What Is Jackrabbit About?
The premise of Jackrabbit in 291 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the aftermath of a world‑shaking catastrophe known only as The Reset, society clings to a fragile reconstruction. The streets hum with the whirr of aging machinery replacing sleek, lost technology, while an ever‑watchful network of cameras and drones monitors every movement. Neon‑flickering signs and rusted industrial façades create a retro‑futurist tapestry, suggesting both nostalgia and unease. Life in the rebuilt cities feels like a careful choreography between survival and the relentless gaze of authority, a place where the past and a tentative future coexist in a tense, electric atmosphere.
Simon, a gifted computer technician, finds his routine shattered when the sudden loss of his closest friend leaves behind a mysterious, encrypted data drive. Drawn by the promise of answers hidden within the dead‑friend’s last digital breadcrumbs, he crosses paths with Max, a reclusive hacker whose reputation is whispered among the underground circuits of the city. Their encounter is marked by a wary curiosity—Simon’s methodical expertise meets Max’s enigmatic, improvisational skill—setting the stage for an uneasy partnership that promises to probe the deeper seams of their surveillance‑saturated world.
Together they navigate a society dominated by Vopo, the powerful corporate entity that governs with an emphasis on stability and order. Along the way they glimpse figures such as Paul Bateson, a co‑founder of the organization whose presence hints at the complex moral calculus behind the city’s strict control. The film balances a brooding dystopia with moments of kinetic energy, letting the stark visual palette and a pulsing, synth‑laden score amplify the sense of mystery. As the two protagonists delve into the hidden layers of their world, the audience is invited to wonder what secrets lie beneath the surface of this meticulously reconstructed reality, and what price the pursuit of truth might demand.
What Happens in Jackrabbit?
The complete story of Jackrabbit, from the first scene to the last, in 569 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 4 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Simon, a computer technician, learns his best friend, Eric, has committed suicide. At the funeral, he notices Max. Max later sells scavenged computer parts to a shop where Simon works. Though Max brushes off Simon’s attempts to speak, he later comes back to request aid in decoding an encrypted message Eric sent him. Max is disappointed to learn that Simon has quit his job to work for Vopo, as he believes Vopo to be untrustworthy.
Simon easily accesses Eric’s message. After watching cryptic video footage together, Max kicks out Simon to research the matter alone. Simon returns the next day and insists Max allow him to help, pointing out that his Vopo contacts could prove useful. Max agrees, and they leave the city to visit the house of a woman seen in the footage, disguised as Vopo technicians. The woman knows nothing, but in her house, Max and Simon find clues that lead them to a fellow computer hacker, Steven, who was working with Eric. Overhearing from a Vopo security officer who has come to visit the house that Steven has died, they contact his girlfriend’s sister, Grace, who works at a hospital.
Grace explains she has been searching for her missing sister. She leads them to a safe house said to be frequented by anti-Vopo hackers, though they find little information. When a curfew passes, they hide from a Vopo patrol and crash at Grace’s house. There, the three get to know each other better. Simon drifted apart from Eric once Eric began hanging out with computer hackers who opposed Vopo, and Max reveals that he met Eric at a juvenile detention center, where Eric taught him how to hack computers. The others press Max to play a tape, which they believe to be music; instead, it is a recording of his mother, who Max believes was killed by Vopo. Simon dances with Grace, eventually telling her that Steven has died. After they leave Grace’s house, they see a man kill her.
Though shaken, they continue their investigation. At work, Paul Bateson, the co-founder of Vopo, speaks to Simon. He says he knows of Simon and Max’s investigation, saying Simon reminds him of himself and his idealistic partner, Tom, a talented computer hacker who, for reasons left unexplained by Bateson, is no longer with Vopo. Urged by an anonymous computer hacker, Max and Simon uncover a hidden message left by Tom in which he expresses regret with how Vopo and the city have turned out, inviting anyone who can decode his message to join him searching out other surviving cities. Later, while discussing this with Bateson, Bateson stresses the need for stability and safety over idealism. Bateson reasons that even if any other settlements existed – which he discounts – they would only raid City Six if they knew of its success.
Simon and Max leave the city, violating a curfew by bluffing their way through a guard post via Simon’s Vopo credentials and hacking Vopo’s computer surveillance. Outside the city, they find a wide desert. Overjoyed by their newfound freedom, Max encourages Simon to leave City Six with him. Simon reveals that he informed on Eric to save himself when Eric was sent to juvenile detention, and Max says he already knew this. Max repeats his offer, but Simon declines, saying he has chosen to ally himself with Vopo. As a drone approaches, Simon watches Max flee.
Jackrabbit Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “The Reset creates City Six under Vopo rule” to “Simon rejects the exodus; Max flees as a drone closes in”. 13 events name a place, across 11 locations.
