One False Move (1992)

100% of critics liked it
(27 reviews)
68% of users liked it
(3,808 ratings)

Carl Franklin made his directorial bow with the story of three LA drug dealers who, after committing a rather messy murder, hide out in a rural Arkansas town. Assuming that the local "rubes" will offer them little interference, the criminals have not reckoned with sheriff "Hurricane" Dixon (Bill… More Carl Franklin made his directorial bow with the story of three LA drug dealers who, after committing a rather messy murder, hide out in a rural Arkansas town. Assuming that the local "rubes" will offer them little interference, the criminals have not reckoned with sheriff "Hurricane" Dixon (Bill Paxton). Despite the arrogance of the LAPD agents sent to Arkansas to collar the crooks, it is down-home Dixon who puts the final bloody showdown into motion (the fact that the thieves have been falling out throughout the film doesn't hurt things either). Carl Franklin knows where he's going in every frenetic frame of One False Move, and his movie was one of the most acclaimed independent releases of 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Carl Franklin
Written By: Billy Bob Thornton, Tom Epperson
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Jun 1, 1992 Wide
On DVD: Mar 9, 1999
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Hard-boiled modern-day film noir that explodes on the screen with great force.
John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews
one of the finest crime genre films ever made
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Carl Franklin tackles American anxieties--interracial love, guilt and denial--that have been ignored, showing understanding of his characters, all conflicted in vvarious ways.
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com
One of those low-rent indie cop-noir movies that rises above thanks to some good writing and casting

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Luke B

One False Move was simply a beautiful, and little seen, crime film. Three drug dealers on the run are suspected to be heading towards Arkansas. Here, a couple of big city cops meet up with the local sheriff. Paxton is fantastic in this role. He's not very worldly, has never had… More
One False Move was simply a beautiful, and little seen, crime film. Three drug dealers on the run are suspected to be heading towards Arkansas. Here, a couple of big city cops meet up with the local sheriff. Paxton is fantastic in this role. He's not very worldly, has never had to use his gun, and is just a little too excited about the approaching threat. His enthusiasm comes off as naivety, and he is laughed off by the LAPD. The film does well to follow the cops and the killers. We see a bizarre triangle between the murderers. Thornton is filled with anger and out of control, whereas his partner is cool and calm but ultimately terrifying. The pacing of this film was done very well, offering moments of tension in a film that has a lot of waiting around. It also harvests a lot of emotion and depth for its characters. Paxton comes off the best as a giddy little boy waiting for Christmas. There are some great moments, such as his reaction to hearing the teasing from the city cops. Another scene sees him use the "n" word in front of the black cop. His facial expression is priceless, as he realises what he has said. Eventually Paxton takes responsibility, and he shows that his enthusiasm masks his competence. A big fish in a small pond. One False Move is very dark, but has a lot going for it. Most of all the tender ending.
Stella D

lean and mean neo-noir. too bad carl franklin never made another film this good
Greg S

As two psychotic murderers and their sexy bi-racial moll make their way across Texas towards Star City, Arkansas, the enthusiastic but inexperienced police chief (Bill Paxton) prepares eagerly for the arrival of the big-time crooks. Well-scripted and executed thriller/drama with a… More
As two psychotic murderers and their sexy bi-racial moll make their way across Texas towards Star City, Arkansas, the enthusiastic but inexperienced police chief (Bill Paxton) prepares eagerly for the arrival of the big-time crooks. Well-scripted and executed thriller/drama with a twist on the stock character of the hick sheriff and a surprisingly emotional climax.
Sheldon C

A decent detective thriller, ONE FALSE MOVE is a neo-noir that features a strong cast and an intriguing turn of events that goes from urban Los Angeles through Texas to rural Arkansas. Although characterizations are a bit shallow as it is difficult to invest in any of the people we… More
A decent detective thriller, ONE FALSE MOVE is a neo-noir that features a strong cast and an intriguing turn of events that goes from urban Los Angeles through Texas to rural Arkansas. Although characterizations are a bit shallow as it is difficult to invest in any of the people we meet on-screen (criminal or cop alike), Carl Franklin and his crew manage to do a smart job in touching upon racial issues, botched relationships, and life regrets as well as the guilt and pain that come with it.
Stephen E

Solid direction but ultimately a disappointment. A few parts greatly intrigued me, but as for the rest of the film, it was pretty much routine for a crime thriller.
Alec B

Its an effective and unpredictable thriller that works because its focus is the people involved rather than the events that they put into motion. I also like the fact that the central figures of the story (outside of the Bill Paxton Character) are murderers and drug dealers.
Stephen E

Solid direction but ultimately a disappointment. A few parts greatly intrigued me, but as for the rest of the film, it was pretty much routine for a crime thriller.
Anthony V

Carl Franklin arrives on the film making scene with a loud BOOM.
Christopher B

An incredibly intelligent and tense crime thriller with amazing performances and awesome characters. Another fantastic Paxton performance as the hick sheriff with a secret. Most films would just pass off this character as a dumb yokel local, but Franklin gives him more personality… More
An incredibly intelligent and tense crime thriller with amazing performances and awesome characters. Another fantastic Paxton performance as the hick sheriff with a secret. Most films would just pass off this character as a dumb yokel local, but Franklin gives him more personality than most lead characters in Hollywood dramas. A seriously amazing film. Also see review for Deep Cover.