Nine years ago, torturer and murderer Jon Forster (Neal McDonough) was convicted and sentenced to death after being testified against by forensic professor Jack Gramm (Pacino). In the present day, Forster is due to be executed at midnight. But then, several more murders with an identical modus operandi occur, and then, on the way to his class, Gramm receives a threatening phone call telling him he has 88 minutes to live...
This film provides examples of:
- Catchphrase:
- Jon Forster: "Tick tock, doc."
- Lauren Douglas:"Tick tock, tick tock. You have [X] minutes to live."
- Pacino gives an Ironic Echo version to Forster at the end: "Tick tock, tick tock, you have 12 hours to live."
- Cold-Blooded Torture: Forster is known to indulge in this, as depicted by the opening.
- Depraved Bisexual: Possibly, although it's also heavily implied to fall under the Psycho Lesbian trope as well or at the same time. Lauren is introduced to the audience as a lesbian, and she hooks up with a woman, but she's also working with Forster and gruesomely tortured a woman to death. It's heavily implied that she had romantic feelings for Forster, too.
- Disposable Woman:
- Gramm's sister, who was horribly tortured to death by a serial killer, and he blames himself because...he was defending his PhD at the time.
- Gramm's hookup Sara is gruesomely raped and murdered although the rape part seems to be a fake to corner him for allegedly giving false testimony about Forster.
- Extremely Short Time Span: Actually a little more than 88 minutes.
- Gay Best Friend: Straight man Gramm's secretary Shelly is also his good friend but rules herself out of being with Gramm romantically because she's a lesbian.
- Girl Friday: Gramm's secretary Shelly, who is a loyal friend and helps throughout the film when Gramm needs it the most.
- Indirect Serial Killer: Though Jon Foster was a Serial Killer (and rapist) of women in person, when he gets imprisoned for murder, he orders his Loony Fan Lauren to re-enact his murders so that he can go free or at least avoid execution.
- I Let Gwen Stacy Die: Gramm is tormented by the murder of his younger sister.
- Incompatible Orientation: Gramm says he and Shelly would be perfect together, but she points out she's gay. He knows, but Gramm clearly likes the idea despite this.
- Kavorka Man: Gramm, clearly in his 60's, seems to attract every straight woman on the set, all of whom are young and attractive.
- Large Ham:"DID I BLOW MY CAAAAR?! DID I SHOOT BULLETS AT MYSELF?!"
- Lipstick Lesbian: Shelly, who mentions she's gay early on but has entirely feminine looks and manner.
- Ms. Fanservice: While naked, Sara does a weird leg stand while also brushing her teeth. Gramm's reaction is appropriately a mix between excitement and an unstated "What the hell?" look. A bit later, Kim Cummings, who plays a major role in the film, is seen with a purple top and blue jeans just before she and Gramm escape from the apartment. Luckily, she's got plenty of time to put on her brown jacket that she wears for most of her on-screen time.
- Naked Apron: Sara in the beginning is wearing one, and nothing else.
- Never Trust a Title: The movie is actually over 100 minutes long.
- Race Against the Clock: The titular 88 minutes Gramm has left before the killer is done playing with him and actually kills him.
- Really Gets Around: Gramm is indicated to have frequent casual sex with much younger, attractive women.
- Slow-Motion Fall: Lauren does one after being shot by Parks in the finale.
- Shout-Out: The entire final showdown takes its influence from Die Hard, even right down to a Slow-Motion Fall (see above).
- Stock Scream: At the beginning of the film, Janie Cates (who fully speaks throughout her on-screen time) makes one.
- Time Title: The protagonist is informed he only has that long to live, although, the running time is 70 Minutes.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Plot threads and shady characters come and go without any full resolution.
