What Is Dimension 5 About?
The premise of Dimension 5 in 348 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a world where hidden agendas pulse beneath the glitter of a sprawling American metropolis, a covert intelligence community wrestles with an uneasy balance of power. The stakes are amplified by an unprecedented scientific breakthrough: an experimental belt that lets its wearer slip moments forward or backward through time. This technology, still raw and unpredictable, has become the linchpin of a desperate effort to keep a looming nuclear threat from crossing the city’s borders. The film’s atmosphere blends the sleek tension of classic spy thrillers with a speculative edge, casting the familiar streets of Los Angeles in a faint, uncanny glow where every shadow could conceal a future‑changing secret.
Justin Power, a seasoned American intelligence officer, carries the weight of countless clandestine operations on his shoulders. Trained to think several moves ahead, he pairs his tactical savvy with the time‑travel belt, treating it as both a weapon and a responsibility that could rewrite history itself. His demeanor mixes stoic determination with a dry, wry humor, hinting at a career forged in the gray zones between right and wrong. As he navigates a labyrinth of informants, bureaucratic pressure, and the ever‑present possibility of temporal mishaps, his expertise is both his greatest asset and his most fragile vulnerability.
Enter Kitty, a Chinese‑American operative whose skill set mirrors and challenges Power’s own. Fluent in both cultures and languages, she brings a sharp intellect, lethal precision, and a personal connection to the shadows the mission seeks to illuminate. Their partnership is a study in contrast: his methodical, history‑aware approach meets her instinctive, present‑focused agility. Together they must negotiate trust, cultural divides, and the unpredictable ripple effects of bending time, all while staying one step ahead of an unseen adversary.
The film unfolds as a tense, high‑octane cat‑and‑mouse game, where each jump through the temporal veil heightens the urgency and the mystery. The tone is a sleek fusion of gritty espionage and speculative sci‑fi, keeping the audience poised on the edge of every moment—aware that a single misstep could echo across decades and decide the fate of a city poised on the brink.
What Happens in Dimension 5?
The complete story of Dimension 5, from the first scene to the last, in 768 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 13 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Justin Power, Jeffrey Hunter, an agent for Espionage, Inc., returns from a mission where he used a time-travel belt to steal secret plans. He is told by his superior, Cane, Donald Woods, that he is to be teamed with a Chinese agent to take down the Dragon crime ring led by Big Buddha, Harold Sakata. A sister agency has learned Dragon plans to destroy Los Angeles if United States forces withdraw from Southeast Asia.
Aware that Dragon has a primitive hydrogen bomb but no clear delivery method, Espionage, Inc plans to interrogate a captured agent, Chang, Gerald Jann. Chang is being brought from Hong Kong by two agents—Sato, Robert Ito, and George, Robert Phillips—so they might learn Dragon’s plans. Chang insists that Dragon will see to it that he will never talk. An assassination attempt occurs immediately: though George is killed, Chang survives when a female agent shoots the assassin with a dart.
Informed of the incident, Power goes to Ontario Airport where he uses his time-travel device to “preview” the assassination. A man in a cowboy suit shoots Chang with a dart gun concealed in a camera, while Sato and the female agent watch helplessly. The shooter then escapes in a limousine with Big Buddha in the back seat. Power then switches to the present, warns Sato by radio of the threat, and orders the limousine be prevented from following their taxi, before punching out the would-be killer and ensuring the transfer is made successfully.
Back at headquarters, the Professor, Jon Lormer, and his assistant, Miss Sweet, Deanna Lund, subject Chang to a truth machine that forces him to reveal what he knows—at the risk of brain damage. During the process, Chang switches to Chinese and Sato translates. The interrogation reveals that a hydrogen bomb is being delivered piece-by-piece and assembled in Los Angeles, with an explosion planned for Christmas Day, three months away. Power then meets his new partner, Ki Ti Tsu, Kitty, France Nuyen, the agent who aided during the Hong Kong assassination attempt.
