Traces of Red

The film opens with Jack Dobson, a Palm Beach homicide detective, flat on his back with a bullet in his chest. The scene then shifts into a flashback to show the events leading up to this moment. We are introduced to threatening letters and the sense that danger is closing in.

Jack and his partner Steve Frayn investigate the threats and conclude a mob figure is likely involved, especially as Jack prepares to testify. They also consider that someone could be targeting Jack’s brother Michael, who is running for public office. The stakes are both personal and professional.

Women begin turning up dead with lipstick traces left by the killer, establishing a chilling signature. Jack’s relationship with Ellen Schofield grows as he becomes more entangled in the case. The murders heighten the tension around Jack personally and professionally.

Ellen sees Jack leaving a restaurant with another woman who then becomes a victim, casting suspicion on Jack himself as the killer. The pattern of murders fuels paranoia and strains Jack’s relationships. The case tightens around him as new leads emerge.

Jack reveals that he was raped as a child by his former 1st grade teacher, Gloria Wurtz. The confession deepens the audience's understanding of his trauma and how it has shaped his actions. It also foreshadows the complex layers of motive and identity at play in the investigation.

While speaking with Michael, Steve learns that the rapist was actually Jack’s own mother, a revelation that shatters assumptions and reframes the case. The discovery adds a startling familial twist to the investigation. This knowledge guides the characters toward a dangerous path.

Steve decides to persist with his investigation and ends up having sex with Ellen, despite the implications. His wife and Jack react with dismay, feeling betrayed by his actions. The affair intensifies the personal stakes surrounding the case.

Following Ellen’s death, Jack takes Beth, Steve’s wife, to a secluded getaway home after Steve confides his trust in him. The move creates a dangerous setup for what will come next. The tension escalates as truths begin to surface.

Steve and Michael reach the getaway and confront the possibility that Jack is the killer as they search for evidence. The confrontation tightens the noose around Jack's alleged guilt. Tension peaks as they close in on the truth.

In a tense moment, Jack holds Beth and seems ready to strangle her, but Steve yells for him to freeze. Jack pushes Beth aside and draws his gun, but Steve shoots him before he can fire. Jack, in narration, hints that the story isn't over.

It’s revealed that Michael is the true killer and Jack’s 'death' was staged to mislead him. Jack's ruse was meant to let Michael believe he was dealing with a dead rival while the real plan unfolded. This twist reframes everything that came before.

Michael is lured into a hotel room with a woman; he attempts to strangle her, and Steve bursts in. Jack then tells Steve and the woman to leave so he can handle Michael alone. The twist hits again as Jack reveals that he is alive and in control of the situation.

Jack and Michael confront each other; Michael manages to take Jack's gun and shoots himself in the temple. The long game of deception collapses as Michael dies, leaving Jack and Steve to process the aftermath. The truth finally comes to light in stark fashion.

With Michael's death, his funeral takes place and Steve asks Jack if he's ready for what comes next. Jack answers, 'I will be,' signaling a cautious but resolute turn toward moving forward after the harrowing events. The film closes on a note of tentative hope and acceptance.

The story closes with Jack reflecting on the deception that shaped the case and the false leads that nearly ruined them. Steve remains by his side as they reckon with the truth and prepare to move forward together. The epilogue underscores the cost of uncovering the truth and the power of forgiveness.