Stripped to Kill 1987

Drama

Crime

Runtime

88 mins

Language

English

Directed by

Katt Shea

Made by

Concorde-New Horizons

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Stripped to Kill Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Stripped to Kill (1987). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

On the gritty streets of Skid Row in Los Angeles, Cody, a police officer operating undercover, and Sergeant Heineman bear witness to a brutal act: a stripper named Angel is hurled from a bridge and set on fire. Their investigation pushes Cody to go deeper undercover, taking a post as a dancer at Rock Bottom, the club where the murdered woman worked. Despite not being a natural dancer, she wins the amateur night, and the club’s owner, Ray, offers her a job and a place in the lineup.

Inside Rock Bottom, Cody gradually earns the trust of the other dancers, forming bonds amid the rough atmosphere. Among them is Cinnamon, who has been let go by Ray due to an addiction to pills. The camaraderie is tight, but danger looms, and Cinnamon is eventually strangled to death by the killer with a metal cord, leaving the club shaken and the investigation with more questions than answers.

When Cody’s undercover role is discovered by her superiors, they order her to quit dancing, a demand she defies. This defiance strains the relationship with Heineman, who harbors romantic feelings for her and becomes torn between professional duties and personal loyalties. The tension between them escalates into a night of intimacy, followed by a morning after filled with arguments and unresolved conflicts that complicate the pursuit of the killer.

Parallel to the internal friction, Heineman pursues a set of suspects, including Roxanne, a dancer who happened to be Angel’s lover. He also suspects Pocket, a young man who seems perpetually present at the club. A confrontation reveals a harsher reality: Pocket is missing a hand and genitals from a war injury, deepening the mystery surrounding the killer’s identity.

Cody’s visit to Roxanne leads her to encounter Roxanne’s younger brother, Eric. While searching the apartment, she discovers a neighbor’s corpse. The twists unfold as Roxanne is revealed to be Eric, dressed in drag, having performed as his dead sister on stage with fake latex breasts. Eric explains that he killed Roxanne because he feared she would leave him for Angel. Heineman arrives during the confrontation, but Eric shoots him, forcing Cody to flee into a tense, escalating chase.

The pursuit drives them back to Rock Bottom, where Eric begins an indiscriminate shooting rampage. Cody douses Eric with gasoline, and when he tries to shoot her, he accidentally sets himself on fire. Heineman arrives, having survived the earlier gunshots thanks to a bulletproof vest. Cody, who realizes she’s been shot in the leg, clamps down on the fear and embraces Heineman, sharing a moment of relief as the immediate danger subsides.

Stripped to Kill Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Stripped to Kill (1987) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Angel's murder witnessed by undercover officers

While undercover in Skid Row, Cody and her partner Heineman witness Angel being thrown from a bridge and set on fire. The brutal act triggers their investigation into the murdered dancer and points toward Rock Bottom, the club where she worked. The case pulls Cody deeper into the dangerous underworld she must infiltrate.

Night Skid Row, Los Angeles

Cody goes undercover at Rock Bottom

Cody poses as a stripper at Rock Bottom to get closer to the murdered coworker and the club's inner circle. She manages to win an amateur night and earns Ray's job offer. The undercover assignment officially begins.

Following night Rock Bottom

Cody befriends the dancers

Cody slowly befriends the other dancers and earns their trust. She observes rivalries, loyalties, and secrets within the club. Her cover deepens as she stays close to the group.

Over the next days Rock Bottom

Cinnamon's murder

Cinnamon, who had been let go for pill addiction, is strangled to death with a metal cord. The killing shocks the club and sets off a heightened investigation that hones in on its dancers. Cody realizes danger is closing in on the people she is trying to protect.

Soon after Rock Bottom

Police order Cody to stop dancing

Cody's superiors discover she has been dancing at Rock Bottom and order her to stop. She refuses to abandon the case, continuing her undercover work. The directive creates tension between her and Heineman, who is increasingly protective and suspicious of her motives.

During investigation Police HQ / Rock Bottom

Cody and Heineman's tryst

Cody and Heineman sleep together, breaking professional boundaries. They wake to a tense morning as they argue about their relationship and the case. The affair complicates loyalties and clouds judgment.

Following night Cody's apartment

Investigation narrows suspects

Heineman evaluates potential suspects, including Roxanne and Pocket, as he follows leads. He believes Pocket, a constant presence at the club, might be the killer. The growing danger and conflicting loyalties raise the stakes.

During investigation Police HQ / Rock Bottom

Pocket is confronted; reveals injury

Heineman confronts Pocket and discovers the man is missing a hand and genitals from a war injury. This discovery muddies the trail and forces a reassessment of the suspect list. The confrontation intensifies the club's paranoia.

Later Rock Bottom

Cody visits Roxanne; meets Eric

Cody visits Roxanne at the apartment and finds instead Roxanne's younger brother, Eric. She also uncovers a neighbor's corpse, hinting at a broader danger. The scene marks a turning point toward the killer's identity.

Evening Roxanne's apartment

Eric reveals himself as Roxanne

Eric explains that he killed Roxanne because he feared she would leave him for Angel. He admits he has been posing as his dead sister in the club, using the disguise to stay close to her and the other dancers. The revelation confirms the killer's motive and identity.

Moment of revelation Roxanne's apartment

Heineman shoots; confrontation

Heineman arrives during the confrontation and Eric shoots him. Cody flees, with Eric in hot pursuit. The chase drives them back to Rock Bottom, escalating the violence.