Power takes Kitty to a Cantonese restaurant run by an old friend, Kim Fong, Kam Tong. He asks Fong about the black market (Power’s cover is an importer) and offers help, until Big Buddha is mentioned. Kitty’s hostess, Nancy Ho, Linda Ho, recognizes Kitty as a Chinese agent and forces Fong to hand over a bomb disguised as an owl-shaped incense burner. Kitty is suspicious for cultural reasons and because she recognizes the hostess as a Dragon agent. The pair are out of the car when the bomb explodes.
Later, Power confronts Nancy Ho at her hideout, demanding the bomb’s location. Ho is killed by Kitty as she tries to stab Power. Kitty then turns Power over to Dragon agent Stoneface, a ruse that allows Kitty to meet with Big Buddha while signaling headquarters. Power is rescued, and he demonstrates the time-travel belt to Kitty, warning her to limit travels to places that will still exist in the future or past.
Power receives a message from Cane and learns that the Ming company—the maker of the owl bomb and a Dragon front—has a warehouse in Long Beach, with a shipment from Hong Kong aboard the Osaka Maru due in three weeks. Power and Kitty time-travel ahead the three weeks, unaware that they are being watched. When Stoneface wants to kill them with a disintegrator, Big Buddha has him killed instead.
Inspecting the warehouse in the future, Power and Kitty discover Uranium-238 among Christmas decorations, but are discovered by Big Buddha, who has been expecting them for the last three weeks. Restricted to locations he can see, Power bounces between barrels as Dragon agents close in. Kitty confronts Big Buddha, seeking revenge for his war crimes during the Nanking Massacre, including the deaths of her parents seven years earlier, but she is captured. Power surrenders to Big Buddha to buy Kitty time. The plan is to ship Power to Hong Kong to extract secrets from him.
Unexpectedly, Big Buddha’s mute servant girl, Virginia Ann Lee, tries to stab him. Power seizes the distraction to turn on Big Buddha’s bodyguard, Genghis, Lee Kolima, and a brutal fight erupts. The much larger Genghis overpowers Power until Kitty tosses him a gun, which Power uses to shoot Genghis down. Big Buddha, meanwhile, has forgotten about his servant girl, who finally seizes her moment and finishes him off.
Power and Kitty return to the present with knowledge to stop Dragon once more, but this time they intend to let Cane’s people do all the work, ending their immediate threat without needing to rely on time travel.
Dimension 5 Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Mission recap and team-up assignment” to “Return to present and strategy shift”. 9 events name a place, across 7 locations.
- 1
Mission recap and team-up assignment
Power returns from a mission using a time-travel belt to steal secret plans. He is instructed by Cane to team with a Chinese agent to counter Dragon, a crime lord led by Big Buddha. Dragon intends to coerce the United States by threatening to destroy Los Angeles unless forces are withdrawn.
- 2
Hydrogen bomb threat revealed
Chang is subjected to a truth machine at Espionage, Inc. headquarters. He reveals that Dragon has a primitive hydrogen bomb being delivered piece by piece to Los Angeles, with a Christmas Day deadline three months away. The interrogation outlines the scope of the threat and the race to stop Dragon.
When:Three months before Christmas
- 3
New ally Ki Ti Tsu joins Power
Power meets Ki Ti Tsu, the agent assigned to partner with him. She joins the mission and helps plan the next moves against Dragon. The new partnership broadens their capability to counter Dragon's network.
- 4
Cantonese restaurant and the owl bomb
Power and Kitty visit Kim Fong's Cantonese restaurant to learn about the Dragon black market. The hostess, Nancy Ho, who is a Dragon agent in disguise, pressures Fong to hand over a bomb disguised as an owl-shaped incense burner. Kitty's suspicions grow as she notices the hostess's duplicity.
Where:Cantonese restaurant, Los Angeles
- 5
Bomb detonation and ruse of capture
The owl bomb detonates during the ensuing confrontation; Nancy Ho is killed by Kitty as she attempts to stab Power. Kitty's subsequent actions appear to hand Power over to Dragon, but she has her own reasons and signals headquarters for a rescue. Power is liberated, and the mission continues.
