Curfew 1989
Directed by
Niels Mueller
Made by
York Image Productions
Curfew Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Curfew (1989). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Stephanie Davenport, Kyle Richards, spends a night out with her boyfriend, John, Peter Nelson, and friends while her parents, Walter Davenport, Frank Miller, and Megan Davenport, Jean Brooks, prepare to leave for a weekend away from their small California town.
Meanwhile, Ray Perkins, Wendell Wellman, and his brother Bob Perkins, John Putch, two inmates who have escaped from death row with a burned-in plan for revenge against Stephanie’s father, the district attorney, begin to move through the town. Their first acts of violence are swift and brutal: they terrorize a psychologist who had analyzed them before their trial and then murder a man they hitch a ride with, stealing his car. The siblings’ spree continues as they break into the home of Judge Collins, Douglas Robinson, and his wife, bludgeoning them to death with a gavel.
Stephanie returns home around 10:00 p.m. to check on her curfew, only to discover Mrs. Alva, the babysitter the family hired, lying dead in the guest bedroom. The terrified teenager confronts the intruders, and they force her to flee to the neighboring Collins residence, where she stumbles upon their lifeless bodies. Desperate, she hitchhikes with an elderly man, but Ray and Bob soon take control of the road again, forcing the old man’s car off the highway and leaving him unconscious.
Seeking help, Stephanie heads to a nearby diner and pleads for assistance. A young police officer, Sam, Christopher Knight, escorts her back toward safety, but when they reach the Davenport house, they are greeted by a stunned Megan and Walter who misinterpret Stephanie’s warnings as a prank.
The night escalates as Ray and Bob subject the Davenports to a twisted night of humiliation and torture. Walter is forced to walk on shattered glass while Ray fires at him, driving him to the point of collapse. Megan endures taunts as she’s made to apply garish makeup before being forced into a bathtub. The family is mostly confined to the basement, with Bob watching over them. Stephanie tries to use her charm to coax Bob into letting her see her mother, and when Bob finally releases her, Walter seizes the moment to incapacitate him, giving them a chance to rush upstairs.
John, now drunk, arrives with his friends Pete, Niels Mueller, and Monica, Nori Morgan, intending to consummate an evening with Stephanie. The trespassers move through the house, and Pete discovers Mrs. Alva’s corpse while John and Monica are killed in separate rooms. A frightened Sam stumbles upon the evidence of the attackers and quickly recognizes their features, and an all-points bulletin is issued.
As Ray prepares to execute Stephanie and the others with makeshift electric chairs, Sam arrives at the Davenport home. Stephanie pleads with Bob, offering herself to him in hopes of sowing discord between the brothers. The gambit works briefly, sparking a fight between Ray and Bob that ends when Ray kills Bob with an electric drill. Sam descends into the basement, but Ray shoots him, injuring him, and then follows the wounded officer upstairs, stealing his gun. Stephanie seizes the moment and frees herself from the chair, emerging from the shadows to deliver the decisive shot that ends Ray’s rampage.
In the aftermath, Stephanie experiences a troubling nightmare in which she leaves her home and gets into John’s car, only to find Bob seated in the driver’s seat, a chilling reminder of the night’s terror. The film settles into a quiet, uneasy aftermath as the danger passes, but within Stephanie’s memory the terror lingers, a stark reminder of how quickly a routine evening in a small town can unravel.
Curfew Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Curfew (1989) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Escape from prison and arrival in town
Ray and Bob Perkins escape from Death Row and descend on a small California town to exact revenge on Stephanie Davenport's father, the district attorney. Their arrival marks the beginning of a night of terror as they set their plan in motion.
Psychologist killed
The escaped brothers locate and murder a psychologist who had analyzed them before their trial. The brutal attack signals their willingness to strike at anyone connected to the case.
Murder and car theft on the road
They murder a man who gives them a ride and seize his car, widening their spree and showing contempt for ordinary victims. The violence continues to escalate as they move through the night.
Invasion of Judge Collins' home
Ray and Bob break into Judge Collins' home and bludgeon him and his wife to death with a gavel. The brutal killings demonstrate the killers' reach and mercilessness.
Curfew and the babysitter's death
Stephanie returns home to fulfill her 10:00 PM curfew and discovers Mrs. Alva dead in the guest bedroom, though she assumes she is sleeping. The discovery foreshadows the danger that has infiltrated her house.
Confrontation at the Davenport house
Ray and Bob confront Stephanie at the Davenport house, terrifying her and forcing her to flee. She seeks safety at the neighboring Collins' home, where she finds their corpses.
Elderly man attack on the road
Stephanie hitchhikes a ride with an elderly man, but Ray and Bob force the car off the road and beat the man when he exits. The danger continues to close in on her as she escapes again.
Diner for help
Stephanie drives to a nearby diner and begs for help, hoping to find safety. The scene underscores her isolation as the town laments, while danger remains at her own doorstep.
Officer Sam escorts her home
Sam, a young police officer, escorts Stephanie from the diner back to the Davenport residence. They are greeted by Stephanie's mother, and Sam, misjudging the situation as a prank, releases her inside without realizing the family is being held hostage.
Torture of the Davenport family
Ray and Bob subject Walter to walking on broken glass and then shoot him, while Megan is forced to apply makeup and later placed in the bathtub. The family is barricaded in the basement with Bob guarding them, heightening the sense of confinement and danger.
Stephanie manipulates Bob to see her mother
Stephanie uses her appeal to Bob's attraction to her to convince him to let her see her mother. Walter incapacitates Bob, and the three hurry upstairs to confront Ray, who holds Megan at gunpoint.
John, Pete, and Monica arrive and die
Drunken John arrives with his friends Pete and Monica to see Stephanie, but Pete discovers Mrs. Alva's corpse. John and Monica are murdered by Ray, cutting off Stephanie's chance for outside help.
