Vendetta

Vendetta

Year: 1986

Runtime: 89 mins

Language: English

ActionDrama

All she wants is justice. All it takes is murder. A sexy stuntwoman gets herself thrown into prison to avenge the death of her sister.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Vendetta 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 – Vendetta (1986)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Vendetta (1986). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Small town near Bonnie Cusack's home, State prison, Prison wind farm

Set primarily on a film-set in a quiet town near Bonnie's home, the story blends glitz with danger. The narrative then shifts to the harsh environment of a state prison, where power struggles shape every action. The prison wind farm adds a stark, industrial backdrop that underscores the control and surveillance at play.

🎬 Film-set 🏘 Small-town vibe 🔒 Prison

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:46

Main Characters – Vendetta (1986)

Meet the key characters of Vendetta (1986), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Laurie Collins (Karen Chase)

Laurie is a successful stuntwoman who uses her athleticism and quick thinking to navigate danger on set and off. She becomes determined to uncover the truth behind her sister Bonnie’s death, even if it means breaking the law. Her courage, resourcefulness, and willingness to act place her at the center of the conflict within the prison system.

💪 Strong-willed 🎬 Film industry 🕵️‍♀️ Investigator ⚖️ Justice seeker

Bonnie Cusack (Michelle Newkirk)

Bonnie is Laurie's younger sister who travels to visit and becomes entangled in a violent confrontation. She defends herself from an attacker and kills him with his own gun, claiming self-defense. Her outsider status leads to a conviction for murder, exposing the harsh realities of the legal system.

👭 Family ties 💪 Survivor ⚖️ Injustice 🧭 Outsider

Kay Butler (Sandy Martin)

Kay is an influential inmate and head of a gang who uses fear to control other prisoners. Her treatment of Bonnie reveals how power dynamics operate within the prison social order. She confronts Laurie in a long-running battle that ends in violent conflict, and her downfall comes at the hands of Laurie and Miss Dice.

💔 Antagonist 🧭 Power 🧪 Manipulation 💪 Calculated

Miss Dice (Roberta Collins)

Miss Dice is the head of security at the prison, aware of the corruption but limited in power. She becomes an ally to Laurie, ultimately intervening to end Kay's threat. Her actions reveal a pragmatic, morally complex figure who seeks a safer outcome for Laurie and Bonnie's memory.

🧭 Security 🔎 Insider 🛡️ Protector 🕊️ Complexity

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:46

Major Themes – Vendetta (1986)

Explore the central themes of Vendetta (1986), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚖️ Justice

Bonnie’s murder case exposes bias in the justice system and how outsiders are treated. The trial frames self-defense against a political backdrop, blurring moral lines. The film questions whether justice is achievable when power brokers pull the strings. Through Laurie's pursuit of the truth, the theme of justice is tested and redefined.

🕵️‍♀️ Truth

Laurie infiltrates the prison to uncover the truth behind Bonnie’s death, risking her freedom and safety. The narrative follows clues, misdirections, and the slow revelation of a wider corruption network. The revelation comes through small, brutal confrontations and strategic moves rather than courtroom drama. The theme shows truth as a dangerous weapon that can reshape lives.

💪 Empowerment

Laurie, a skilled stuntwoman, leverages her training to resist oppression and fight back against the prison's tyrannical order. The story centers on a woman using physical prowess and resolve to protect family and seek justice. The ultimate showdown demonstrates resilience in the face of systemic abuse.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:46

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.

Grim Prison Revenge Thrillers like Vendetta

Stories of survival and brutal vengeance within oppressive penitentiary walls.If you liked the gritty, high-intensity revenge story of Vendetta, explore more movies like it. This section features similar women-in-prison and vigilante justice stories set in oppressive penitentiaries, focusing on themes of corruption, survival, and brutal vengeance.

grittytenseclaustrophobicvengefulbrutaloppressiverevenge-driven

Narrative Summary

The narrative typically begins with a grave injustice that lands the protagonist in prison, either by design or circumstance. The story then follows their struggle to survive in a brutal hierarchy while meticulously planning or executing a dangerous revenge plot against a powerful antagonist within the system.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their shared oppressive setting and core revenge motive. They deliver a consistent vibe of high tension, grim tone, and heavy emotional weight, united by the theme of an individual fighting a corrupt institution from within.

Bittersweet Vigilante Justice Stories like Vendetta

Quests for revenge that succeed but leave a hollow victory and emotional scars.For viewers who appreciated the complex emotional resolution of Vendetta, this list highlights movies with similar bittersweet endings. Discover other action dramas and thrillers where the protagonist's quest for justice is successful but comes at a significant personal cost.

revenge-drivengrief-strickengrimtensemelancholicheavyvengeful

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a clear path of vengeance driven by profound grief or injustice. While the protagonist ultimately overcomes their adversary, the climax and resolution emphasize the psychological and emotional cost of their actions, resulting in an ending that is victorious yet somber and reflective.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by a specific emotional arc: the pursuit and achievement of revenge, followed by a poignant realization of its emptiness. They share a dark tone, heavy emotional weight, and a bittersweet ending feel that prioritizes thematic depth alongside action.

Unlock the Full Story of Vendetta

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

Vendetta Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Vendetta, 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.

Vendetta Summary

Vendetta Timeline

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

Vendetta Timeline

Vendetta Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Vendetta 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.

Vendetta Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Vendetta

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

Similar Movies to Vendetta

Discover movies like Vendetta that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.