Term Life

Term Life

Year: 2016

Runtime: 93 min

Language: English

Director: Peter Billingsley

DramaThrillerCrime

A skilled thief finds himself in a dangerous situation, pursued by a vengeful drug lord and corrupt law enforcement. He must protect his estranged daughter while confronting the repercussions of his past actions in a tense game of cat and mouse. The stakes are high as he navigates a world of deceit and violence, desperately trying to keep his daughter safe from the consequences of his choices.

Term Life (2016) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Term Life (2016) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a world where shadows stretch across neon‑lit streets and every deal carries a hidden price, the city hums with an uneasy rhythm of danger and desperation. Here, the line between law and lawlessness blurs, and a perpetual game of cat‑and‑mouse keeps its participants perpetually on edge. The atmosphere is tense yet oddly intimate, inviting the audience to feel the weight of every whispered threat and the flicker of hope that can appear in the most unlikely places.

Nick Barrow moves through this landscape with the practiced precision of a seasoned planner, his reputation built on flawless heists and an uncanny ability to stay several steps ahead of anyone who might try to catch him. Though his talents have kept him alive in a cut‑throat underworld, they have also left a trail of fractured relationships, the most painful of which is the distance between him and his teenage daughter. The film opens with Nick thrust into a precarious situation that forces him to confront the consequences of his choices, pulling him out of the shadows and into a reluctant guardianship.

Cate, his estranged daughter, is both a product of her mother’s struggles and a fierce survivor in her own right. Raised on the margins, she has learned to rely on herself, yet the sudden re‑entry of her father into her life sparks a volatile mix of resentment, curiosity, and yearning. As they navigate a landscape littered with unseen enemies and shifting loyalties, their interactions oscillate between tense stand‑offs and tentative moments of connection, hinting at the possibility of a fragile new bond forming against a backdrop of constant peril.

The story balances gritty realism with a pulse‑quickening sense of urgency, inviting viewers to wonder whether a man accustomed to planning escapes can truly protect the one person he has never truly known. In this high‑stakes chase, the evolving relationship between father and daughter becomes the emotional core, promising a journey where survival may depend as much on trust and understanding as on any skillful maneuver.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 03:59

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Criminal Protectors on the Run like in Term Life

Flawed antiheroes must leverage their criminal skills to shield an innocent from danger.If you liked Term Life, explore more movies where a skilled criminal becomes an unlikely protector. These tense thrillers feature high-stakes chases, dangerous enemies, and a race against time, all driven by a desperate need to keep an innocent life safe from the consequences of a dark past.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a capable but morally grey individual—often a thief, hitman, or fugitive—whose life is upended when they must safeguard a child or other innocent person from a ruthless antagonist. The plot is propelled by a series of close calls, strategic maneuvers, and confrontations, forcing the protector to confront their past while fighting for a future they don't feel they deserve.

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These films are grouped by their core dynamic: a tense, fast-paced cat-and-mouse game where the central conflict is not just survival, but redemption through protection. They share a mix of high-intensity action, heavy emotional stakes, and a focus on the bond that forms under extreme pressure.

Redemptive Thrills Against the Clock like in Term Life

High-speed thrillers where saving a life is the only path to personal salvation.Find movies similar to Term Life that combine fast-paced thriller action with a powerful redemption arc. These stories feature characters facing the consequences of their past in a high-stakes scenario, where achieving a happy ending requires both survival and moral reckoning.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist being forced to clean up a mess of their own making, often a botched job or betrayal. The clock is ticking, with corrupt forces and violent enemies closing in. The journey is straightforward but emotionally heavy, culminating in a confrontation that allows for both physical victory and emotional exoneration, leading to a hard-won happy ending.

Why These Movies?

This thread groups movies that successfully blend the relentless pace and tension of a crime thriller with a clear, satisfying emotional arc of redemption. The similarity lies in the specific mix of high intensity, straightforward plotting, heavy emotional weight, and an ultimately hopeful resolution.

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Term Life Summary

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Term Life Summary

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Term Life Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Term Life

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Term Life

More About Term Life

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