Stark Fear

Stark Fear

Year: 1962

Runtime: 86 mins

Language: English

Director: Ned Hockman

HorrorDrama

A dutiful wife becomes the family’s sole breadwinner after her husband loses his job, sparking his resentment. He revels in humiliating her and eventually abandons her. She refuses to be broken, rebuilds her life, and ultimately confronts the brutish husband, achieving a painful closure. She finally discovers her own strength.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Stark Fear (1962)

Trace every key event in Stark Fear (1962) 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

Ellen starts secretarial job for Cliff Kane

Ellen takes a secretarial job for Cliff Kane to help cover the mounting bills as Jerry's oil-lease income remains inconsistent. The new employment shifts the dynamic of the Winslow marriage, with Ellen contributing to the household while Jerry struggles to keep up. This change also introduces a rival developer into Ellen's daily life.

2

Birthday confrontation and divorce threat

On Jerry's birthday, Ellen returns home with cake, a phonograph album, and a new black lace bra. Jerry becomes romantic at first, then accuses Ellen of wearing the bra for her boss and calls her a tramp. He forces her to call Cliff and quit the job, then declares he is divorcing Ellen and storms out.

Birthday Home
3

Nedwin warns Ellen to reinstate Jerry

Jerry's boss Mr. Nedwin visits Ellen and explains that Jerry has taken four weeks off without notice and could be fired unless he returns. Ellen takes the blame for upsetting Jerry and resolves to locate him herself to prevent a career setback for him. She seeks help from friends to track him down.

4

Liz reveals Jerry's true origins

Ellen visits Liz, a friend of Jerry, and learns that Jerry claimed to be from Pennsylvania, but his real roots are in Quehada, Oklahoma. Liz also tells Ellen that Jerry's boyhood friend is Harvey Sugget. This revelation confirms that Ellen's search will lead her into dangerous territory.

Liz's place
5

Ellen travels to Quehada and meets Zelda

In Quehada, Ellen meets Zelda, Harvey's wife, who warns that Harvey is prone to chasing other women and promises to kill if she ever catches him with someone else. Undeterred, Ellen continues to pursue Harvey to uncover Jerry's whereabouts.

Quehada
6

The cemetery rendezvous ends in assault

Harvey lures Ellen to a cemetery for a confrontation and brings her to the grave of Jerry's mother. He explains that his mother was cruel, and that someone still places fresh flowers on the grave each week. Harvey then rapes Ellen in front of the grave while Jerry watches from nearby.

Evening Cemetery
7

Ellen returns to Ruth and hides the trauma

After the assault, Ellen calls Ruth to come home, and Ruth tends to her bruises while urging openness, which Ellen refuses. She contacts Cliff to reclaim her old job and focuses on working to avoid dwelling on Quehada. Ruth cautions that Jerry is no good but encourages Ellen not to give up on love.

Ruth's home
8

Cliff and Jerry’s past; office tensions

Back in the city, Ellen and Cliff continue to work alongside each other as he proclaims his love, even though he plans to move to Mexico for two years. A coworker reveals Cliff and Jerry once competed for the same job and that Cliff hired the coworker to provoke Jerry. Ellen grows angry at Cliff for using someone else's wife to settle a score.

Office
9

Jerry manipulates Ellen from the motel

Jerry calls Ellen from the El Nora motel, room 14, asking to talk. He uses the payphone and informs Cliff where Ellen's room will be, then phones Zelda to tell her Harvey is in room 14. The scheming heightens the danger surrounding Ellen.

El Nora motel, room 14
10

The motel confrontation turns deadly

Ellen goes to the motel room and finds Harvey there again, who tries to attack her. Zelda arrives and catches Harvey with another woman; Harvey flees into the street where a truck runs him down. Jerry enters, taunts Ellen as a sadist, and then begins strangling her until Cliff arrives, beats Jerry, and saves her.

Night El Nora motel
11

Cliff's proposal and Ellen's refusal

Cliff saves Ellen and proposes marriage, asking her to go to Mexico with him. Ellen refuses, explaining that she is already married, and returns to Ruth’s home to determine her next steps.

Immediately after rescue El Nora motel
12

Ruth's discovery and Ellen's realization

Back at Ruth's, Ruth notes that Jerry collapsed after Cliff's beating and that Ellen later finds papers written in Spanish and a muddy, bloodstained black lace bra in Jerry's pockets. Ellen realizes Jerry was present when Harvey assaulted her in Quehada, and that Harvey ripped the bra off during the rape.

Ruth's home
13

Ruth helps plan a fresh start

Ruth contacts the El Paso Times and learns that Gerald Winslow divorced Ellen in Mexico. She encourages Ellen to sever ties with the abusive ex-husband and helps arrange a new start. Ellen buys a last-minute ticket and boards Cliff's Mexico-bound plane, seeking a fresh future, while Ruth contemplates how much a one-way ticket to El Paso would cost.

Final departure Ruth's home / airport / plane

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 11:20

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Stark Fear Summary

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Stark Fear Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Stark Fear

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Stark Fear

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