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Plot Summary

Discover the intricate plot of 12 Hour Shift (2020). From unexpected twists to emotional highs and lows, this detailed summary breaks down every moment to give you a deeper understanding of the film’s story.


In 1999 Arkansas, we meet Mandy, an overworked nurse battling a severe drug addiction. Her desperate measures to finance her habit extend beyond stealing patient medications—she is involved in a sinister scheme of harvesting patient organs for profit. Partnered with desk nurse Karen and recently enlisting her cousin Regina for added help, Mandy delivers harvested organs to trafficker Nicholas.

The chaotic night begins when Mandy hands over a harvested kidney inside a cooler to Regina at the hospital’s rear. However, in a moment of confusion, Regina mistakenly takes a cooler filled with soda instead. The wrathful Nicholas demands to have the kidney, or else he will claim Regina’s. In a frantic search for the organ at the hospital, Regina turns to a shocking choice. When Mandy refuses to assist her, Regina, disguising herself as a nurse, commits murder by poisoning a patient with bleach in a desperate attempt to procure a kidney. To her dismay, Mandy explains that the victim was on dialysis, leaving him with unusable kidneys.

The arrival of the police complicates matters as they start to investigate the murder. In a spiral of violence, Regina escalates her actions, threatening to reveal the organ trafficking operation unless Mandy helps her. Reluctantly, Mandy agrees, instructing Regina to remain outside. As panic sets in, Regina encounters one of Nicholas’s henchmen and, in a misguided attempt, kills a random skateboarder, hoping to procure his kidney but mistakenly removes his bladder instead.

Inside the hospital, Mandy takes matters into her own hands, overdosing a patient to harvest his kidney surreptitiously. She leaves the organ in a cooler near a vending machine, only to discover it has vanished by the time Regina arrives.

Meanwhile, Nicholas’s intimidating henchman Mikey stirs chaos within the hospital, posing a threat to Regina. In a bold move, Regina proposes to kidnap a comatose patient to satisfy Nicholas, unaware that this patient is actually Mandy’s abusive half-brother, who is also struggling with addiction. Mandy intervenes, and the two join forces to subdue Mikey. The police erroneously conclude that Mikey is the perpetrator behind the hospital murders.

As Regina exits the tumultuous scene, hospital guest Mr. Kent reveals he’s been stumbling upon coolers filled with kidneys throughout the night. Exhausted, Mandy opts to take a nap in her truck. The film culminates with her returning to the hospital to begin yet another grueling shift, not long before Nicholas reappears, hinting at the unending cycle of horror and addiction that defines their lives.

Timeline

Track the key events of 12 Hour Shift (2020) with a comprehensive timeline. Perfect for understanding the sequence of major plot points, this feature offers clarity on how the story unfolds.


Mandy's Addiction

In 1999 Arkansas, we are introduced to Mandy, an overworked nurse battling a severe drug addiction. Her struggles with dependency drive her to desperate measures, including theft and a sinister organ harvesting operation.

1999 Arkansas

The Sinister Scheme

Mandy partners with her colleague, desk nurse Karen, and enlists her cousin Regina to help with harvesting organs for profit. Together, they deliver the harvested organs to trafficker Nicholas, deepening their involvement in the criminal underworld.

The Exchange Gone Wrong

On a chaotic night at the hospital, Mandy hands a harvested kidney to Regina in a cooler. Mistakenly, Regina grabs a cooler filled with soda instead, which initiates a series of catastrophic events as they realize the mistake.

Hospital

Nicholas's Demand

Nicholas, angry over the mix-up, demands the kidney or threatens to claim Regina in retaliation. This ultimatum pushes Regina into a frantic search around the hospital, showcasing the desperation of their situation.

Hospital

Regina's Shocking Choice

In a desperate attempt to secure a kidney, Regina, disguised as a nurse, murders a patient by poisoning him with bleach. When Mandy confronts her, she realizes the victim was on dialysis, making the kidneys unusable for their purpose.

Hospital

Police Investigation Begins

The situation escalates when police arrive to investigate the murder committed by Regina. They unknowingly complicate the sinister deeds of Mandy and Regina, adding a layer of tension to their already volatile predicament.

Hospital

Regina's Threat

In a panic, Regina confronts Mandy, threatening to expose their organ trafficking operation unless she receives help. Mandy reluctantly agrees to assist Regina, further entangling both of them in their dark actions.

Hospital

A Misguided Murder

Regina encounters one of Nicholas's henchmen and, in a moment of misguided rage, kills a random skateboarder, believing she can procure his kidney. Unfortunately, she ends up removing the bladder instead, compounding their disaster.

