The Contractor

The Contractor

Year: 2013

Runtime: 87 mins

Language: English

Director: Sean Olson

DramaCrimeThriller

While renovating their new home with her lawyer husband and daughter, Elizabeth hires a contractor named Javier to expedite the project before a charity event. However, Elizabeth's suspicions grow as she discovers Javier's intentions are far more sinister than they initially seemed, and he has specifically targeted her family. Now, Elizabeth must take action to protect her loved ones and uncover the truth behind Javier's scheme.

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The Contractor (2013) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of The Contractor (2013), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

The film opens with a suspect murderer being apprehended by the police, insisting he is innocent and that his only aim was to protect his girlfriend, but the authorities remain unconvinced.

Three years later, in December in Malibu, Elizabeth “Liz” Chase is busy renovating her family’s apartment for a charity event looming in two weeks while also looking after her teenage daughter Mckenzie Chase. Her husband, a lawyer, Paul Chase, decides to hire a contractor to ease the workload. The search initially stalls until an introduction to Desert Sun Contracting leads them to a shady contractor, Javier Reyes, who has been secretly surveilling the family, snapping photos and tapping their calls. Reyes begins to plant incriminating pieces of evidence to frame Paul for infidelity, including a doctored restaurant receipt. When Liz grows suspicious, she asks Paul to ask Reyes to leave. Reyes departs with a bitter vow to return.

A new contractor is eventually hired, but Reyes persists in watching the Chases from a distance. Liz’s suspicion deepens after Reyes plants edited phone records that imply Paul’s unfaithfulness. In the course of her investigation, she uncovers a troubling truth: Jorge Reyes, the real name of Javier Reyes, had previously been arrested for contempt of court. It is revealed that Reyes’s son, Omar Reyes, was the prosecuted murderer who died in a prison mass assault. Reyes is intent on avenging his son by targeting Paul, who was part of the prosecution team for Omar’s trial.

Liz shares her findings with Paul, and he vows to stay vigilant. He even enlists his rough-edged acquaintances to eliminate Reyes, but the plan fails; Reyes overpowers them and escapes, his eye bruised. He then sends Liz a photo of Paul’s secretary rubbing her neck, which convinces Liz that Paul is involved with someone else. Distraught, she confronts Paul, who vehemently denies any wrongdoing. The couple’s argument drives Liz to demand that Paul leave their home.

The danger escalates when Reyes kidnaps Mckenzie Chase, who had lied about going to a friend’s party but was actually with her boyfriend, Chris. With McKenzie’s phone left in Chris’s car, they lose contact. Liz discovers that McKenzie was never at the party. Reyes appears outside Liz’s door, holding McKenzie at gunpoint. He lures Paul back to the house and attacks him, but Paul manages to grab Reyes’s gun, creating a diversion that lets the mother and daughter slip away. They hide in a stable, and Liz knocks Reyes unconscious for a time with a large spade.

Their game of hide-and-seek resumes as Reyes tracks them down again, leading to a brutal struggle. In a flurry, Liz finally seizes the firearm and shoots Reyes, killing him.

With danger behind them, the Chases resolve to start anew by giving up their property to a friend and moving on. Liz is later invited to attend the grand opening of the Elizabeth Chase Pediatric Respiratory Center, a vast new facility built in her name.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:08

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Home Invasion Thrillers Like The Contractor

Thrillers where the safety of home is violated by a calculated predator.If the tense, protective energy of The Contractor hooked you, this list is for you. Discover movies where families or individuals must defend their homes from invaders with personal vendettas. These suspenseful stories share a focus on deception, vigilance, and the fight to reclaim safety.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow a linear, escalating threat. A protagonist, often a parent, discovers that a person they've allowed into their life has malicious intentions. The plot unfolds through a series of revealed deceptions and increasing danger, leading to a climactic confrontation where the hero must directly combat the threat to save their family.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their core premise of a violated sanctuary and the resulting tension. They share a high-intensity, tense tone, a steady pacing that builds dread, and a central theme of protecting loved ones from a cunning adversary who has breached their personal space.

Movies with Deceptive Outsiders Like The Contractor

Stories where a trusted figure's true, sinister motives are gradually exposed.Fans of The Contractor's plot about a manipulative contractor will enjoy these films. This list features stories where a character's trust is systematically betrayed by someone they've hired or let into their circle. Look for similar moods of paranoia and suspense as the truth is slowly uncovered.

suspensefuldeceptiveparanoidanxiousunravelingvengefulmethodical

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist hiring or accepting help from an outsider. Initial minor suspicions grow into concrete evidence of a malicious plan. The journey is one of escalating paranoia and investigation, as the protagonist pieces together clues to reveal the outsider's true identity and motives, leading to a direct conflict.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their specific villain archetype—the deceptive outsider—and the emotional experience of unraveling a conspiracy against you. They share a tense, anxious mood, a steady pacing that mirrors the methodical reveal of the threat, and a straightforward narrative about uncovering deception.

Unlock the Full Story of The Contractor

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The Contractor Timeline

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The Contractor Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Contractor

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

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Contractor

The Contractor Spoiler-Free Summary

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More About The Contractor

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