Straight Time
Year: 1978
Runtime: 114 min
Language: English
Director: Ulu Grosbard
Upon his release from prison, Max Dembo attempts to start a new life, taking a simple job and enduring the frustrations of his parole officer. However, when falsely accused of a crime, his patience snaps. Driven by anger and injustice, he abandons his promise of reform and plunges into a desperate series of events, leading him down a dangerous path of crime and escalating chaos.
Warning: spoilers below!
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Timeline & Setting – Straight Time (1978)
Explore the full timeline and setting of Straight Time (1978). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.
Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:18
Main Characters – Straight Time (1978)
Meet the key characters of Straight Time (1978), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.
Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:18
Major Themes – Straight Time (1978)
Explore the central themes of Straight Time (1978), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.
Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:18
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.
Ex-con crime spiral stories like Straight Time
Stories where a second chance is violently ripped away by a rigged system.This section features movies like Straight Time and other gritty dramas about recidivism. If you liked the story of Max Dembo's frustrating descent back into a life of crime, you'll find similar films here that explore themes of institutional failure, social alienation, and the struggle for redemption against impossible odds.
Small Crime
2008
Straight Time
1978
Back Door to Heaven
1939
Little Criminals
1995
Night and the City
1992
Zift
2008
Requiem for a Dream
2000
Rainy Dog
1997
High Sierra
1941
Pizza, Beer, and Cigarettes
1997
Homicide
1991
Killing Them Softly
2012
Black Gravel
1961
Report to the Commissioner
1975
Straight Out of Brooklyn
1991
Narrative Summary
These narratives typically follow a linear, straightforward path from a hopeful release to a crushing relapse. The protagonist's attempts at a normal life are systematically undermined, often by an oppressive authority figure or a single moment of injustice, triggering a chain reaction of escalating criminal acts that lead to a tragic endpoint.
Why These Movies?
Movies in this thread are united by their bleak tone, heavy emotional weight, and focus on the psychological toll of being trapped in a cycle of crime. They share a high intensity driven by a sense of impending doom and a steady, character-driven pacing that makes the downfall feel both logical and heartbreakingly inevitable.
Bleak character studies of systemic failure like Straight Time
Intense portraits of individuals being crushed by the machinery of society.If you appreciated the grim, realistic portrayal of an individual against an uncaring system in Straight Time, this section is for you. Discover movies with a similar steady pacing and heavy emotional weight, where characters are methodically broken down by societal pressures, leading to a tense and ultimately hopeless atmosphere.
Narrative Summary
The narrative pattern is one of mounting pressure. A character, already vulnerable, is placed under the microscope of an institution (legal, bureaucratic, social) that proves to be inflexible and damaging. The story unfolds with a logical, almost procedural steadiness, focusing on the character's growing desperation and the systemic forces that seal their fate.
Why These Movies?
These films are grouped by their shared bleak tone, high tension, and heavy emotional weight. They create a cohesive experience through a steady, deliberate pacing that makes the protagonist's trapped feeling palpable, and an intensity that comes from the relentless psychological pressure applied by an unforgiving world.
Unlock the Full Story of Straight Time
Don't stop at just watching — explore Straight Time 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 Straight Time is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Straight Time Summary
Read a complete plot summary of Straight Time, 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.
Straight Time Timeline
Track the full timeline of Straight Time with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
