What Is Variety About?
The premise of Variety in 284 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the neon‑lit heart of Times Square, a modest ticket‑booth becomes an unlikely portal to a world most pass by without a second glance. Christine, a repressed young woman yearning for a spark of inspiration, takes the night shift at the Variety, an adult theater whose flickering screens and hushed corridors pulse with an undercurrent of desire and secrecy. The hustle of the city outside collides with the intimate, dimly lit interior, where strangers gather in the shadows, and every film projection seems to whisper a different story about the people who watch.
The theater’s clientele range from the ordinary to the enigmatic, and among them moves a polished, affluent patron whose presence hints at layers of wealth and mystery. As Louie drifts through the cinema’s velvet seats, his fleeting interactions leave an impression of both glamour and hidden agendas, drawing Christine deeper into a fascination that blurs the line between observation and participation. At the same time, her boyfriend Mark, an investigative journalist, watches her growing obsession with a mixture of concern and curiosity, uncertain whether her newfound intrigue is a harmless curiosity or a doorway to something more unsettling.
The film settles into a tone that balances the gritty realism of the city’s underbelly with a sensual, almost hypnotic allure of the forbidden. It invites viewers to linger on the smells of stale popcorn and cheap perfume, the muted chatter of patrons, and the soft glow of the projector as it casts silhouettes onto a silver screen. Within this charged atmosphere, Christine begins a quiet, internal journey, questioning what lies beneath the polished veneer of the patrons and what the allure of the hidden world might reveal about her own dormant desires.
What Happens in Variety?
The complete story of Variety, from the first scene to the last, in 356 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 3 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Christine, an aspiring author, is desperate for a steady job, hoping a new gig might spark ideas and stories. Her friend Nan, Nan Goldin, hints that the Variety, a porn theater in Times Square, is hiring as a ticket-taker. Christine seizes the opportunity and begins to see the films playing there, her curiosity growing with each screening and the world they reveal.
Her boyfriend, Will Patton Mark, an investigative journalist, is concerned and confused about her new interest. He tries to understand what draws Christine to the theater and the people who inhabit that corner of the city, even as their relationship tightens around this unsettled curiosity.
At the Variety, Christine meets a wealthy patron, Richard M. Davidson Louie, with whom she spontaneously decides to go on a date. The encounter is electric and opaque, mixing glamour with an undercurrent of secrecy that she cannot quite place. When Louie abruptly leaves, Christine follows him in a cab, watching as he meets a mysterious man and slips into an atmosphere she hadn’t anticipated.
Back home, Christine shares her suspicions with Mark that Louie might be connected to some kind of mafia operation, a theory that adds fuel to her growing fixation. The more she dives into Louie’s world, the more she becomes consumed by her own awakening sexuality and the need to understand what lies beneath the surface of his polished facade.
Her pursuit leads her north to Asbury Park, New Jersey, where she sneaks into Louie’s hotel room and steals a pornographic magazine, a bold act that marks a turning point in her obsession. The boundary between admiration and possession blurs as she digs deeper, seeking a confrontation, a truth, or a meeting that would confirm her theories and satisfy her craving for clarity.
Ultimately, Christine’s fixation and desire push her toward a dramatic, unsettling climax, leaving her with a choice that could redefine her sense of self. The film closes on a final, enigmatic image: an empty intersection at Fulton and South Street, where Christine has instructed Louie to meet her, a stark line between pursuit and consequence that lingers long after the screen fades.
Variety Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
10 key events in the order they happen, from “Christine lands a job at the Variety” to “Final shot: the empty intersection”. 10 events name a place, across 7 locations.
- 1
Christine lands a job at the Variety
Christine, an aspiring author, is desperate for work. Her friend Nan tips that Variety, a porn theater in Times Square, is hiring a ticket-taker. She applies, lands the job, and begins working at the theater.
Where:Times Square
- 2
Interest in the movies grows
While working, Christine finds herself increasingly drawn to the films shown at the theater. The screenings awaken curiosity that extends beyond the practical duties of the job. This fascination begins to blur the line between work and personal desire.
Where:Variety theater, Times Square
- 3
Mark's concern
Christine’s boyfriend Mark, an investigative journalist, grows concerned about her new fixation. He is confused by her budding interest in the theater and its movies. Their conversations reveal mounting tension between their expectations and her new desires.
Where:Christine's apartment
- 4
A date with a rich patron
At the theater, Christine meets Louie, a wealthy patron who seems intrigued by her. They spontaneously decide to go on a date, diverging from their formal roles in the theater. The encounter hints at danger and mystery beneath the surface of luxury.
Where:Variety theater, Times Square
- 5
Louie leaves abruptly; Christine follows
After their date, Louie abruptly leaves, leaving Christine curious and unsettled. She tails him in a cab, watching as he meets a mysterious man. The encounter suggests a darker underworld behind his charm.
Where:New York City streets; cab ride
- 6
Suspicion deepens; talk with Mark
Christine shares her growing suspicions with Mark that Louie is involved in some mafia-like operation. Mark remains skeptical, creating tension between trust and suspicion. The conversation reinforces Christine's need to uncover the truth.
