Breakdown (1997)
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80% of critics liked it
(49 reviews) -
61% of users liked it
(35,112 ratings)
In this suspense thriller, a man discovers the unexpected danger of trusting a good Samaritan. Jeff Taylor (Kurt Russell) and his wife Amy (Kathleen Quinlan) are driving through the New Mexico desert en route to California when an incident with a lunatic driver causes their jeep to break down in the… More In this suspense thriller, a man discovers the unexpected danger of trusting a good Samaritan. Jeff Taylor (Kurt Russell) and his wife Amy (Kathleen Quinlan) are driving through the New Mexico desert en route to California when an incident with a lunatic driver causes their jeep to break down in the middle of nowhere. Jeff is trying to fix the vehicle when an apparently friendly truck driver, Red Barr (J.T. Walsh), stops by to offer help. Red tells the couple that there's a diner a few miles down the road where they can call for help; Jeff decides to stay with the car while Amy hops a ride with Red to see if she can find a mechanic to help them. After a long wait, Jeff is able to get the jeep running again, and he discovers that the diner is indeed a few miles down the road. But everyone there claims they've seen no sign of Amy, and Red claims to know nothing about picking her up. When Jeff attempts to file a missing person's report, he discovers mysterious disappearances are disturbingly common in this stretch of the desert; he soon realizes that someone has kidnapped his wife, but he's not sure who, or for what purpose. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Jonathan Mostow
- Written By
- Jonathan Mostow, Sam Montgomery
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense
- In Theaters
- May 2, 1997 Wide
- Studio
- Paramount Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
[Kurt Russell's] lack of energy afflicts the film as much as its director's lack of ideas.
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Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune
A taut suspense film.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Breakdown has plenty of deft action sequences, and what they add up to is nifty garbage disposal, with all of us -- characters, filmmakers, viewers -- ultimately spiraling down the same drain.
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Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
An example of what happens when a new filmmaker comes along with a fresh perspective and manages to squeeze some life back into a by-now formula plot.
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David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...one of the most effective and flat-out engrossing thrillers within recent cinematic history...
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Kurt Russell
as Jeff Taylor
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J.T. Walsh
as Red Barr
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Kathleen Quinlan
as Amy Taylor
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M.C. Gainey
as Earl
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Jack Noseworthy
as Billy
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Rex Linn
as Sheriff Boyd
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Ritch Brinkley
as Al
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Moira Harris
as Arleen
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Thomas Kopache
as Calhoun
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Jack McGee
as Bartender
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Kim Robillard
as Deputy Len Carver
- Vincent Berry