Immediately after revelation Roxanne's apartment / Rock Bottom

Final confrontation at Rock Bottom

Eric begins firing indiscriminately at patrons, and Cody douses him with gasoline. He tries to shoot Cody but sets himself on fire instead. Heineman arrives and extinguishes the blaze, revealing he survived thanks to a bulletproof vest.

Climax Rock Bottom

Resolution and aftermath

Cody discovers she has been shot in the leg and shares a quiet moment of relief with Heineman, acknowledging the toll the night has taken. The two survivors survive the attack and acknowledge their complicated relationship. The film ends with them continuing their duties, forever changed by the events.

Ending Rock Bottom / Hospital

Stripped to Kill Characters

Explore all characters from Stripped to Kill (1987). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Detective Cody Sheenan (Kay Lenz)

A determined undercover officer who infiltrates the Rock Bottom club to solve the murder. She navigates danger, deception, and a complicated personal dynamic with Heineman while staying focused on the case. Her courage is tested as she defies orders and digs for the truth.

🎯 Determined 🕵️‍♀️ Undercover

Detective Heineman (Greg Evigan)

Cody's partner who harbors romantic feelings for her, creating tension with professional duties. He investigates potential suspects while wrestling with personal conflict and a complicated relationship with Cody. His attempts to balance duty and desire drive part of the investigation's emotional arc.

💘 Romantic tension ⚖️ Duty vs. desire

Ray (Norman Fell)

The club owner who offers Cody work and exerts control over the dancers, creating a dangerous, manipulating environment behind the scenes. His charisma masks exploitation and the power dynamics at the club.

💼 Club owner 🕷️ Manipulative

Angel

One of the club's dancers and the initial murder victim whose death catalyzes the investigation. Her fate sets the tone for the danger inside the club and the brutality of the killer's reach.

🎯 Victim 🕯️ Catalyst

Cinnamon

A dancer let go by Ray due to her drug addiction, whose fate foreshadows the killer's brutality and the peril facing the club's performers.

💊 Addictive lifestyle 🧭 Loose ends

Roxanne (Pia Kamakahi)

A dancer who is later revealed to be Eric in disguise, living as his dead sister at the club. The revelation ties personal deception to the killer's motive and the broader mystery surrounding the club.

🎭 Deception 🗝️ Secret identity

Pocket (Mr. Pocket)

A club regular associated with the performers, noted for war injuries that left him missing a hand and genitals. His presence adds a stark realism to the crime landscape and positions him as a potential clue in the investigation.

🪖 War veteran 🕵️‍♀️ Suspect

Stripped to Kill Settings

Learn where and when Stripped to Kill (1987) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Location

Skid Row, Los Angeles, Rock Bottom Club

The story unfolds on Skid Row in Los Angeles, a gritty urban backdrop that frames the crimes and police work. The Rock Bottom Club serves as a neon-lit hub where dancers perform and danger lurks close to the surface. The location highlights a subculture of nightlife, vulnerability, and exploitation that drives the tension throughout the investigation.

🏙️ Urban setting 🎭 Club environment

Stripped to Kill Themes

Discover the main themes in Stripped to Kill (1987). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🕵️‍♀️

Undercover Investigation

Cody goes undercover as a stripper to gather clues about the killer, putting her safety at risk. The undercover work creates conflicts with police orders and blurs lines between personal and professional life. The atmosphere blends procedural investigation with the hazards of nightlife crime. Trust, risk, and moral compromises shape the pursuit of the truth.

🎭

Identity Illusion

Roxanne is revealed to be Eric in disguise, living as his dead sister at the club. The story uses performance and deception to complicate relationships and motives, questioning who can be trusted. The reveal forces characters to confront hidden identities and loyalties. Disguises drive the plot and shock the audience.

🔪

Motives & Violence

A string of brutal acts targets dancers and patrons, exposing personal motives like fear, love, and control. The violence is tightly connected to the characters’ relationships within the club world. The climax ties together pursuit, confrontation, and a dangerous chase that tests resilience and resolve. The crimes serve as a mirror to the characters’ darkest impulses.

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Stripped to Kill Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Stripped to Kill (1987). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In the neon‑lit shadows of Los Angeles, a string of brutal murders has turned the city’s glittering nightlife into a hunting ground for a relentless predator. Sheehan, a seasoned detective, is thrust into the case when the killings focus on the city’s most vulnerable performers. The investigation pulls her into a world where the line between stage lights and street lamps blurs, and every whispered confession in a back‑room bar could be the next clue—or the next trap.

Faced with a killer who seems to thrive on anonymity, Heineman, her trusted partner, proposes an unorthodox gamble: use the detective herself as the lure. Reluctantly, Sheehan agrees to slip into the role of a club dancer, trading her badge for heels and the harsh glare of spotlights for the intimate, smoke‑filled rooms of an underground venue. The plan hinges on her willingness to make her own body the sole weapon, turning vulnerability into a calculated risk that could draw the murderer out of the darkness.

The film settles into a gritty, pulse‑pounding tone that fuses procedural tension with the raw, kinetic energy of the club scene. As Sheehan navigates the tightly knit community of performers, she must balance the rigid demands of police work with the seductive, often dangerous allure of the stage. Trust becomes a currency, and every interaction carries the weight of potential revelation. In a city that never sleeps, the detective’s descent into this hidden world promises a confrontation that will test the limits of duty, identity, and survival.

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