- 1
The Reset creates City Six under Vopo rule
Twenty-five years after The Reset, City Six is controlled by Vopo Technologies, which uses advanced surveillance to maintain order. People scavenge 1980s-era parts to survive in a tech-dominated world. The setting establishes a fragile balance between enforcement and rebellion in a sealed urban enclave.
When:Twenty-five years after The Reset Where:City Six
- 2
Eric's suicide shocks Simon at his funeral
Simon attends the funeral and learns his best friend Eric has killed himself. Max lurks nearby, hinting at a hidden resistance and unsettled loyalties. The event sets the stage for a reluctant partnership between Simon and Max as they chase what Eric left behind.
When:At Eric's funeral Where:City Six (funeral)
- 3
Max sells scavenged parts to a shop where Simon works
Max trades scavenged computer parts to a shop where Simon is employed, revealing an informal economy outside Vopo’s control. Their exchange is tense, underscoring mistrust amid shared familiarity. The moment foreshadows a fragile collaboration to come.
When:After Eric's funeral Where:City Six (shop)
- 4
Max asks for help decoding Eric's encrypted message
Max asks Simon to help decode the encrypted message Eric left him, hoping it will reveal a link to anti-Vopo hackers. Simon is wary, having joined Vopo, but Max persuasive enough to push him toward action. Their pact marks the true beginning of their joint investigation.
When:Day after funeral Where:City Six
- 5
They visit the house of a woman seen in the footage
Disguised as Vopo technicians, Max and Simon visit a house tied to the footage of a woman connected to Eric. The occupant claims ignorance, but the visit yields clues pointing toward a hacker named Steven. The search expands beyond the city’s walls as they chase the trail.
When:During their investigation Where:Outside City Six (suburban house)
- 6
They learn Steven has died and contact Grace
Hearing that Steven has died, they contact Steven's girlfriend's sister Grace, who works at a hospital. Grace has been searching for her missing sister and directs them toward a potential safe house used by hackers. The trio’s pursuit deepens as personal histories intertwine with the larger conspiracy.
When:Following the house visit Where:Hospital vicinity
- 7
Grace's safe house and the curfew night
Grace leads them to a safe house, but a curfew forces them to hide at her place. The trio begins sharing histories—Simon describes his drift from Eric; Max recounts meeting Eric in juvenile detention. The bond between them grows even as danger looms closer.
When:Curfew night Where:Grace's house
- 8
Tape reveals Max's mother and hints at Vopo's reach
They urge Max to play a tape they think is music; instead it reveals a recording of his mother, whom Max believes Vopo killed. The revelation deepens the personal stakes and amplifies the sense that Vopo’s power reaches into family lives. The moment sharpens their resolve to uncover the truth.
When:Night during curfew Where:Grace's house
- 9
Grace is killed after they leave her house
After leaving Grace's house, a man kills Grace, showing that danger follows the trio beyond the city’s walls. The murder heightens the urgency of their mission and signals the reach of Vopo’s influence. The loss reinforces the stakes of every decision they make.
When:Immediately after leaving Grace's house Where:Grace's neighborhood
- 10
Bateson confronts Simon and references Tom
Paul Bateson, co-founder of Vopo, speaks with Simon at his workplace and acknowledges their investigation. He recalls his idealistic partner Tom and hints at why Tom left Vopo. The encounter adds political texture to the personal quest and raises questions about loyalty and safety.
When:During the investigation Where:Simon's workplace
Show the other 3 events of Jackrabbit Hide the last 3 events
- 11
Tom's hidden message surfaces
An anonymous hacker reveals a hidden message left by Tom, expressing regret about how Vopo has shaped the city and inviting others to join him in seeking other surviving cities. The message reframes the mission as a broader search for remnants of civilization. It injects a glimmer of hope into the story and expands the horizon beyond City Six.
When:Following Bateson scene Where:Digital/online channel
- 12
Escape from City Six begins
Max and Simon decide to leave City Six, bluffing through a guard post with Simon's Vopo credentials and hacking surveillance to pass undetected. They reach the desert beyond the city, where freedom appears possible but uncertain. The moment marks a decisive break with Vopo and a test of their willingness to face the unknown.
When:Escape sequence Where:Outside City Six / Desert
- 13
Simon rejects the exodus; Max flees as a drone closes in
Max urges Simon to join him on the outside journey, but Simon reveals his commitment to Vopo. A drone nears as Max flees into the desert, leaving Simon behind to confront the consequences of their choices. The ending hangs on whether loyalty or freedom will prevail for both men.
When:Chase sequence Where:Desert outside City Six
Who Are the Main Characters in Jackrabbit?
7 characters, among them Simon (Josh Caras), Max (Ian Christopher Noel) and Grace (Joslyn Jensen): who each one is and the part they play in the story. 4 of them link to the actor’s page.
- S(
Simon (Josh Caras)
Played by Josh Caras
A computer technician whose loyalty is tested as he investigates Eric's death and the encrypted messages left by Tom. He is technically proficient and pragmatic, often leveraging Vopo connections to stay safe. His past choice to inform on Eric reveals a willingness to sacrifice friends for personal security, complicating his idealism. Ultimately, he chooses to remain aligned with Vopo, watching Max's departure from City Six.
