Straight to Hell (1987) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A botched criminal escape descends into absurd violence, betrayal, and a final struggle over stolen money.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Flight Across the Border

Three hitmen flee with Norwood's pregnant wife after a failed job. A bank robbery, a diesel-fueled breakdown, and buried money force them to continue on foot.

Key Events

• Hotel After the Failed Job — The three hitmen stay in a Los Angeles hotel after failing a job. Characters: Willy, Norwood, Simms, Velma Location: Los Angeles hotel
• Flight Toward Mexico — The group escapes by car, taking pregnant Velma with them. Characters: Willy, Norwood, Simms, Velma Location: Road from Los Angeles
• Bank Robbery En Route — The fugitives rob a bank while fleeing toward Mexico. Characters: Willy, Norwood, Simms, Velma Location: Road to Mexico
• Diesel Breakdown — Their car breaks down because its tank was accidentally filled with diesel. Characters: Willy, Norwood, Simms, Velma Location: Desert road
• Money Buried in the Desert — They bury the money suitcase and begin walking toward a nearby town. Characters: Willy, Norwood, Simms, Velma Location: Desert

Welcome to the Strange Town

The fugitives reach a bizarre desert town and enter its bar. After killing an arresting group, they are unexpectedly welcomed by the townspeople.

Key Events

• Empty Bar at Night — The group enters an empty bar, gets drunk, and camps near the town. Characters: Willy, Norwood, Simms, Velma Location: Nearly deserted town bar
• Cowboys Bring Espresso Machines — Velma sees trucks of cowboys entering town with espresso machines. Characters: Velma Location: Edge of town
• Return to the Crowded Bar — Despite Velma's warnings, the three men enter the now-crowded town bar. Characters: Willy, Norwood, Simms, Velma Location: Town bar
• Stand-Off with Local Gang — Two members of the local gang confront the three hitmen in a tense stand-off. Characters: Willy, Norwood, Simms Location: Town bar
• Rescuing the Gang Members — The hitmen kill an arriving arresting group, saving the two local gang members. Characters: Willy, Norwood, Simms Location: Town bar
• Welcomed by the Town — The townspeople welcome the hitmen after they prevent the arrests. Characters: Willy, Norwood, Simms, George, Fabienne Location: Desert town

Bounties and Hidden Desires

A funeral brings a dangerous messenger into town, but the townspeople execute him before he can explain the bounty. Affairs, jealousy, and hidden weapons intensify the instability.

Key Events

• The Town Party — The town leader invites the newcomers to a party. Characters: Willy, Norwood, Simms, Fabienne, George Location: Desert town
• Funeral Procession — A relative pushes an elderly family member from a building, followed by a town funeral. Characters: Willy, Norwood, Simms, Velma Location: Town streets
• Stranger at the Funeral — A boss's employee arrives searching for the fugitives and Velma. Characters: Willy, Norwood, Simms, Velma Location: Funeral gathering
• Execution of the Messenger — The townspeople accuse the stranger of murder and hang him before he reveals the bounty. Characters: Willy, Norwood, Simms, Velma Location: Town gallows
• Secret Affair Exposed — Simms and Fabienne conduct an affair while George becomes angry over her unfaithfulness. Characters: Simms, Fabienne, George Location: General store
• Suitcase of Machine Guns — A visiting developer disappears, leaving a suitcase of machine guns for the hitmen. Characters: Willy, Norwood, Simms Location: Desert town

Bloodshed in the Desert

A murder is blamed on the hitmen, triggering widespread shootouts among the town, the pursuing crew, and the fugitives. The struggle finally centers on the buried money.

Key Events

• The Town Erupts in Gunfire — George kills a gang member, and competing groups begin a series of shootouts. Characters: Willy, Norwood, Simms, Velma, Fabienne, George Location: Desert town
• The Money Turns Allies Against Each Other — Simms shoots the wounded Willy after recovering the money, then Velma shoots Simms. Characters: Willy, Simms, Velma Location: Desert burial site

Fire and Empty Roads

Willy and Simms die after recovering the money, while Norwood and Fabienne survive the burning store and defeat the enemy crew. Velma and her companion perish in a truck crash, leaving Norwood to depart with the surviving women.

Key Events

• Fire, Escape, and Final Crash — Norwood and Fabienne survive the fire and attack the enemy crew; Velma dies in a truck crash. Characters: Norwood, Fabienne, Velma Location: General store and cliff road

Story Breakdown

• Failed Escape — The hitmen flee a failed job while carrying Velma and stolen money toward Mexico.
  • Hotel Aftermath — The three hitmen regroup after failing a job in Los Angeles.
  • Desert Breakdown — A diesel mistake strands the group and forces them to bury the money.
• Strange Town Arrival — The fugitives enter an almost deserted town whose bizarre social rituals conceal imminent danger.
  • Empty Bar — The group gets drunk in an empty bar and camps outside town.
  • Espresso Cowboys — Velma witnesses unusual trucks entering town before the men return to the bar.
• Violent Welcome — A confrontation with local gang members turns into a massacre that earns the fugitives temporary acceptance.
  • Bar Stand-Off — Two local gang members confront the three hitmen.
  • Arresting Group Killed — The hitmen kill the arriving arresting group and save the local gang members.
• Town Intrigue — Funeral violence, a hidden bounty, adultery, and mysterious weapons deepen the town's paranoia.
  • Funeral Execution — A suspected stranger is hanged before revealing the bounty on the fugitives.
  • Affair and Weapons — Simms's affair with Fabienne and the arrival of machine guns threaten the fragile order.
• Townwide Shootout — Jealousy and mistaken blame transform the town into a battlefield involving every surviving faction.
  • Jealous Murder — George kills a gang member after unwanted advances toward Fabienne.
  • Factions Collide — The townspeople, the pursuing crew, and the hitmen turn against one another.
• Money and Ruin — The buried money destroys the remaining partnership before fire and a fatal crash end the escape.
  • Fatal Desert Betrayal — Simms kills Willy over the recovered money, then Velma shoots Simms.
  • Fire and Crash — Norwood and Fabienne survive the store fire, while Velma dies in a truck crash.

Directed by

Alex Cox

Key Cast

• Dick Rude — Willy
• Sy Richardson — Norwood
• Courtney Love — Velma
• Joe Strummer — Simms
• Jennifer Balgobin — Fabienne