Split Second

Split Second

Year: 1992

Runtime: 90 min

Language: English

Director: Tony Maylam

ActionSci-FiThrillerHorrorCrime

Facing a devastating return of Hodgkin's lymphoma, police officer Mike Yancey struggles to maintain control as his personal life and career are threatened. The diagnosis forces him to confront difficult choices and fight for his future while dealing with the pressures of his job.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Split Second yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Split Second (1992)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Split Second (1992). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

2008

In 2008, heavy rainfall and climate effects leave large parts of London underwater. The year anchors a nightmare of urban inundation, influencing how people live, work, and fear the city. The lurid case unfolds against this backdrop of a flooded metropolis and a killer who thrives in the storm-ridden environment.

Location

London, United Kingdom

The story unfolds in a flooded London where rising waters redefine the city. The investigation moves through rain-slick streets and the submerged London Underground, turning familiar landmarks into perilous corridors. The setting blends urban decay with survival drama as the detectives navigate waterlogged tunnels and ruined districts.

🌊 Flooded city 🏙️ Urban thriller ⚠️ Climate crisis

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:31

Main Characters – Split Second (1992)

Meet the key characters of Split Second (1992), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Harley Stone

A burnt-out veteran detective who survives on coffee, chocolate, and a relentless drive to stop the killer. He believes the murders are a taunting, personal game that tests his resolve, and his volatile temperament hides a determined, capable mind.

🛡️ Veteran detective 💥 Traumatic past 🧭 Single-minded

Dick Durkin

A rookie officer who is also Oxford-educated, Durkin is ordered to partner with Stone and monitor his unstable behavior. He gradually opens up to the case, balancing logic with the strain of working with a haunted veteran while trying to keep pace with the escalating danger.

🎓 Oxford-educated psychologist 👮 Rookie cop 🧭 Analytical

Michelle

Foster’s wife who had an affair with Stone. She becomes a target when the killer abducts her, becoming a focal point in the detectives’ pursuit and a personal stake in stopping the monster.

💔 Target 🔎 Kidnapping victim 🧭 Central female lead

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:31

Major Themes – Split Second (1992)

Explore the central themes of Split Second (1992), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️‍♂️ Obsession

Harley Stone’s pursuit of the killer consumes him, shaping his decisions and straining his partnership with Durkin. The case becomes an obsession that blurs lines between professional duty and personal fixation. A psychic link to the killer deepens the fixation, making the pursuit feel almost personal.

🧬 DNA

Lab analysis reveals recombinant DNA in the killer’s blood, suggesting an origin beyond ordinary crime. The story treats science as a crucial weapon against a seemingly inhuman threat. Clues rise and fall with the bio-molecular evidence, reframing the mystery from purely psychological to scientifically unsettling.

🌕 Moon Killings

Murder patterns align with the lunar cycle, giving the killer a ritual-like rhythm. The floods and tunnels provide a haunting stage where the creature can stalk and strike. The moonlit timing adds a chilling sense of inevitability to the climactic confrontation.

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:31

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Dystopian Monster Hunts like in Split Second

High-stakes chases against monstrous threats in decaying, nightmarish futures.If you liked the high-tension monster hunt in the flooded London of Split Second, this thread collects other movies where brutal chases unfold against the backdrop of a grim, decaying future. Expect relentless pacing, graphic action, and a constant fight for survival in nightmarish worlds.

dystopianbrutaltensegrittyrelentlessmonsterchasesurvival

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a linear, fast-paced investigation or hunt. The protagonist, often haunted or flawed, is pushed to their limits while tracking a powerful, often supernatural, threat. The bleak world-building heightens the stakes, making survival the central, driving conflict.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared combination of a dystopian setting, a monstrous antagonist, and a brutal, fast-paced tone. They deliver an intense, visceral experience focused on gritty survival against overwhelming odds.

Movies with Obsessive Detectives like Split Second

Flawed heroes haunted by the past, driven by obsession in violent investigations.This collection is for viewers who enjoyed the troubled, obsessive detective in Split Second. Discover similar thrillers and crime stories where a tormented protagonist's personal demons fuel a high-stakes, often violent, investigation with a heavy emotional weight.

obsessivetenseparanoidgrittybrutalguiltinvestigationtrauma

Narrative Summary

The plot centers on a high-stakes investigation that mirrors the protagonist's internal struggles. The character's obsession intensifies as the case progresses, creating a claustrophobic and paranoid atmosphere. The ending often provides little catharsis, leaving the character, and the audience, with unresolved tension.

Why These Movies?

These movies are connected by their focus on a deeply flawed, obsessive protagonist whose psychological state drives the narrative. They share a dark tone, heavy emotional weight, and a focus on the blurring of personal and professional boundaries in a high-pressure situation.

Unlock the Full Story of Split Second

Don't stop at just watching — explore Split Second 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 Split Second is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Split Second Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Split Second, 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.

Split Second Summary

Split Second Timeline

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

Split Second Timeline

Split Second Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Split Second 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.

Split Second Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Split Second

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

More About Split Second

Similar Movies to Split Second

Discover movies like Split Second that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.