Search Movie Plot Summaries & Endings Explained

Thriller · Dark tone · Bleak ending

The Flesh and Blood Show (1972)

An appalling amalgam of carnage and carnality… Actors rehearsing a show at a mysterious seaside theater are being killed off by an unknown maniac.

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Family · Tense tone · Happy ending

Treasure Island (1972)

In this concise retelling of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic, young Jim Hawkins becomes an apprentice aboard the ship commanded by the charismatic pirate Long John Silver. Together they embark on a perilous voyage, chasing the fabled buccaneer’s treasure while navigating treachery, mutiny and the lure of adventure.

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Drama · Dark tone · Ambiguous ending

Night of the Strangler (1972)

Southern revenge! In New Orleans, a relationship between a black man and a white girl leads to a string of murders.

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Drama · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

Hapkido (1972)

Yu Ying, Kao and Fan travel back to China to open a martial‑arts school. Their peaceful plans are shattered when a ruthless Japanese rival, head of the Black Bear school, begins a campaign of intimidation and sabotage. The escalating rivalry forces the friends into fierce confrontations as they fight to protect their dream.

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Horror · Dark tone · Bleak ending

The Blood Spattered Bride (1972)

Till death do us part! A newlywed woman moves into the centuries‑old family mansion and is plagued by increasingly disturbing nightmares. When the sinister visions begin to materialize, she finds herself trapped in a labyrinth of unspeakable horrors, fighting to survive the malevolent legacy that surrounds her.

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Horror · Dark tone · Sad ending

Don’t Torture a Duckling (1972)

Lucio Fulci’s unsettling thriller follows a hard‑boiled reporter and a sexually liberated young woman as they investigate a string of brutal child murders in a secluded southern Italian village, where ancient superstitions and a deep mistrust of outsiders dominate daily life. Their probing draws them into a nightmarish web of folk beliefs and hidden secrets that threaten anyone who dares to uncover the truth.

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Drama · Hopeful tone · Happy ending

Vasantha Maligai (1972)

Is an emotionally charged tale that depicts the transformation of an alcoholic after his life is touched by true love.

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Action · Light tone · Bittersweet ending

Man of the East (1972)

When his dying father asks him to become a true Western man, Joe heads to the frontier despite hating guns, preferring poetry and bicycles to horses. Three rough‑hewn mentors try to teach him the ways of the West, but he only learns when he must confront the jealous gunman Morton, who resents Joe’s affection for rancher Ohlsen’s beautiful daughter.

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Comedy · Dark tone · Bleak ending

Terror at Red Wolf Inn (1972)

College student Regina returns from class to discover she’s won a getaway at the remote Red Wolf Inn. Before she can call her parents, the kindly owners whisk her there, joining two other women as guests. The inn is picturesque and the food—especially the barbecued ribs—is superb, yet an uneasy feeling persists. One guest vanishes and the hosts protect the meat locker, hinting at a sinister secret.

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Horror · Dark tone · Sad ending

Moon of the Wolf (1972)

When the full moon rises over rural Louisiana, deadly secrets creep from the shadows. After a string of brutal murders claims several locals, the county sheriff begins to suspect that a werewolf may be stalking the town, forcing him to confront ancient folklore and a growing wave of terror.

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Horror · Dark tone · Ambiguous ending

Necromancy (1972)

After a devastating stillbirth, Lori and her husband Frank move to northern California when Frank lands a job at a toy company. His enigmatic boss, Mr. Cato, reveals that the position involves magic. Cato, wielding considerable sway over the town, seeks necromantic power and believes Lori is the key to resurrecting his dead son, pitting the couple against dark forces.

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Romance · Tense tone · Happy ending

Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972)

A gifted artist falls in love with a doctor, but a tragic accident robs him of his sight and leaves him imprisoned by a ruthless princess. He manages to escape against all odds, and a compassionate stranger rescues him, nursing him back to health. Upon returning, he discovers the woman he loves is now betrothed to the very man who saved him.

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Mystery · Light tone · Happy ending

Cancel My Reservation (1972)

Bob Hope, a frazzled talk‑show host, is sent on a doctor‑ordered vacation to Arizona. There, he and his supportive wife, Eva Marie Saint, become accidental detectives, taking on Sherlock Holmes‑like roles to investigate a series of murders. As the prime suspect, Bob must prove his innocence.

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Drama · Tense tone · Ambiguous ending

Eolomea (1972)

When eight cargo ships vanish in three days and the orbital station Margot goes silent, the space council launches an investigation. Lead scientist Maria Scholl orders an immediate flight halt to the sector. Her colleague Prof. Tal raises suspicion when he seems to know events before they are reported, and a secret file reveals his involvement in the unapproved Eolomea project.