- 💻 Tech-savvy
- 🧭 Pragmatic
- 🕵️♂️ Loyal (compromised)
- M(
Max (Ian Christopher Noel)
Played by Ian Christopher Noel
A resourceful hacker with a hunger for freedom and discovery beyond City Six. He befriends Simon during the investigation and pushes for leaving the closed system behind. HeMeets Eric in juvenile detention, is mentored by the anti-Vopo network, and dreams of finding other surviving cities. By the end, he escapes City Six, embracing the unknown desert beyond the walls.
- 🧠 Hacker
- 🌍 Rebellious
- 🧭 Explorer
- G(
Grace (Joslyn Jensen)
Played by Joslyn Jensen
A hospital worker who becomes a crucial ally, guiding the group to a network of anti-Vopo activists and a safe house. She shares in the group’s pursuit of truth and helps connect clues to missing people, including her sister. Her involvement deepens the human stakes of the conflict, and she is tragically killed after helping them, underscoring the cost of dissent.
- ❤️ Compassion
- 🏥 Healer
- 🕵️♀️Connector
-
Paul Bateson (Reed Birney)
Played by Reed Birney
Co-founder of Vopo who espouses stability over idealism. He recalls his former idealistic partner Tom and frames the conflict in terms of security and order. Bateson embodies the tension between safeguarding society and stifling rebellion, often steering conversations toward the practical limits of dissent.
- 🧭 Strategist
- 🛡️ Authority
- 🔒 Control
- E
Eric
Simon’s best friend whose suicide acts as the catalyst for the investigation into Vopo’s manipulation and the encrypted messages left behind by Tom. His death haunts the characters and motivates their search for truth and connection within a surveilled world.
- 💔 Tragedy
- 🕵️♂️ Catalyst
- S
Steven
A fellow hacker who worked with Eric; his disappearance is referenced as part of the widening anti-Vopo mystery. His death reinforces the dangers of challenging the regime and the high price paid by those who resist.
- 💡 Hacker
- ⚠️ Danger
- T
Tom
A former co-founder of Vopo and an idealist whose messages hint at other surviving cities and a different future. His recordings invite others to join a broader search beyond City Six, illustrating the gap between his past ideals and the system’s present reality.
- 🧭 Idealist
- 🗝️ Message
Where and When Is Jackrabbit Set?
Jackrabbit is set in City Six (25 years after The Reset (Post-Reset Era)). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
25 years after The Reset (Post-Reset Era)
The story unfolds in a post-catastrophe period, twenty-five years after The Reset. Society is shaped by a tech-dominant Vopo regime that emphasizes safety and stability over rebellion. Daily life blends relic technology with modern surveillance, underscoring a world that has rebuilt yet remains fragile.
Where
City Six
City Six is the urban center rebuilt after The Reset, where Vopo Technologies exerts tight control through modern tech. Residents scavenge for 1980s-era parts to keep the grid and devices running, while drones and curfews reinforce the regime. An undercurrent of anti-Vopo hackers moves in the shadows, hinting at a wider world beyond the city walls.
- 🏙️ City
- 🛰️ Surveillance
- 🌆 Post-catastrophe
What Are the Themes of Jackrabbit?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Surveillance, Liberty and Betrayal.
-
01
Surveillance
Vopo’s omnipresent monitoring dictates many decisions in City Six, forcing characters to hide, hack, or adapt. The duo of Max and Simon navigate cameras, guards, and encrypted messages as they seek truth beyond the corporate lid. Surveillance is portrayed as both protective and oppressive, shaping relationships and choices. The tension between being seen and remaining hidden drives the plot forward.
-
02
Liberty
The protagonists chase a sense of freedom beyond City Six, challenging the curfew and the security-first order of Vopo. The pursuit of escape and open horizons collides with the need for safety and structural stability. The story questions what true liberty costs when a city values order over individual risk. The fight for personal autonomy is a persistent undercurrent throughout their journey.
-
03
Betrayal
Betrayal threads through personal loyalties, notably with Simon’s admission of informing on Eric to save himself. Trust fractures as characters align with or against the system, revealing how fear reshapes friendships. The revelation of hidden pasts reframes motives and loyalties, complicating the pursuit of truth. The consequences of betrayal ripple through the relationships at the heart of the investigation.
What Kind of Film Is Jackrabbit?
Tense in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Tense
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A tense and melancholic sci-fi thriller set in a crumbling, surveillance-heavy dystopia, where a slow-burn investigation into a friend's death creates a mood of constant paranoia and uncertain alliances.
- tense
- paranoid
- melancholic
- lonely
- determined
- oppressive
- dystopian society
- conspiracy
- hacking
- suicide
Content notes: suicide.
Quiz
How well do you remember Jackrabbit? Test yourself on the story.
