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Switchback

Switchback

  • Status: Released
  • 31-10-1997
  • Runtime: 118 min
  • Score: 5.987
  • Vote count: 230

After FBI agent Frank Lacrosse believes his son was kidnapped by a notorious serial killer, he travels to Amarillo, Texas, where he believes the murderer is in hiding. Although officially taken off the case because of its personal significance to him, Frank continues to pursue the killer, causing concern for local sheriff Buck Olmstead. When another victim pops up at a nearby car garage, Frank knows that he is as close as he'll ever be to tracking down the elusive killer.

Dennis Quaid

FBI Special Agent Frank LaCrosse

Danny Glover

Bob Goodall

R. Lee Ermey

Sheriff Buck Olmstead

Jared Leto

Lane Dixon

Ted Levine

Deputy Nate Booker

William Fichtner

Chief Jack McGinnis

Walton Goggins

Bud (Deputy)

Kevin Cooney

FBI SAC Grant Montgomery

Leo Burmester

Clyde 'Shorty' Callahan

Merle Kennedy

Betty (Store Clerk)

Julio Oscar Mechoso

Atty. Jorge Martinez

Orville Stoeber

Hector Saldez

Claudia Stedelin

Babysitter (Missy)

Ian Nelson

Andy LaCrosse

Brent Hinkley

Man on Porch ('Tom Billingham')

Louis Schaefer

Sim

Robert L. Somers

Rancher

Lexie Stuart

Rancher's Daughter

Ted Markland

Bartender

Gregory Scott Cummins

Rick [Miner's Bar]

Tommy Puett

Ben [Miner's Bar]

Stuart Proud Eagle Grant

Luke [Miner's Bar]

Ken Thorley

Morgue Attendant

Pat Mahoney

Highway Patrol Captain

Michael K. Osborn

Deputy

Wendelin Harston

Sally

Dean Hallo

SWAT Leader

Robert Himber

Police Captain

Bill Rodgers

Cook

Roy Yerbey

Truck Driver

Lori Creevay

Waitress

Maggie Roswell

Fae

Gil Colon

Deputy

Allison Smith

Becky

Donnie L. Betts

Patrolman (John)

Stan Parks

FBI Agent

Ben Fuhrman

Captain Heber

Lois Hicks

Ruth [Motel]

Gary Giem

Al [Motel]

Mark Curry

Robby (Deputy)

Martin David Boyd

Hank [Bar]

Kevin Bartlett

Tate [Bar]

Vern Porter

Cubby [Bar]

Leigh Reyburn

Woman in Bar

Lionel Douglass

Man in Shower

Paul Parducci

Man in Shower

Kristin McCloskey

News Anchor

Tricia Springer

Reporter

Keith L. Hatten

Brakeman Ray Calabrese

Sandy Ward

Tex Monroe

Silan Smith

Engineer

James Clark

Engineer

Christopher Michael

Colorado Trooper

Robert Peters

Colorado Trooper

Joe Alfasa

Small Mexican Man

Cliff Fleming

Helicopter Pilot

John Chard

Cause he told the truth, and once you've heard the truth, everything else is just cheap whiskey. Switchback is written and directed by Jeb Stuart. It stars Dennis Quaid, Danny Glover, Jared Leto, R. Lee Ermey, Ted Levine and William Fitchner. Music is by Basil Poledouris and cinematography by Oliver Wood. FBI agent Frank LaCrosse (Quaid) is tracking a serial killer who he believes kidnapped his young son. Switchback is a standard serial killer based thriller that flopped at the box office. It's not a bad film but it never delivers on its potential. The location travelogue of the story is most impressive, especially the last third once we get to the snowy mountains of Colorado, but it's the scenery that grips and holds the attention more than the plot. The red herrings have interest value enough for us to stay with what is at just under two hours a long film, but resolutions are either anti climatic or too obvious. Cast are a mixed bag, with Quaid just okay as the perpetually bleak protag and Glover sadly winding out as miscast once film shows its hands. Thankfully Leto and Ermey are on hand to keep a rein on things, playing the intended thriller tone just right as per their respective characters. It's perhaps unlucky to have followed far superior/intelligent serial killer based thrillers, rendering it then and now as weak offerings. It's not the dead on stinker the box office suggests, and trimmed of 20 minutes it would have been a decent time waster, but as it is it plays out as unoriginal and lacking in directorial focus. 5/10