Backfire *** (1987, Karen Allen, Keith Carradine, Jeff Fahey, Bernie Casey, Dean Paul Martin, Dinah Manhoff) – Classic Movie Review 12,105

Director Gilbert Cates’s 1987 murderous love triangle mystery-thriller film Backfire stars Karen Allen, Keith Carradine and Jeff Fahey, along with Bernie Casey, Dean Paul Martin and Dinah Manhoff.

Fahey plays a much troubled Vietnam war veteran called Donny, who is embroiled in an involved murder conspiracy that is connected with his cheating white-trash wife Mara (Allen), who is having an affair with Jake (Dean Paul Martin), and an enigmatic work-shy newcomer, Reed (Carradine).

Although this complex, erotic and suspenseful thriller is just a touch too unoriginal and predictable, it still has some effective twists and turns and is given punch by a good cast giving involving performances.

It is stylishly made by expert director Cates and beautifully photographed by cinematographer Tak Fujimoto, making the most of its unusual backdrops in Canada.

Backfire is written by Larry Brand and Rebecca Reynolds.

It was released on 2 October 1987 in the UK and 21 June 1988 in the US.

Larry Brand wrote and directed The Drifter the same year.

Martin’s final film appearance came in Backfire, released after his death, aged 35. Martin, the son of Dean Martin, died in a crash into mountains during a snowstorm on 21 March 1987 during a military training flight as a member of the California Air National Guard.

The film is dedicated to Martin.

Also in the cast are Dean Paul Martin as Jake, Bernie Casey as Clinton, Dinah Manoff as Jill Tyson, Virginia Capers, and Philip Sterling.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,105

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com