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 – Vendetta (1986)

Trace every key event in Vendetta (1986) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Laurie visits her sister on the film set

Laurie Collins, a successful stuntwoman, travels to a small-town film set and invites her younger sister Bonnie Cusack to visit. Bonnie agrees and travels to spend time with Laurie during production.

Film set in a small town
2

Bonnie is attacked in a bar and defends herself

During a night of partying, Bonnie is picked up by a man at a bar and is faced with rape and a gun. She uses self-defense skills she learned from Laurie to overpower the attacker and ends up killing him with his own gun.

Bar in town
3

Bonnie is charged and convicted for murder

The bar murder, framed as self-defense, becomes a high-profile case. Bonnie, being from out of town, is seen as a troublemaker and is charged with murder. The judge sentences her to a term in the state prison.

Courthouse
4

Bonnie enters prison and faces Kay's harassment

Inside prison, Bonnie encounters Kay, an influential trustee inmate who targets her for sexual attention. When Bonnie fights back against Kay's advances, Kay and her gang assault her and inject her with heroin before dumping her to her death from a high railing.

State prison
5

Laurie identifies Bonnie's body and suspects a cover-up

The next day Laurie claims and identifies her sister's body. The report cites a drug overdose, but in the morgue she sees bruising on Bonnie, leading her to conclude authorities may be hiding the truth. She resolves to uncover what really happened.

City morgue
6

Laurie gambles to infiltrate the prison by getting arrested

Determined to investigate from the inside, Laurie intentionally drives drunk to get arrested. She ends up in the same prison and is processed with the others, stepping into a world of corruption she suspects lurks behind Bonnie's death.

State prison
7

The judge grants Laurie a suspended sentence

As a first-time offender, Laurie unexpectedly receives a suspended sentence from the same judge who handled Bonnie's case. She is surprised by the leniency and reacts with outrage. Her outburst triggers a new turn in her legal fate.

Courthouse
8

Laurie assaults the judge; suspended sentence revoked

Laurie angrily insults and attempts to attack the judge, prompting his revocation of the suspended sentence. She is dragged off to jail, marking a turn in her mission from outside observer to an inmate with a personal stake in the case.

Courthouse
9

Laurie realizes Kay is behind Bonnie's death

While inside, Laurie quickly identifies Kay as the mastermind behind her sister's demise. The realization fuels her determination to confront Kay and bring truth to light. The conflict moves from suspicion to a personal mission of revenge and justice.

Prison
10

Laurie kills Wanda to provoke Kay

In a bold move, Laurie eliminates Wanda, a member of Kay's gang, at a prison-operated wind farm. The act signals a direct challenge to Kay’s control and draws Kay's attention to Laurie's threat inside the prison.

Prison wind farm
11

China dies after confrontation with Laurie

Following Laurie's escalation, Kay's ally China is killed after a confrontation by the prison pool. The death underscores the lawlessness inside and the stakes of Laurie's vendetta. Miss Dice observes the pattern with growing concern.

Prison pool
12

Star dies after a fight in the prison shower

Tensions rise as Laurie fights Star in the prison shower, resulting in a fatal head injury. The death further reveals the brutality surrounding Kay's network and the inmates' violent power dynamics. Miss Dice continues to watch the unfolding pattern with worry.

Prison shower
13

Laurie confronts Kay and learns of Bonnie's fate

Laurie confronts Kay directly and learns that Bonnie's death was an accident and that Kay's gang merely roughed her up. The revelation sparks a decisive clash as Laurie fights to end Kay's reign of intimidation inside the prison.

Prison
14

Showdown ends Kay; Miss Dice intervenes

Laurie overcomes Kay in a brutal hand-to-hand confrontation, not wanting to deliver the final blow. Miss Dice suddenly appears with a shotgun and orders Laurie to stand down. Kay rises with a weapon, but Dice fires, killing Kay and saving Laurie.

Prison
15

Laurie is released from prison

Miss Dice reveals the truth about Kay's crimes to Laurie, hinting at the broader corruption behind Bonnie's death. Laurie accepts the grim reality and is picked up by her boyfriend, starting a new life as a free woman.

Outside world

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:27

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

Characters, Settings & Themes in Vendetta

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Vendetta. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Vendetta

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.