. The era serves as a backdrop for both Aronow's successes and his eventual downfall.

Location

Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York, New Jersey, South Miami

The film is set against the backdrop of various significant locations, including Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn, known for its waterfront attractions and vibrant community. New Jersey serves as a pivotal point in Don Aronow's journey, marking his transition from a successful builder to a powerboat mogul. South Miami, where he further pursued his passion for boat racing, encapsulates the allure and thrills of the coastal lifestyle.

🏙️ City 🌊 Coastal

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:02

Main Characters – Speed Kills (2018)

Meet the key characters of Speed Kills (2018), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Don Aronow (Kellan Lutz)

Don Aronow is portrayed as a complex character driven by ambition, yet riddled with faults that lead to personal and professional turmoil. His rise in the powerboat industry showcases his entrepreneurial spirit, but his emotional struggles and reckless decisions reveal a man battling inner demons. The contrast between his public success and private failures makes him a compelling, though tragic figure.

🏆 Champion 🏝️ Ambitious

Meyer Lansky (James Remar)

Meyer Lansky is depicted as a formidable figure in the movie, representing the menacing ties between organized crime and Aronow’s ambitions. His character embodies the dangerous liaisons that come with the high-stakes world of powerboating and illegal dealings. Through his interactions with Aronow, Lansky highlights the constant tension that exists between ambition and morality.

🕴️ Influential 🔥 Dangerous

Emily Gowen (Katheryn Winnick)

Emily Gowen illustrates the emotional and relational challenges in Aronow's life, serving as a representation of his personal struggles. Her character adds depth to his story, emphasizing the impact of his decisions on those closest to him. Her experience as a model and connection to looming mob threats complicates her relationship with Aronow, embodying the challenges of love amidst chaos.

💔 Supportive 🚨 Complex

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:02

Major Themes – Speed Kills (2018)

Explore the central themes of Speed Kills (2018), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🏎️ Ambition

The central theme of ambition drives Don Aronow throughout the film as he navigates a life filled with entrepreneurial endeavors and racing triumphs. His desire for success propels him into the upper echelons of society, ultimately attracting the attention of both the elite and criminal elements. However, his relentless pursuit of success also leads to personal tragedy and the crumbling of his family life.

💔 Tragedy

Tragedy permeates Aronow's life, evident in the heartbreaking accident involving his son and the subsequent strain on his marriage. This theme highlights the duality of his existence as a fierce businessman and a flawed family man, presenting a poignant examination of personal sacrifice and the consequences of a reckless lifestyle. Ultimately, the film illustrates how personal losses can overshadow professional triumphs.

🏴‍☠️ Crime

The interplay between ambition and crime is a critical theme, with Aronow's dealings exposing a darker side of his success. His connections to the mob and notorious figures like Meyer Lansky serve to amplify the tension and danger that come with his luxurious lifestyle. This theme underscores the moral complexities inherent in his pursuit of wealth and recognition.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:02

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Rise and fall crime dramas like Speed Kills

Charismatic figures build empires only to be destroyed by their own moral compromises.If you liked Speed Kills, you might enjoy these other movies about charismatic entrepreneurs whose illicit dealings lead to a tragic downfall. These films share a dark tone, a steady biographical pace, and a heavy emotional weight, focusing on the high-stakes criminal world and the personal cost of ambition.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a linear, biographical arc, starting with ambition and rising success, then introducing illicit activities that create a double life. As the protagonist's criminal dealings escalate, personal relationships fracture, leading to an inescapable confrontation with the consequences, culminating in a tragic and often fatal ending.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their shared focus on a specific character arc: the tragic hero undone by their own flaws. They blend crime drama with personal tragedy, maintaining a dark, steady-paced rhythm that builds towards an emotionally heavy conclusion, creating a cohesive experience of watching a life spectacularly implode.

Gritty crime stories with a steady pace like Speed Kills

Linear stories where criminal ambition slowly erodes a life from the inside out.Find movies similar to Speed Kills that share its steady pacing and dark exploration of crime's corrosive effects. These selections feature straightforward narratives about moral decay within high-stakes criminal environments, perfect for viewers who appreciate gritty, character-focused dramas with heavy emotional consequences.

grittycorruptmelancholicfamily disintegrationcriminal underworldstraightforwardmoral decaytragic

Narrative Summary

The plot unfolds in a clear, cause-and-effect manner, focusing on the protagonist's deepening entanglement in crime. The pacing is deliberate, allowing the weight of each bad decision to accumulate. The central conflict is internal and external, pitting personal ambition against loyalty and law, ultimately resolving in a loss that feels both inevitable and devastating.

Why These Movies?

This thread groups films based on a specific combination of tone, pacing, and thematic focus. They share a dark, gritty mood, a steady narrative rhythm that emphasizes consequence over action, and a primary interest in the theme of moral corruption and its destructive impact on personal life.

Unlock the Full Story of Speed Kills

Don't stop at just watching — explore Speed Kills in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Speed Kills is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Speed Kills Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Speed Kills, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Speed Kills Summary

Speed Kills Timeline

Track the full timeline of Speed Kills with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Speed Kills Timeline

Speed Kills Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Speed Kills that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Speed Kills Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Speed Kills

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Speed Kills: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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