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!

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Timeline – Split Second (1992)

Trace every key event in Split Second (1992) 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

London flood sets the stage

In 2008, heavy rains and global warming have flooded large areas of London, turning the city into a perilous landscape. Rookie detective Dick Durkin is paired with Harley Stone, a burnt-out veteran who survives on anxiety, coffee, and chocolate. The new case unfolds against a city almost swallowed by water.

2008 London
2

Foster’s death haunts Stone

Stone bears the memory of his partner Foster’s murder by a serial killer three years earlier, a wound that never fully healed. Durkin is ordered to stay close and report any unstable behavior as they team up. The past casts a shadow over the investigation.

2005 Police Headquarters
3

New killings, lunar clue

A fresh wave of murders begins, with the killer taking an organ from each victim in what seems like a ritual. The detectives find the killings appear tied to the lunar cycle, offering a disturbing pattern. They search crime scenes but remain without a suspect.

2008 London crime scenes
4

Forensic discovery: recombinant DNA

Lab analysis reveals the killer’s blood contains multiple recombinant DNA strands, suggesting that it has absorbed the DNA of its victims. The finding hints the predator is something beyond human. The team starts rethinking the nature of the threat.

2008 Forensic laboratory
5

Michelle returns

Michelle, Foster’s wife with whom Stone had an affair, returns to the case, bringing personal tensions into the investigation. Durkin’s partnership with Stone starts to loosen as they bond over the mounting evidence. The case grows more complicated with emotional undercurrents.

2008 Stone’s apartment / Police HQ
6

Psychic link and taunts

Durkin hypothesizes that the killer is taunting Stone by stalking him and targeting locations around him. Stone finds a psychic connection to the killer through the wound it inflicted, making the hunt deeply personal. The dynamic between the two detectives deepens.

2008 Various locations
7

Apartment attack and kidnapping

The killer strikes in Stone’s own apartment building, assaults a resident, and kidnaps Michelle, pushing the investigation toward a high-stakes chase. Stone and Durkin race to track the kidnapper through the flooded city. The personal danger intensifies.

2008 Stone’s apartment building
8

Into the flooded tunnels

The detectives pursue the killer into the submerged London Underground tunnels, following prints and the killer’s deadly efficiency. They realize the creature moves with terrifying speed and seems to be drawn to Stone. The chase moves from streets to subterranean waterways.

2008 London Underground tunnels
9

The revelation: it’s a monstrous creature

They discover the killer is not human but a large, fast, demonic creature with a voracious hunger. Stone reveals that he escaped from it ten years ago, explaining the creature’s fixation on him. The monster’s appearances are designed to lure Stone closer.

1998 Underground tunnels
10

Lair found and plan formed

Stone and Durkin locate the creature’s lair near the abandoned underground area and prepare a plan to draw it out. They arm themselves and rely on Stone’s knowledge of the predator. The team braces for a deadly confrontation.

2008 Abandoned underground train station
11

The bait and the confrontation

Michelle is used as bait at the abandoned station while Stone and Durkin set the trap. When the creature appears, a fierce fight erupts in the water, pushing the detectives to their limits. They fight to protect Michelle and end the threat.

2008 Abandoned underground train station
12

The kill and the aftermath

Durkin wounds the creature’s chest, enabling Stone to pull out its heart and kill it. They escape the station, but bubbles surfacing suggest there may be more than one monster. The end of this encounter hints at further dangers lurking below.

2008 Abandoned underground train station

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:58

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Split Second Summary

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Split Second Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Split Second

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