Sam closes in on the killers
Sam encounters the elderly man and realizes the attackers match the suspects on the all-points bulletin, tying their crime spree to the Davenport house. He prepares to head toward the home to intervene and stop the carnage.
Final confrontation and Ray's death
Ray plans to kill the Davenports via makeshift electric chairs, but Sam arrives to intervene. A violent struggle follows, ending with Ray killing Bob with an electric drill, shooting Sam, and finally being killed by Stephanie.
Epilogue nightmare
Some time later, Stephanie has a nightmare in which she leaves her home and gets into John's car, only to find Bob seated in the driver's seat. The dream suggests the trauma of the night will linger for her.
Curfew Characters
Explore all characters from Curfew (1989). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Stephanie Davenport (Kyle Richards)
A teenage girl trying to respect a strict 10:00 p.m. curfew, Stephanie proves remarkably resourceful and brave under pressure. She navigates fear, uses wit to manipulate the assailants, and ultimately shifts the balance of power in the house. Her determination to protect her family drives the plot's suspense and its grim resolution.
Walter Davenport
The father and target of the killers' revenge, Walter is a protective presence who endures torture and tries to shield his family. His willingness to confront danger embodies a duty-bound, principled figure within a crisis.
Megan Davenport
Stephanie’s mother, subjected to humiliation and intimidation during the break-in. Megan is shown as a caring, frightened, yet resilient figure who endures an ordeal to keep her family together.
Ray Perkins
The older of the two escaped prisoners, Ray is violent and controlling, driving the torment with a sadistic streak. He embodies direct physical threat and personal vengeance against the district attorney.
Bob Perkins
Ray’s younger brother, more impressionable and dangerous in his own way. He is swayed by his brother’s motives and becomes a force in the home invasion alongside Ray.
Sam
A young police officer who escorts Stephanie to safety and attempts to intervene, though he is ultimately unable to prevent the intruders’ rampage. His presence highlights the limits of authority in the face of brutal violence.
Mrs. Alva
The babysitter hired to watch Stephanie, she becomes a casualty of the night’s violence, illustrating the fragility of trust and routine.
John
Stephanie’s drunken boyfriend who arrives with friends and becomes part of the night’s peril, meeting a violent end at the hands of Ray.
Monica
John’s friend who participates in the night’s events and shares in the danger, meeting a similar tragic fate as others inside the house.
Judge Collins
A target of the invaders’ violence; his murder with his wife underscores the personal reach of the criminals’ revenge.
Mrs. Mary Cox
A neighbor figure within the story’s social circle who is referenced in the surrounding cast of residents; her inclusion highlights the broader community impact of the events.
Dr. Franklin
A figure connected to the town’s professional life who appears in the surrounding cast; his presence helps to situate the story within a typical community setting.
Dr. Franklin's Secretary
A secretary who represents the local administrative backdrop against which the personal horror unfolds.
Curfew Settings
Learn where and when Curfew (1989) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Location
Small California town, Davenport residence
The story unfolds in a quiet California town centered on the Davenport family home. The Davenport residence serves as the primary stage for the night’s terror, turning a familiar domestic space into a site of violence. The town’s calm facade contrasts with the brutality that erupts when two inmates seek revenge, spilling from the streets into living rooms and diners.
Curfew Themes
Discover the main themes in Curfew (1989). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Night Terror
The film condenses fear into a single terrifying night as escaped inmates invade a peaceful town. Ordinary spaces become traps, and survival hinges on quick wits and nerve. The tension is built through claustrophobic interiors and sudden acts of violence that disrupt the calm.
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Home Invasion
The Davenport home is invaded and turned into a torture chamber, shattering the illusion of safety within a family sanctuary. The attackers force the parents into pain and humiliation, exploiting domestic trust against them. The sequence emphasizes how private spaces can become public theaters of threat.
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Courage and Survival
Stephanie’s quick thinking and stubborn resolve become her sole weapons against the merciless intruders. She leverages a dangerous distraction to buy time and ultimately faces down the threat in a final act of self-defense. The film frames resilience against overwhelming danger, while underscoring the limits of help from outside authorities.
Curfew Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of Curfew (1989). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In a quiet California suburb, the evening ritual of a teenage curfew takes on an unsettling edge. Stephanie Davenport is preparing to slip back inside before the clock strikes ten, a night that should be ordinary except for the lingering anxiety that comes with a small town’s hidden undercurrents. Her parents, Walter and Megan, have just left for a weekend away, leaving the house seemingly empty save for a hired babysitter. The town’s dimly lit streets and the hush of suburban houses set a stage where ordinary concerns—first dates, teenage worries, and the looming expectation of safety—feel suddenly fragile.
Outside the town’s borders, a different drama is unfolding. Two death‑row inmates, brothers Ray and Bob Perkins, manage a daring prison break, fueled by a burning need for retribution. Their escape ignites a relentless pursuit of the people who once stood in the courtroom to seal their fate. With the night as their ally, the brothers move through the shadows, intent on confronting the witnesses whose testimony threatens to keep them behind bars forever. Their presence casts a cold, inexorable tension over the sleepy community, hinting that the quiet streets may soon become a hunting ground.
Back at the Davenport home, the night thickens with an uneasy mix of teenage rebellion and parental responsibility. John, Stephanie’s boyfriend, and a young officer named Sam hover on the periphery, each bringing their own motivations and doubts to an already charged atmosphere. As the curfew deadline approaches, the promise of safety becomes a trembling question, and the house itself seems to hold its breath, waiting for something unseen to tip the balance between ordinary suburban life and a night that could redefine every character’s sense of control. The film lingers in a tense, atmospheric mood, where every ticking minute hints at a looming collision between past sins and present fears.
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