Where:Cantonese restaurant vicinity
- 6
Time travel belt demonstration
Power demonstrates the time travel belt to Kitty, explaining its limits and risks. He warns her to only travel to places that will still exist in the future or past and cautions against altering timelines. They reaffirm their resolve to complete the mission without relying on the belt.
Where:Espionage, Inc. headquarters
- 7
Intel points to Ming company warehouse
Cane informs them that Ming company, a front for Dragon and the maker of the owl bomb, has a warehouse in Long Beach. A shipment from Hong Kong aboard the Osaka Maru is due in three weeks. Power and Kitty plan to intercept the operation by using the time belt to jump ahead three weeks.
When:Three weeks from now Where:Long Beach, California
- 8
Three-week jump to the future
Power and Kitty jump three weeks into the future to inspect the warehouse and locate the bomb. They move carefully, aware Dragon agents are watching, and try to avoid detection. Stoneface attempts to kill them with a disintegrator, but Big Buddha kills Stoneface instead.
When:Three weeks from now Where:Long Beach warehouse (future)
- 9
Discovery of uranium and tense chase
Inside the warehouse they discover Uranium-238 among Christmas decorations. Dragon's forces close in, forcing Power and Kitty to evade capture by darting between barrels in a limited travel space. Big Buddha arrives and the chase intensifies.
When:Three weeks from now (future timeline) Where:Long Beach warehouse
- 10
Kitty confronts Buddha and is captured
Kitty confronts Big Buddha about his war crimes, including the Nanking massacre, and is captured in the struggle. Power surrenders to Buddha to save Kitty, inviting a potential exchange of secrets. Buddha plans to ship Power to Hong Kong to extract information.
When:Future timeline Where:Long Beach warehouse
- 11
Servant girl thwarts Buddha; Genghis falls
The mute servant girl makes another attempt to stab Buddha, seizing the moment to strike. Power uses the distraction to turn on Buddha's bodyguard, Genghis, and a brutal fight ensues with the odds stacked against Power. Kitty throws Power a gun, and he shoots Genghis; the servant girl finishes Buddha off.
When:Future timeline Where:Long Beach warehouse
- 12
Return to present and strategy shift
Power and Kitty return to the present with new knowledge to counter Dragon without further time travel. They coordinate with Cane's team so Dragon's threat can be stopped through conventional means. Los Angeles is spared as the operation shifts to a non-time-travel strategy.
When:After the three-week future sequence Where:Present-day Espionage, Inc.
Who Are the Main Characters in Dimension 5?
7 characters, among them Justin Power (Jeffrey Hunter), Ki Ti Tsu (Kitty) (France Nuyen) and Big Buddha: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- JP
Justin Power (Jeffrey Hunter)
Played by Jeffrey Hunter
A top Espionage, Inc. agent, Power is resourceful and fearless, often improvising under pressure. He wields the time-travel belt to anticipate threats and coordinate risky takedowns, driven by duty to prevent Dragon's plans. His leadership and quick wits keep the team focused as the clock ticks toward disaster.
- 🕵️ Spy
- 🧭 Adventurer
- 🎯 Strategist
- KT
Ki Ti Tsu (Kitty) (France Nuyen)
Played by France Nuyen
Kitty is Power's new partner, an able covert operative with sharp instincts and a wary eye for deception. She questions romanticized uses of time travel and suspects the Dragon's motives, using her own experience to anticipate moves. Her personal history with Dragon drives a fierce resolve to stop them.
- 🗡️ Warrior
- 🧭 Covert Operative
- BB
Big Buddha
Played by Harold Sakata
The Dragon's crime lord commands influence and violence, orchestrating the bomb plot from behind a veneer of sophistication. He seeks to extract secrets by capturing Power and shaping the destruction of Los Angeles. His calculated demeanor and brute force make him a formidable antagonist.
- 👤 Villain
- 🗡️ Crime Lord
- S(
Sato (Robert Ito)
Played by Robert Ito
A Dragon ally and capable agent, Sato helps transport Chang and translates during interrogations. He embodies steady competence and loyalty to his mission, balancing moments of restraint with decisive action. His partnership with Power anchors the protective counter-effort against Dragon.
