Straight to Hell (1987) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

The hitmen intervened when Rusty Zimmerman arrived to arrest Bruno and Angel-Eyes, who were the local gang leaders running the town. The trio killed Zimmerman and his men because a standoff had already formed between them and the McMahon brothers. By eliminating Zimmerman's arrest party, the hitmen inadvertently aligned themselves with Bruno and Angel-Eyes, earning them the town's grudging acceptance despite being strangers.

• zimmerman
• bruno
• angel-eyes
• hitmen
• shootout
• arrest

The town welcomed the hitmen because they had just eliminated Rusty Zimmerman, who was coming to arrest Bruno and Angel-Eyes. Since the McMahon brothers controlled the town, the townspeople saw the hitmen as unexpected allies who had done them a favor. Frank McMahon, the town head, even invited them to a party as a gesture of acceptance.

• zimmerman
• frank mcmahon
• town acceptance
• allies

George killed Angel-Eyes in retaliation for sexual advances toward Fabienne, his wife. The affair between Simms and Fabienne had already upset George, and when Angel-Eyes also made advances, George snapped and shot him. This murder triggered the chaotic wave of violence that consumed the town, turning everyone against the hitmen.

• george
• angel-eyes
• fabienne
• affair
• jealousy
• shooting

Louise shot Willy because she was not swayed by his romantic pursuit. Though Willy believed she knew where the buried money was and could be persuaded to join him, Louise refused to align with him. She shot him rather than help him, leaving him wounded and crawling away from the town.

• louise
• willy
• shooting
• rejection
• money

Simms shot the wounded Willy as the two retrieved the buried money in the desert. After Willy was already injured from Louise's shooting, Simms killed him in a brutal move to claim the entire suitcase of cash for himself. This betrayal was part of the film's chaotic chain of murders among the survivors.

• simms
• willy
• desert
• betrayal
• money
• murder

Velma shot Simms immediately after he murdered Willy in the desert. As Simms tried to escape with the money, Velma shot him in retaliation for killing Willy. She then joined forces with Frank McMahon, and together they took the suitcase of cash before fleeing the scene.

• velma
• simms
• willy
• murder
• revenge
• money

The money ended up in Frank and Velma's possession as they fled the town in a truck. However, their escape was cut short when the truck's brakes failed, sending them over a cliff to their deaths. The suitcase of cash was lost with them, leaving Norwood as the only survivor who could potentially claim any fortune.

• money
• frank
• velma
• cliff
• truck
• ending

Norwood survived the town massacre along with Fabienne and the other women. Most characters, including Mr. Dade, Frank, and Velma, were killed in the violence. Norwood escaped with the women after the chaos, though the money was lost with Frank and Velma's fatal crash.

• norwood
• fabienne
• survivors
• massacre
• ending

The espresso machines represent the film's absurdist, satirical tone. When the convoy of cowboys arrives each carrying espresso machines, it signals the surreal nature of this frontier town. The coffee obsession is a deliberate comedic element that sets the movie apart as a parody of western tropes, creating an odd, caffeine-fueled atmosphere that contrasts with the violent events.

• espresso
• coffee
• town
• surreal
• satire
• parody

I.G. Farben arrived in town presenting himself as a house developer but quickly departed, leaving behind a suitcase packed with machine guns for the hitmen. The character is a satirical nod to the German chemical conglomerate involved in wartime activities, adding to the film's absurdist tone. The weapons escalated the town's volatile power balance and enabled the massive shootout.

• ig farben
• machine guns
• weapons
• satire
• developer

Frank McMahon switched allegiances after George killed Angel-Eyes, triggering chaos in the town. Seeing an opportunity to align with the more powerful force, Frank joined Mr. Dade's side against the hitmen. This shift turned the town into a battlefield as multiple factions fought each other, ultimately leading to the destructive final shootout.

• frank mcmahon
• dade
• betrayal
• allegiance
• chaos

The car broke down because someone had filled the tank with diesel instead of gasoline. This major blunder forced the hitmen to abandon their vehicle and bury the suitcase of money in the desert before beginning their long walk to the town. The breakdown was a pivotal moment that stranded them in the remote location.

• diesel
• car
• breakdown
• desert
• money

Whitey was one of Mr. Dade's operatives who arrived in town. At Frank's father's funeral, Whitey attempted to reveal information about a bounty on the hitmen. Before he could spill the details, the townspeople hanged him, cutting short his attempt to expose Dade's plans and adding to the film's chaotic violence.

• whitey
• hanging
• funeral
• bounty
• dade

The Farben Oil Company trucks rolling in at the end signaled a new, harsher era taking over the town. After the violence destroyed most characters and the money was lost, the oil company represents corporate exploitation moving in to exploit the area. This cynical conclusion suggests that while the individuals perished, a new form of predatory change was arriving.

• farben
• oil
• company
• trucks
• ending
• exploitation