Impulse 1984

Arrival in town and hospital visit

Stuart and Jennifer drive into town to visit Jennifer's hospitalized mother, Margaret. The couple notices increasingly odd behavior among the townspeople as they settle in. This early stretch sets the tone for a town under unusual strain.

Growing unease as townspeople behave oddly

The couple witnesses townspeople acting aggressively and with strange, unsettling manners. The atmosphere grows tenser as the day wears on and paranoia spreads. Small, inexplicable incidents hint at something deeply wrong with the town.

Milk becomes a focal point

Stuart drinks the local milk, which seems harmless at first, while Jennifer declines. The dairy product becomes a subtle vector for the town's creeping threat. The contrast between the couple's choices foreshadows the broader contamination.

Jennifer investigates Margo and discovers evidence of abuse

Jennifer visits her friend Margo and learns that her son Jimmy's arm was broken, an alarming sign of the town's violent shift. The discovery suggests that the town's control and fear are being enforced through physical harm. The moment deepens Jennifer's sense that escape may be perilous.

Tires slashed as Jennifer tries to leave

When Jennifer attempts to depart, Jimmy and Shawn slash her tires, cutting off her exit. The children appear to be complicit in the community's disturbing behavior. The attack marks a turning point from observation to immediate danger.

Garage trap and arson attempt

Jennifer escapes when Jimmy and Shawn trap her in Margo's garage and set it on fire. She narrowly survives the blaze, reinforcing how quickly danger escalates. The incident demonstrates the town's total breakdown of safety and law.

Dr. Carr euthanizes Margaret and commits suicide

At the hospital, Dr. Carr euthanizes Margaret and then takes his own life. The act signals a collapse of medical authority under the stress of the crisis. It leaves the town without a trusted source of help as chaos spreads.

Eddie's confession and murder

Stuart discovers that Jennifer's brother Eddie harbors incestuous feelings for her and confronts him, resulting in Eddie's death at Stuart's hands. The moment adds a personal tragedy amid the escalating terror. It also underscores the town's drift toward lawlessness.

Jennifer flees the town but is blocked outside

As violence explodes in the town, Jennifer flees in her pickup but becomes stuck just outside the town's limits. The escape highlights the isolation of the couple as the crisis continues to unfold. Her attempt to reach safety appears increasingly futile.

Stuart uncovers the toxic source

Stuart escapes into the woods and discovers a recently repaired toxic waste vault. He follows it to the milk facility, linking the town's strange behavior to a contaminated supply. This discovery provides a concrete cause behind the creeping threat.

Reunion and a plan to leave

On the road, Stuart encounters Jennifer in the blocked pickup and frees the vehicle. He urges her to leave town and explains his plan to return and help if possible. The exchange reinforces a fragile hope amid growing danger.

Planes and information suggests spraying

Two men are seen loading a biplane with barrels of liquid before it takes off. The moment implies a coordinated effort to disperse the contaminant beyond the town. It confirms that the threat may be outside the town's borders as well.

Confrontation with the conspirator

Stuart approaches the man in the government vehicle whose radios hint at the spraying plan, but the man shoots him with a shotgun, knocking him down. The attempt to uncover the truth is abruptly silenced. This action intensifies the sense that powerful forces are at work against the town.

Stuart is killed and Jennifer retaliates

Jennifer witnesses the man kill Stuart and then runs him down with her pickup, killing him in turn. The act marks her transition from witness to a lone survivor taking matters into her own hands. The violence underscores the collapse of any remaining safety nets.