- 🕵️ Agent
- 🗺️ Translator
- C(
Chang (Gerald Jann)
Played by Gerald Jann
Chang is a captured Dragon informant tortured for information, ultimately resisting and revealing important details under threat of brain impact. He embodies the tension between coercive interrogation and truth extraction, becoming a catalyst for the bomb plot's discovery. His resistance and strategic thinking shape the interrogation outcomes.
- 🧠 Informant
- 🗣️ Interrogation target
- P(
Professor (Jon Lormer)
Played by Jon Lormer
Head of Espionage, Inc.'s headquarters, the Professor oversees the truth-device interrogation and the broader intelligence operation. He embodies the analytical, calm figure behind the mission, weighing risks and guiding field agents. His partnership with Miss Sweet ensures the operation runs methodically.
- 🧠 Scientist
- 🧭 Mentor
- MS
Miss Sweet (Deanna Lund)
Played by Deanna Lund
Miss Sweet works as the Professor's assistant, assisting in the use of the truth device on Chang. Her role emphasizes the procedural, methodical side of espionage and the human cost of high-stakes experiments. She represents the support system that keeps the investigation moving.
- 🧭 Assistant
- 🧬 Technician
Where and When Is Dimension 5 Set?
Dimension 5 is set in Los Angeles, California, Ontario Airport, Ontario, California, Long Beach… (Present-day). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Present-day
The action takes place in a contemporary espionage setting, blending mid-20th-century gadgetry with modern tech. Time travel through a belt allows quick glimpses of past and future, driving the mission to stop the hydrogen bomb before it detonates. The narrative alternates between current events and the near-future stakes, creating urgency as the clock ticks toward Christmas.
Where
Los Angeles, California, Ontario Airport, Ontario, California, Long Beach, California, Hong Kong, Osaka Maru (ship), Nanking, China
The story unfolds across urban Los Angeles and coastal California locales, including Ontario Airport and Long Beach. Hong Kong serves as Dragon's international base, highlighting a global crime network. The past is invoked through Nanking, shaping Kitty's vendetta, while the Osaka Maru adds a maritime backdrop to the plot.
- 🌆 City setting
- 🕵️ Espionage hub
- 🚢 Port city
- 🗺️ International intrigue
What Are the Themes of Dimension 5?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Espionage, Time Travel and Trauma & Revenge.
-
01
Espionage
Espionage Inc. frames the conflict, with spies infiltrating Dragon's ranks and relying on disguises, double-crosses, and covert operations to uncover the plot against the United States. The story centers on intelligence work, moral ambiguity, and the tension between professional duty and personal risk. The partnership between Power and Kitty anchors the emotional arc, highlighting trust and betrayal in high-stakes missions. The clash between government agents and criminals shows how information is both power and weapon.
-
02
Time Travel
Time travel is the core mechanic, used to preview threats, anticipate outcomes, and heighten tension. The belt's jumps hinge on what can be reached in space and time, forcing characters to navigate shifting timelines. The device creates a race against the clock as the bomb's delivery moves toward Christmas. The temporal gimmick shapes decisions and raises questions about altering history.
-
03
Trauma & Revenge
Kitty's backstory—rooted in the Nanking Massacre and the deaths of her parents—fuels a personal vendetta against Dragon's leadership. The film uses trauma to humanize spies and villains alike, blurring lines between justice and vengeance. As Power and Kitty confront Big Buddha, the audience confronts the moral costs of revenge and the possibility of healing through justice.
What Kind of Film Is Dimension 5?
Tense in tone, with fast pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Tense
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Happy
A fast-paced, tense Cold War spy thriller where agents use experimental time travel to race against a cataclysmic deadline, creating a pulse-pounding atmosphere of constant danger and urgent action.
- tense
- suspenseful
- pulse-pounding
- clandestine
- urgent
- gritty
- espionage
- time travel
- cold war
- race against time
Content notes: torture, assassination, explosions.
Quiz
How well do you remember Dimension 5? Test yourself on the story.
