The Last Broadcast

The Last Broadcast

Year: 1998

Runtime: 87 mins

Language: English

MysteryHorrorHorror the undead and monster classicsTerrifying haunted and supernatural horrorGory gruesome and slasher horror

In December 1995 a four‑man crew from the public‑access show “Fact or Fiction” enters New Jersey’s desolate Pine Barrens to broadcast a live investigation of the legendary Jersey Devil. Only one member survives, and a jury swiftly sentences him to life in prison. One year later a filmmaker begins his own probe into the eerie night.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Last Broadcast (1998)

Trace every key event in The Last Broadcast (1998) 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

Leigh begins investigation into Fact or Fiction murders

Documentary filmmaker David Leigh begins an investigative project centered on the unsolved murders linked to the Fact or Fiction show. He aims to uncover the truth behind the killings while filming his documentary.

2

Fact or Fiction show and its decline

The show, hosted by Steven 'Johnny' Avkast and Locus Wheeler, begins as a platform for unsolved mysteries and the paranormal. Leigh notes that, as his investigation unfolds, the program is faltering and threatened with cancellation.

Public-access television studio
3

Avkast proposes live IRC segment

Avkast proposes a live Internet Relay Chat segment to broadcast the show online and in real time, expanding its reach. The idea signals a shift toward interactivity and real-time broadcast, tying the investigation to a wider audience.

TV studio / online space
4

Team recruits Clackin and Suerd for Jersey Devil hunt

A caller suggests searching for the Jersey Devil; Avkast and Wheeler recruit Rein Clackin, a sound-man capable of recording the paranormal, and Jim Suerd, a psychic. The group forms the core team for the planned field investigation.

5

Hunt to Pine Barrens and live broadcast

The four men travel to the Pine Barrens, hoping Suerd can lead them to the Jersey Devil. The expedition is broadcast live across television, Internet, and amateur radio, tying the hunt to a wide audience.

Pine Barrens, New Jersey
6

Pine Barrens tragedy and the suspect

During the hunt, Suerd is the sole survivor. Avkast, Wheeler, and Clackin are brutally murdered, and Avkast's body is never found, making Suerd the prime suspect in the eyes of investigators.

Pine Barrens
7

Trial and the Killer Cutter

At the murder trial, the prosecution relies on footage compiled by a video engineer nicknamed 'The Killer Cutter' from surviving film to bolster the case against Suerd. He is found guilty despite lingering questions about evidence, including the lack of bloody clothes and Suerd's alleged online alibi.

Courtroom
8

Suerd dies in prison

Before any appeal could be heard, Suerd dies in prison from unknown causes, leaving the case officially closed. Observers doubt the verdict in light of his death and the unresolved questions.

Prison
9

Leigh receives damaged tape and hires Monarch

Leigh receives a damaged videotape reel he initially believes to be from the Fact or Fiction team and hires Shelly Monarch, a data-retrieval expert, to reconstruct the images on the tape. The reconstruction promises new insight into the murders and the case.

Leigh's studio
10

Monarch reconstructs killer's image

Monarch's analysis uncovers that Wheeler and Clackin's murders were captured on tape and reveals a blurred image of the true killer. The evidence suggests Suerd could not have committed the crime.

Monarch's workspace
11

Twist: third-person perspective reveals Leigh as killer

The footage unexpectedly shifts to a third-person perspective, revealing Leigh as the murderer. This twist contradicts the narrative Leigh has been filming and raises questions about his reliability as a documentarian.

12

Leigh murders Monarch and confesses through the documentary

Leigh attacks Monarch, suffocating her with plastic sheeting in the studio. He then loads her body into his car and drives to a woods clearing to dump it, before beginning to tape himself narrating the next segment of his documentary, signaling that his project has become the killer's confession.

Studio; Woods clearing

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:07

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