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Horror · Tense tone · Bleak ending

Haunts of the Very Rich (1972)

An eclectic group of affluent but deeply troubled individuals escapes to a secluded island resort, hoping for leisure. A sudden, life‑threatening incident forces each of them to confront their hidden anxieties, sparking an intense introspection about the meaning of their privileged lives and the purpose of their existence.

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Crime · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

The Woman Hunter (1972)

While on a luxurious getaway in Acapulco, a wealthy socialite and her rigid husband discover unsettling clues that they are being watched by a notorious international jewel thief and murderer. As the idyllic paradise turns ominous, the couple finds themselves caught in a deadly cat‑and‑mouse pursuit.

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Comedy · Whimsical tone · Happy ending

Yogi’s Ark Lark (1972)

Yogi Bear, Boo‑Boo and a troupe of Jellystone pals—including Huckleberry Hound, Snagglepuss, Magilla Gorilla and others—decide to build an ark in search of the legendary Perfect Place, a serene haven untouched by humans or pollution. They enlist the park’s janitor, Noah Smith, as captain and set out worldwide. Though each new shore seems ideal, the adventure teaches them that true perfection is found at home.

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Comedy · Dark tone · Ambiguous ending

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972)

Luis Buñuel’s deliciously satiric masterpiece follows an upper‑class sextet as they repeatedly try to sit down to a formal dinner, only to be continually foiled by a chaotic blend of real and imagined interruptions that parody social pretensions and elevate the film’s surreal, vaudevillian humor.

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Crime · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

A Gorgeous Girl Like Me (1972)

A sociologist studying female offenders chooses a striking inmate as his research subject. While interviewing her behind bars, he becomes fascinated by her complex history and the ways she rationalizes her crimes. His curiosity deepens, blurring the line between professional duty and personal attraction, and he struggles to keep her seductive influence at bay.

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Drama · Dark tone · Bleak ending

The Ruling Class (1972)

When the Earl of Gurney dies in a cross‑dressing mishap, his schizophrenic son Jack inherits the estate. Jack, convinced he is Jesus reborn, spends his days singing and dancing around the grounds. The family, deeming him unfit, plots to seize his inheritance, but their insane schemes and attempts to “cure” him only lead to disastrous results.

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Action · Dark tone · Sad ending

Fist of Fury (1972)

A charismatic martial artist, played by Stephen Chow, enters a global competition to test his skills and prove his worth. Driven by passion and determination, he faces formidable opponents, unleashing a powerful display of martial arts techniques in his pursuit of victory. He strives to overcome challenges and demonstrate his exceptional abilities on the world stage.

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Family · Light tone · Happy ending

Joroo Ka Ghulam (1972)

The rich Kalpana marries Rajesh, a poor painter, much to her parents’ disapproval. She brags about his wealth to them but gets in trouble when they come to visit.

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Mystery · Dark tone · Ambiguous ending

Private Parts (1972)

Cheryl, a runaway teen, checks into the seedy King Edward Hotel in Los Angeles, hoping to rebuild her life. There she meets George, who treats her like a living doll, while a mysterious other resident stalks the dim corridors, driven by a murderous urge to dismember his victims.

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Romance · Bittersweet tone · Ambiguous ending

Love in the Afternoon (1972)

Frederic leads a life as a partner in a Paris office and is happily married to Helene, a teacher expecting their second child. He daydreams about other women in the afternoons but never acts. When Chloe, an old friend’s lover, begins visiting his office, their afternoons become intimate and she tries to seduce him, forcing Frederic a moral dilemma.

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Action · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

The Salzburg Connection (1972)

An American lawyer on vacation in Europe is summoned by a publisher to meet a photographer in Salzburg of Austrian lakes. When he arrives, the photographer has vanished, leaving a terrified wife and a mysterious brother. He soon becomes tangled in Cold‑War espionage, shadowy assassins, and a hunt for a secret Nazi list of wartime collaborators.

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Thriller · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

The Last House on the Left (1972)

While on a lakeside vacation, Mari and a friend encounter a violent escaped convict and his accomplices, leading to a terrifying fight for survival. She manages to escape and finds temporary safety with her parents, unaware that the same dangerous men have followed her and are now hiding in their home. A brutal confrontation and reckoning ensues, testing the limits of morality and revenge.

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Fantasy · Dark tone · Bleak ending

Blacula (1972)

An 18th‑century African prince becomes a vampire after a fateful encounter in Transylvania. Two hundred years later he awakens in modern Los Angeles, prowling the streets and preying on locals. He becomes obsessed with Tina, a young woman he believes to be the reincarnation of his long‑lost wife, and pursues her while terrorizing the city.

