The Drifter

The Drifter

Year: 1988

Runtime: 89 mins

Language: English

ThrillerHorrorCrime

A suspenseful thriller follows a successful single woman who, on a barren highway, picks up an enigmatic hitchhiker. Back in the city, the stranger relentlessly tracks her, invading every aspect of her life. Her desperate attempts to escape his harassment only deepen the tension, culminating in a shocking, unforgettable climax.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Drifter (1988)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Drifter (1988). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Los Angeles, San Francisco, Hillside Diner, Oki Dog, West Hollywood

The story unfolds across the Los Angeles area, with a significant leg up to San Francisco during a work trip that frames Julia's return home. Much of the action centers around the Hillside diner and the Oki Dog in West Hollywood, sites of tense exchanges and fateful glances. Nighttime rain-soaked streets amplify the tension as desire collides with fear in an urban setting.

🌆 Cityscape 🏙️ Urban vibes 🎨 Fashion district 🗺️ LA Nightlife

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:51

Main Characters – The Drifter (1988)

Meet the key characters of The Drifter (1988), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Julia Robbins (Kim Delaney)

A rising fashion designer who returns to Los Angeles after a sales trip, Julia is intelligent, ambitious, and emotionally torn by a impulsive affair. She navigates guilt, suspicion, and danger while trying to maintain control over her life. Her resilience is tested as she contends with romantic entanglements and a looming threat.

💃 Designer 🧠 Intelligent 💔 Troubled 🗺️ Risk-taker

Trey (Miles O'Keeffe)

A mysterious drifter whose charm hides a dangerous edge. He pursues Julia with intensity, becoming both a catalyst for danger and a potential protector by the film's end. His presence unsettles Julia and intensifies the sense that she is not in control of her fate.

🕶️ Mysterious 🗺️ Dangerous 🧭 Persistent

Arthur (Timothy Bottoms)

Julia's boyfriend, a criminal lawyer who is protective but carries his own secrets. His suspicion and involvement in Julia's life add tension to their relationship, complicating the couple's dynamics as danger advances.

💼 Lawyer 🛡️ Protective 🌀 Suspicious

Matty (Anna Garduno)

Julia's good friend, pregnant and supportive, whose news brings joy but tragedy later in the story. Her murder becomes a pivotal blow that intensifies the film's suspense and drives Julia to seek help.

🤰 Expecting 👭 Friend 🕊️ Tragic

Morrison (Larry Brand)

Private investigator who assists Julia, approaching the case with a methodical, pragmatic mindset. He gathers evidence and interviews inmates, playing a critical role in uncovering the truth behind the unfolding danger.

🔎 Investigator 🧠 Analytical 🛡️ Protector

Detective (Unnamed)

The unnamed private investigator who stalks Julia and ultimately shapes the film's violent climax. He is manipulative and dangerous, willing to kill to preserve his cover.

🕵️‍♂️ Antagonist 🩸 Violent ⚠️ Dangerous

Steve the Cat

Julia's cat, a quiet presence through the chaos that anchors her everyday life. The cat offers a small, constant companionship amid the surrounding danger.

🐈 Companion 🐾 Loyal

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:51

Major Themes – The Drifter (1988)

Explore the central themes of The Drifter (1988), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💘 Forbidden Love

Julia's affair with Trey thrusts a reckless, all-consuming romance at the heart of her life. The relationship is impulsive and fraught with secrecy, threatening both her professional life and her long-term commitments. As the bond deepens, the line between passion and peril blurs, escalating the danger around them. The romance acts as a catalyst for the film's suspense and moral tension.

🕵️‍♂️ Pursuit

A private investigator shadows Julia, lurking on the edges and feeding a sense that someone is always watching. The pursuit grows more invasive as secrets surface and trust frays, pulling in friends, lovers, and strangers into a dangerous web. The investigator's cryptic remarks and escalating violence reveal a darker, more personal motive behind the surveillance. The tension culminates in a violent confrontation that tests Julia's nerve.

🗝️ Protection

The pocket watch Julia wears emerges as a symbolic talisman linking past and present. It literally saves Trey by absorbing a bullet meant for him, turning a fragile keepsake into a lifeline. The watch embodies fate and personal protection, suggesting that love and safety may hinge on small, meaningful objects. In a city of danger, the watch becomes a tether to trust and rescue.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:51

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The Drifter Summary

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The Drifter Summary

The Drifter Timeline

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The Drifter Timeline

More About The Drifter

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Explore More About Movie The Drifter

The Drifter (1988) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

The Drifter (1988) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

The Drifter (1988) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow