The Frontier

The Frontier

Year: 2014

Runtime: 84 min

Director: Matt Rabinowitz

DramaFamily

A retired professor seeks to mend his fractured relationship with his estranged son, embarking on a journey of self-discovery in the process. While the professor works with a personal trainer to write his memoirs, confronting difficult memories, his son finds comfort in hands-on projects. As they navigate their complicated history, unexpected truths emerge, leading to a poignant moment of reconciliation between father and son.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Frontier yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – The Frontier (2014)

Trace every key event in The Frontier (2014) 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

Motel morning encounter

Laine sleeps in her car in the motel parking lot. In the morning she hides a personalized money clip and meets Luanne, who offers her a free meal. This quiet exchange foreshadows the uneasy alliance that will unfold at the motel.

Morning Motel parking lot
2

Gault's briefing at the car

Gault explains that a brutal murder has occurred in nearby Flagstaff as he changes Laine's flat tire. Laine fixes him a coffee as a courtesy for Luanne, hinting at the uneasy favors to come. The exchange establishes the danger and the power dynamics surrounding the case.

Morning Motel parking lot
3

Job offer and room request

On Gault's recommendation, Luanne offers Laine a job as a waitress at the motel's diner. Laine declines and requests a free room for the night instead. Although offended by the rejection, Luanne agrees.

Day Motel
4

Eavesdropping in the adjoining room

Before going to sleep, Laine sneaks into the adjoining room and steals a necklace and a bottle of sedatives. She hides in the closet and overhears the couple discussing a completed heist, hinting at a larger criminal scheme.

Night Adjoining room
5

Laine joins the crew

Convinced the drop-off will occur at the motel, Laine apologizes to Luanne and asks for a job. When Luanne hesitates, Laine hints she will return to an abusive boyfriend, prompting Luanne to hire her.

Evening Motel
6

Diner introductions and trouble with Gault

At the diner, Laine meets the guests: Lee, Flynn, Gloria, and Eddie. Gloria panics about a stolen necklace, the group tries to calm her, and Gault steps in. Laine slips away and returns the necklace; Gault flirts with Laine, who rejects him, and he slashes her tires.

Evening Diner
7

Sedatives and confrontation with Lee

Laine practices slipping sedatives into a customer's drink, knocking him out. That night Flynn and Gloria celebrate with drinks, and Laine tries to drug them as well. Lee returns, beats Laine and demands to know who she really is. Laine admits to killing a man in Flagstaff, the money clip is recognized as belonging to a murdered politician, and Lee allows her to stay while Luanne negotiates a small cut of the haul.

Night Diner
8

Diner blackout and concealment

All return to the diner, and Laine serves coffee spiked with sedatives. Eddie declines to drink, but ends up absorbing a dose from the alcohol Laine previously drugged. Once everyone is unconscious, Laine drags them out of sight.

Night Diner
9

Courier arrives and a betrayal

Gault returns before the courier arrives and apologizes for his earlier behavior. Laine flirts with him while offering coffee, but he declines. A courier delivers the money, and Laine attempts to flee; Eddie wakes up, knocks her unconscious, and leaves with the money.

Late Night Diner
10

Pursuit begins

Laine accuses Eddie of drugging them and running off with the money. Dubious, Lee insists she accompany them in pursuit of Eddie. The chase heads out onto the road as they pursue the missing cash.

Night Road
11

Roadside confrontation

They find Eddie's car flipped on the side of the road and follow his bloody tracks. Lee confronts Eddie and Gloria defends him, leading Lee to kill both of them. Luanne grabs Gloria's necklace and wears it as the situation spirals.

Night Roadside
12

Bodies in the trunk

Lee forces Laine to help load the bodies into the trunk, and they discover the courier's body, which they assume is Eddie's work. Grief and anger deepen as the group grapples with the mounting casualties.

Night Roadside
13

Flynn's violent interruption

Grieving, Flynn shoots Lee and attacks Luanne. Laine retrieves Lee's pistol and threatens to kill Flynn, but Luanne disarms her and shoots Flynn first, removing another threat from the crew.

Night Roadside
14

Luanne's fate

Returning to the diner, Luanne grows suspicious of Laine as she finds the bottle of sedatives. Laine blindsides her and bludgeons her to death, ending Luanne's uneasy alliance and solidifying Laine's control over the heist.

Night Diner
15

Gault's deal and the getaway

Gault returns, calls for backup, and claims the money was not recovered. Privately, Laine suggests that Gault murdered the corpse in Eddie's car. Gault allows Laine to leave on the condition that she corroborate his version of events.

Aftermath Diner

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:13

Unlock the Full Story of The Frontier

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Frontier 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 The Frontier is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Frontier Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Frontier, 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 Frontier Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Frontier

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Frontier. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Frontier

The Frontier Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Frontier that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Frontier Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Frontier

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Frontier: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Frontier

Similar Movies to The Frontier

Discover movies like The Frontier that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.