Where:Christine's apartment
- 7
Obsession leads to Asbury Park
Her fixation intensifies as she tails Louie to Asbury Park, New Jersey. She sneaks into his hotel room and, in a bold turn, steals a pornographic magazine. The theft marks a drastic escalation in her pursuit and willingness to cross lines.
Where:Asbury Park, Louie's hotel room
- 8
Threatening call
Driven by obsession, Christine calls Louie and threatens him to meet her. She uses the confrontation to attempt to seize control of the situation. The moment underscores how far she has gone from ordinary desires into coercive behavior.
Where:Christine's home
- 9
A demanded meeting place
Christine tells Louie to meet her at Fulton Street and South Street, turning their interactions into a planned confrontation. The specific rendezvous raises the tension and places the onus on whether he will appear. The scene foreshadows the film's enigmatic ending.
Where:Fulton Street and South Street intersection
- 10
Final shot: the empty intersection
The film ends with a wide shot of the intersection, now empty, where Christine has arranged to meet Louie. The outcome of their encounter remains unknown, leaving an eerie sense of unresolved desire and danger. The final image lingers on the possibility that Christine's pursuit has changed her forever.
Where:Fulton Street and South Street intersection
Who Are the Main Characters in Variety?
4 characters, among them Christine, Nan (Nan Goldin) and Louie (Richard M. Davidson): who each one is and the part they play in the story. 3 of them link to the actor’s page.
- C
Christine
An aspiring author who takes a job as a ticket-taker at the Variety porn theater in Times Square. Her curiosity about the films grows into a burgeoning sexuality, and she becomes intensely focused on Louie. This fixation drives her to follow him to Asbury Park, sneak into his hotel room, and steal a porn magazine, ultimately threatening to obtain a meeting. The line between desire and peril blurs as the narrative unfolds.
- 🧭 Ambition
- 🔥 Desire
- 🌀 Obsession
-
Nan (Nan Goldin)
Played by Nan Goldin
Christine's friend who nudges her toward the Variety theater and supplies the initial tip that sets her on this path. Nan represents a pragmatic link between Christine's ordinary life and the risky, glamorous world she enters. Her support underscores how social connections fuel risky career moves.
- 🧭 Friend
- 🔎 Catalyst
- 🎭 Social circle
-
Louie (Richard M. Davidson)
Played by Richard M. Davidson
A wealthy, enigmatic patron at the Variety whose abrupt exits and hidden world hint at criminal dealings. He becomes the focus of Christine's infatuation and an emblem of danger lurking behind glamour. The relationship exposes power dynamics and the pull of secrecy.
- 💰 Wealth
- 🔎 Mystery
- 🚨 Danger
-
Mark (Will Patton)
Played by Will Patton
Christine's boyfriend and investigative journalist who is suspicious but supportive, trying to understand why she is drawn to the theater and its after-hours world. His professional skepticism contrasts with Christine's impulsive search for meaning, anchoring the story with a grounded perspective.
- 🗞️ Journalist
- 🤔 Skeptic
Where and When Is Variety Set?
Variety is set in Times Square, New York, Asbury Park and New Jersey. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Times Square, New York, Asbury Park, New Jersey
The action centers on the gritty adult theater scene in Times Square, a hub of late-70s city life known for neon lights and risky entertainment. Christine's journey also takes her to Asbury Park, a coastal town with a mix of glamor and seedy undercurrents that mirrors her rising obsession. The setting contrasts urban spectacle with private, dangerous pursuits.
- 🗽 Urban nightlife
- 🎬 Film culture
What Are the Themes of Variety?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Desire, Voyeurism and Mystery.
-
01
Desire
Christine's burgeoning sexuality drives the narrative, pushing her from spectator to participant in a thrill-seeking world. Her obsession with Louie grows steadily, distorting judgment and blurring lines between attraction and danger. The theme explores how unchecked desire can propel someone into reckless choices.
-
02
Voyeurism
The Variety theater setting frames observation as a central power dynamic, with Christine drawn to the glamorous surface of porn cinema. Her own gaze becomes a tool to understand and possess the objects of her attention, including Louie. This theme probes how looking into others' lives can reveal as much about the observer as the observed.
-
03
Mystery
Christine's suspicion of Louie's possible mafia ties injects noir tension into the story. The pursuit of truth leads her to follow him, sneak into rooms, and take risky actions to force a meeting. The resolution remains unresolved, leaving a sense of ambiguity about intent and power.
What Kind of Film Is Variety?
Tense in tone, with slow pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Tense
- Pacing
- Slow
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Ambiguous
A tense and claustrophobic slow-burn that immerses the viewer in the obsessive psychological unraveling of a woman, creating an unsettling atmosphere of voyeuristic dread.
- obsessive
- claustrophobic
- voyeuristic
- anxious
- unsettling
- psychologically tense
- sexual awakening
- obsession
- voyeurism
- female sexuality
Content notes: stalking, psychological obsession.
Quiz
How well do you remember Variety? Test yourself on the story.