Hospital

Mandy's Overdose

Taking control of the situation, Mandy overdoses a patient to harvest his kidney. She leaves the organ in a cooler near a vending machine but quickly discovers it has disappeared by the time Regina arrives, increasing their panic.

Hospital

Mikey's Threat

Nicholas's intimidating henchman, Mikey, causes chaos in the hospital while searching for the organ traffickers. Regina and Mandy must confront him, highlighting the extreme danger they face as their lives spiral further out of control.

Hospital

The Comatose Patient

Regina suggests kidnapping a comatose patient to satisfy Nicholas's demand, unaware that the patient is actually Mandy's abusive half-brother. Mandy intervenes to protect her brother, showcasing the complex web of their intertwined lives.

Hospital

The Police's Mistake

As the police wrap up their investigation, they mistakenly identify Mikey as the culprit behind the hospital murders. This crucial misunderstanding adds a layer of irony to the tragic events unfolding in the hospital.

Hospital

Mr. Kent's Discovery

As the chaos continues, hospital guest Mr. Kent reveals that he has stumbled upon several coolers filled with kidneys throughout the night. This alarming revelation underscores the magnitude of the organ trafficking operation.

Hospital

Mandy's Exhaustion

Exhausted from the night's turmoil, Mandy decides to take a nap in her truck, seeking a brief escape from her nightmarish reality. Her temporary reprieve highlights the toll of addiction and criminality on her life.

Truck

Cycle of Horror Continues

The film culminates with Mandy returning to the hospital for yet another grueling shift, indicative of her unending struggle with addiction and crime. Nicholas's ominous reappearance suggests that this cycle of horror is far from over.

Hospital

Characters

Meet the characters that bring 12 Hour Shift (2020) to life. Dive into detailed profiles of the cast and their roles, exploring their motivations, relationships, and arcs within the story.


Mandy

Mandy is an overworked nurse struggling with a severe drug addiction that drives her to the brink of moral and ethical denial. Her desperation leads her into a dark world of organ trafficking, where she grapples with the consequences of her choices while trying to maintain her job at the hospital.

🩺 Nurse 🚨 Addict

Regina

Regina is Mandy's cousin who becomes embroiled in the chaotic events at the hospital. Initially portrayed as a reluctant participant, her character escalates into a more active role, resorting to horrific measures in a misguided attempt to assist her cousin amidst swirling violence and confusion.

👩‍⚕️ Cousin ⚠️ Desperate

Karen

Karen serves as Mandy's desk nurse ally, assisting in the unfolding drama within the hospital. Her character reflects the impact of the chaotic environment on a typically supportive healthcare role, hinting at the challenges faced by healthcare workers.

🩺 Nurse 🤝 Supportive

Nicholas

Nicholas is the organ trafficker who orchestrates much of the chaos within the hospital. His intimidating presence creates a sense of urgency and fear among the characters, embodying the dark reality of crime that lurks behind their struggles.

💼 Trafficker ⚠️ Threatening

Mr. Kent

Mr. Kent is a hospital guest who inadvertently reveals key elements of the organ trafficking scheme. His character adds layers to the narrative, showcasing the confusion and unexpected revelations within the chaotic hospital environment.

👨‍⚕️ Guest 🧐 Insightful

Setting

Uncover the settings of 12 Hour Shift (2020), from iconic locations to the time period that shapes its world. See how these elements add depth and context to the movie’s narrative.


Time period

1999

The events take place in 1999, a period marked by the rise of technology and significant cultural shifts in the United States. This era saw increasing conversations around drug addiction and its implications, setting the stage for the characters' struggles.

Location

Arkansas

The movie is set in Arkansas, specifically within a hospital that serves as the primary backdrop for the unfolding chaos. Known for its sprawling landscapes and Southern charm, the hospital represents both life-saving potential and the dark underbelly of organ trafficking.

🏥 Hospital 🏙️ City

Themes

Explore the core themes of 12 Hour Shift (2020). From its commentary on social issues to its emotional undertones, delve into the deeper messages woven into the film’s story.


⚖️

Morality

The movie tackles the theme of morality, examining the desperate measures individuals might take when pushed to their limits. Characters like Mandy and Regina find themselves making ethically questionable choices in the face of addiction and survival.

💔

Addiction

Addiction serves as a central theme, depicting its devastating impact on both personal lives and professional integrity. Mandy's severe drug dependency drives her to participate in a nefarious organ trafficking scheme, illustrating the lengths to which addiction can compel individuals.

🔪

Violence

Violence is a recurring element throughout the film, as the characters resort to extreme actions to handle dire situations. The escalation of violence reveals the stark reality of crime intertwined with desperation and survival instincts.

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