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.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Contractor 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 & Setting – The Contractor (2013)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Contractor (2013). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Contemporary

The events occur in the present day, with a December timeline that follows a backstory of a murder case from three years prior. It centers on a modern, tech-aware suburban environment where renovations and social events shape daily life. The mood shifts from domestic normalcy to urgent, high-stakes confrontation.

Location

Malibu, California

Malibu is a sunny coastal city in Southern California known for its beaches and cliffside homes. The Chases live in a large Malibu residence undergoing renovations ahead of a charity event, placing them in a private, upscale setting. The pristine seaside backdrop contrasts with the tension and danger that unfold as the stalker closes in.

🏖️ Malibu coast 🏠 Suburban villa

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 20:05

Main Characters – The Contractor (2013)

Meet the key characters of The Contractor (2013), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Elizabeth 'Liz' Chase — Christina Cox

A devoted mother and capable professional who fights to protect her daughter as a shadowy stalker targets their home. Resourceful and determined, she navigates suspicion, danger, and a painful realization about her husband’s past, ultimately taking decisive action to survive.

🛡️ Protective 🧠 Resourceful 🌟 Determined

Paul Chase — Brad Rowe

Liz’s husband, a lawyer who becomes entangled in the threat when the stalker frames him with fabricated clues. He attempts to safeguard his family, but faces mounting pressure, mistrust, and danger as the situation escalates.

🧭 Suspicious 🛡️ Protective 😰 Stressed

McKenzie Chase — Taylor Spreitler

Liz and Paul’s teenage daughter who lies about her whereabouts and becomes Reyes’s target. She embodies teenage vulnerability and resilience, enduring fear while the family fights to keep her safe.

🧒 Teen 🫶 Resilient 😨 Fearful

Javier Reyes — Danny Trejo

A shady contractor with a hidden identity who stalks the family to avenge his son’s death. He uses manipulation and violence to destabilize the Chases and to orchestrate harm.

🗡️ Stalker 🔎 Calculated 🗺️ Vengeful

Chris — Drew Osborne

McKenzie’s boyfriend who is briefly connected to the party sub-plot; he is unaware of the deeper danger and becomes a minor figure within the escalating tense events.

👦 Friend 💬 Casual 🧭 Unaware

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 20:05

Major Themes – The Contractor (2013)

Explore the central themes of The Contractor (2013), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗡️ Revenge

Javier Reyes’s motive is revenge for his son’s death, driving him to stalk and manipulate the family to carry out harm. He carves a path of deception, using kidnapping and planted evidence to destabilize Paul and Liz. The tension culminates in Liz’s decisive actions to end Reyes’s threat, underscoring how vengeance can spiral into violence.

🔎 Deception

The plot centers on misdirection and forged proof, with doctored receipts and edited phone records meant to ruin trust within the family. Reyes leads a double life, exploiting lies to weaponize suspicion and drive a wedge between Liz and Paul. The unraveling web of lies keeps the audience guessing who is genuinely trustworthy until the final confrontation.

🛡️ Protection

Liz fights to shield her daughter McKenzie, demonstrating resourcefulness and courage in a home that becomes a battlefield. The mother-daughter bond strengthens as they outlast the stalker through quick thinking and resilience. The resolution centers on their decision to safeguard themselves and start anew.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 20:05

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

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.

tensesuspensefulparanoidprotectiveclaustrophobicanxiousvengeful

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

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

The Contractor Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Contractor, 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 Contractor Summary

The Contractor Timeline

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

The Contractor Timeline

The Contractor Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Contractor 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 Contractor Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Contractor

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Contractor: 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 Contractor