Three Way

Three Way

Year: 2004

Runtime: 88 mins

Language: English

Director: Scott Ziehl

DramaThrillerCrime

A sinfully tasty brew of sex, extortion and murder. Lew is a small‑time loser with a troubled past and a massive secret. After overhearing a couple plotting a kidnapping, he devises his own scheme, targeting the victim first and blackmailing the real criminals to protect his secret. The plan spirals out of control, dragging everyone into a vortex.

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Timeline & Setting – Three Way (2004)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Three Way (2004). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

San Diego, California, Santa Barbara, California

San Diego serves as the initial setting where Lew Brookbank's life unravels after discovering his wife's affair. The film then shifts to a rural-California coastal town outside Santa Barbara, where signboard making and quiet roads frame a web of crime. The coastal backdrop underscores the contrast between ordinary life and hidden violence.

🏖️ Coastal California 🚗 Road trip setting 🗺️ California

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:12

Main Characters – Three Way (2004)

Meet the key characters of Three Way (2004), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Lew Brookbank (Dominic Purcell)

A furious, resourceful man who plunges into violence after discovering his wife’s affair. He plans to steal ransom money and evade the police, showing a cold, rational side beneath a volatile temper. His pursuit of control blinds him to growing danger as the case spirals toward exposure.

🗡️ Anti-hero 🧭 Obsession 🔪 Crime

Rita Caswell (Joy Bryant)

A practical, quick-thinking woman who becomes Lew's ally and leverage in a dangerous game. She orchestrates elements of the plan and ultimately helps expose the real money-windfall. Her loyalty is tested as the line between accomplice and victim blurs.

🫂 Ally 🧩 Strategist 🧭 Survivor

Florence DeCroix Hagen (Gina Gershon)

The kidnapped wife whose captivity drives the ransom drama. She becomes a symbol of collateral in a scheme, and her fate profoundly unsettles the other characters. Her murder on the boat shifts the balance of power in the plot.

💔 Victim 🛶 Boat setting 🧭 Catalyst

Ralph Hagen (Desmond Harrington)

A husband entangled in a kidnapping plot, eager to claim the ransom and protect his image. He collaborates with Isobel and fears exposure as the scheme unravels. His suspicions about Florence fuel distrust and redirection of plans.

🤝 Conspirator 💰 Kidnapper 🕵️ Suspense

Isobel Delano (Ali Larter)

Ralph's girlfriend who participates in the kidnapping scheme. She balances ambition with fear, contributing to the plan while watching for traps. Her role keeps the plot in motion as loyalties shift.

💃 Co-conspirator 🧭 Opportunist 🔍 Suspicion

Herbert Claremont / Clarkson (Dwight Yoakam)

The brother of Lew's late wife’s lover who shows up to promise answers and escalate the danger. He is volatile, armed, and willing to kill to uncover the truth, adding a menacing external threat. His intervention derails Lew’s plan and triggers a deadly confrontation.

🗝️ Antagonist 🥁 Threat 🔫 Violence

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:12

Major Themes – Three Way (2004)

Explore the central themes of Three Way (2004), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗡️ Revenge

Lew's rampage begins with a violent reaction to betrayal, pushing him toward murder and a desperate bid to disappear. The story probes the cost of vengeance when it corrodes trust and leads to further danger. As Lew spirals, the line between hunter and hunted blurs, exposing moral ambiguity.

🪤 Deception

The plot hinges on layered lies: ransom plans, fake money, and assumed identities. Characters manipulate each other to gain advantage, triggering a cascade of betrayals. The tension comes from trying to separate truth from bluff in a web of crime.

🤝 Trust and Fate

Rita's unexpected loyalty complicates Lew's plan and suggests chance’s role in outcomes. The alliance between unlikely partners is fragile, capable of turning on a dime. The ending hinges on whether trust can save them or merely delay the inevitable consequences.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:12

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Three Way Summary

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Three Way Summary

Three Way Timeline

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Three Way Timeline

Three Way Spoiler-Free Summary

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Three Way Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Three Way

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