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Horror · Dark tone · Happy ending

Invasion of the Blood Farmers (1972)

After planting the living and harvesting the dead, a sinister group of upstate New York farmers become obsessed with a literal blood harvest. When a young woman stumbles into their isolated community, she finds herself stalked and tormented by the blood‑thirsty group, fighting for survival.

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Horror · Dark tone · Ambiguous ending

Grave of the Vampire (1972)

Bound by a shared bloodline, a father and his son find themselves entangled in a nightmare of crimson cravings. The ancient vampire Caleb Croft rises from his cursed slumber, driven by an unquenchable thirst for blood and the carnal delights of the flesh, threatening everyone around them.

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Comedy · Bittersweet tone · Mixed ending

Life of a Shock Force Worker (1972)

Adem, a Bosnian coal miner, spends his days laboring in the dark, cramped tunnels under grueling conditions. His relentless effort and safety record earn him widespread praise, and he is celebrated as an exemplary socialist worker whose dedication embodies the ideals of collective industry.

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Adventure · Hopeful tone · Happy ending

Oliver and the Artful Dodger (1972)

The animated sequel continues the tale of Oliver Twist, showing Oliver being taken in by the kind Mr. Brownlow. After Brownlow’s death, his missing will prompts the greedy nephew Sniperly to seize the estate, forcing Oliver to thwart his scheme. At the same time, the Artful Dodger turns his cunning into a mission, helping other children flee harsh workhouses.

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Mystery · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

The Red Queen Kills Seven Times (1972)

After their grandfather dies, two sisters inherit a centuries‑old family castle rumored to be haunted by the Red Queen, a legend that says the spirit claims seven lives every hundred years. When a woman cloaked in red begins murdering members of their social circle, the sisters realize the myth may be more than a story.

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Drama · Hopeful tone · Bittersweet ending

Sounder (1972)

During the Great Depression, a Louisiana sharecropping family faces immense hardship and struggles to survive. The father, a deeply religious man, resorts to theft to feed his family, leading to his arrest. This event sets his son on a difficult journey to find him, encountering both adversity and valuable lessons about faith, family, and resilience in the face of poverty.

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Crime · Dark tone · Happy ending

Slaughter (1972)

Slaughter, a former Green Beret, makes his name a business and sometimes a pleasure, hunting down the mobsters who murdered his loved ones. After the federal agents blackmail him, he is compelled to travel to South America to finish the mob’s remaining members and settle the score.

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Action · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

The Way of the Dragon (1972)

A lone warrior named Tang Lung arrives in ancient Rome, finding a city plagued by corruption and ruthless crime lords. When his cousins' restaurant is targeted, he steps in to defend them, unleashing his impressive martial arts skills against opponents from Japan and Europe. As the conflict escalates, Tang Lung must uncover and confront the powerful figure orchestrating the criminal enterprise, leading to a clash of honor, strength, and intellect.

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Drama · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

Love Me Deadly (1972)

A haunted young socialite battles an insatiable necrophilic hunger, torn between the tender affection she feels for a compassionate businessman and the dark liaison with a mortician who provides her with fresh corpses. The film explores her macabre cravings and conflicted love.

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Adventure · Bittersweet tone · Happy ending

Snoopy Come Home (1972)

Charlie Brown's beloved beagle, Snoopy, receives a letter from Lila, the girl who originally owned him and is now recovering in a hospital. Feeling a strong connection, Snoopy sets off on a cross-country journey with his friend Woodstock. Their adventure is filled with unexpected encounters and obstacles as Snoopy tries to reunite with Lila, ultimately leading to a touching decision about where he truly belongs.

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Comedy · Whimsical tone · Bittersweet ending

Deadhead Miles (1972)

A long‑distance trucker, garbed like a sea captain, roams the American highways in his 18‑wheel rig, muttering manic, Southern‑accented non sequiturs. He drifts through carnival‑like roadside stops and random towns, baffling police and weigh stations with the help of his mysterious, over‑coated hitchhiker companion, offering a heavy, reflective view of life from the cab’s window.

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Adventure · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

Man from Deep River (1972)

A photographer working in a remote rainforest is captured by a tribe of indigenous people. Over several months he learns their ways, marries the chief’s daughter, and ultimately defends the village against a hostile cannibal tribe, highlighting his struggle to survive the jungle and bridge two cultures.

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Comedy · Whimsical tone · Mixed ending

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972)

This comedy presents seven interconnected stories exploring the complexities of human intimacy. Drawing inspiration from David Reuben's book, the vignettes cover a wide range of topics, from the customs of medieval romance to the science behind desire. Each segment offers a humorous and unconventional look at the challenges and joys of relationships, and the universal search for connection and understanding.

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