The Dorm That Dripped Blood

The Dorm That Dripped Blood

Year: 1982

Runtime: 88 mins

Language: English

Directors: Stephen Carpenter, Jeffrey Obrow

ThrillerHorrorMysteryHorror the undead and monster classicsGory gruesome and slasher horror

When the kidding stops… the killing starts! A crazed killer stalks college students who gave up their vacation to clean a deserted dormitory.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Dorm That Dripped Blood (1982)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Dorm That Dripped Blood (1982). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Christmas holiday

The events take place over a short Christmas break, when the dorm is quiet and deserted. The festive season clashes with sudden violence, heightening the sense of danger as power fails and corridors become traps. The limited presence of authority and the empty campus amplify the suspense and isolation.

Location

Morgan Meadows Hall, Campus

Morgan Meadows Hall is the condemned dormitory where most of the action unfolds during the Christmas break. The abandoned building creates an isolated, claustrophobic backdrop ideal for a slasher tale. The campus setting, with its service areas and a dump site nearby, becomes a stage for discoveries, confrontations, and deadly encounters.

🏫 Dormitory 👁 Suspense 🗺️ Campus 💀 Murder

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:59

Main Characters – The Dorm That Dripped Blood (1982)

Meet the key characters of The Dorm That Dripped Blood (1982), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Joanne Murray (Laurie Lapinski)

Joanne is practical and resilient, taking charge to help clear the condemned dorm. She remains focused on keeping her friends safe while navigating mounting fear. Her resolve makes her the emotional core as danger closes in and trust is tested.

🧭 Survivor 🔎 Investigator 💬 Leader

Craig (Stephen Sachs)

Craig is the orchestrator of the killings, fueled by an unsettling obsession with Joanne. He uses charm to mask his malice, then eliminates anyone who threatens his control. His claim of love devolves into a dangerous need to possess Joanne at any cost.

🗡️ Villain 🧩 Manipulator 💀 Murderer

Debbie (Daphne Zuniga)

Debbie is part of Joanne’s circle and becomes a brutal victim after discovering her parents' bodies. She embodies the vulnerability of those caught in a violent night, and her fate marks a turning point in the escalation of terror.

🏷️ Victim 💔 Tragic 🗡️ Target

Tim (Robert Fredrickson)

Tim is Joanne’s boyfriend who plans to ski away for the holidays, providing social context for the dorm’s circle. His departure underscores the isolation of the campus and foreshadows the looming danger.

💑 Partner 🧭 Outsider 🕯️ Tension

Patty (Pamela Holland)

Patty is a perceptive friend who senses danger and becomes a target during the killer’s onslaught. Her presence highlights the group’s dynamics and the scramble to survive the night.

🧭 Friend 🛡️ Courage 💀 Victim

Brian (David Snow)

Brian is part of Joanne’s circle who becomes entangled in the carnage. His death in a storage area marks a turning point that deepens the horror and shatters the group’s sense of safety.

🕵️‍♂️ Ally 🩸 Victim 🗺️ Survivor

John Hemmit (Woody Roll)

John is a wary, roaming vagrant linked to the prowler narrative. He stirs fear among the students and represents the ambiguity of who is the real threat, complicating the group’s attempts to identify the killer.

👁️ Suspicion 🗝️ Prowler 🧭 Misdirection

Bill Edgar (Jake Jones)

Bill is the campus caretaker who keeps Morgan Meadows running. The stolen drill he keeps becomes a deadly instrument in the hands of the killer, illustrating how ordinary roles can become dangerous in a slasher setting.

🛠️ Caretaker 🗡️ Victim 🧭 Mystery

Bobby Lee Tremble (Dennis Ely)

Bobby is a local salesman who enters the tense situation and clashes with the killer. His confrontation underscores how outsiders can become entangled in the dorm’s deadly night.

🧭 Interloper 🗡️ Victim 🛡️ Clash

Debbie's Father (Richard Cowgill)

Debbie’s father is a protective figure who becomes a victim in the brutal attack that sets the night’s violence in motion. His death anchors the film’s merciless tone and personal stakes.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family 💀 Victim 🕯️ Catalyst

Debbie's Mother (Kay Beth)

Debbie’s mother is murdered in a chilling sequence, intensifying the carnage engulfing the campus. Her death reinforces the indiscriminate danger that plagues the holiday dorm.

👩‍👧‍👦 Family 💀 Victim 🧭 Crisis

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:59

Major Themes – The Dorm That Dripped Blood (1982)

Explore the central themes of The Dorm That Dripped Blood (1982), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💀 Obsessive Love

Craig’s fixation on Joanne drives the killings, turning affection into control and violence. His devotion mutates into a calculated plan to remove anyone who stands between him and his goal. The narrative centers on how possession can justify murder in his warped logic. The body count rises as his obsession intensifies.

🕯️ Isolation

The Christmas break leaves the dorm and campus eerily empty, cutting the characters off from help. The lack of adults or witnesses heightens paranoia as danger lurks in every shadowed corridor. Failing lights and a growing sense of confinement turn ordinary spaces into threats. The setting amplifies fear and vulnerability.

🧭 Deception

Trust fractures as suspects emerge and alibis crumble under pressure. The group misreads John as the prowler, only to confront the shocking truth of the killer’s identity. Hidden motives and false appearances drive the suspense from mystery toward brutal horror. The revelation reshapes every interaction that came before.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:59

Unlock the Full Story of The Dorm That Dripped Blood

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The Dorm That Dripped Blood Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Dorm That Dripped Blood, 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.

The Dorm That Dripped Blood Summary

The Dorm That Dripped Blood Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Dorm That Dripped Blood with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Dorm That Dripped Blood Timeline

More About The Dorm That Dripped Blood

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