Breakdown **** (1997, Kurt Russell, J T Walsh, Kathleen Quinlan) – Classic Movie Review 2928

Co-writer/director Jonathan Mostow’s excellent 1997 action thriller, is a high-anxiety suspense hit for Kurt Russell.

Jeff Taylor (Russell) and his wife Amy (Kathleen Quinlan) are moving to California and must drive across the country to get to San Diego. So they set off across backwoods country in their polished, brand-new Jeep, squabbling as they go.

Soon they’re confronted with the weird locals as their vehicle breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Sweatily plausible and friendly truck driver Red Barr (J T Walsh) turns up, apparently to help, and Quinlan sets off with him to reach a roadside diner. But, when Russell eventually reaches it, the lady has apparently vanished into thin air.

This simple premise from Mostow’s story sets off an edge-of-seat, top-gear action thriller that may be the purest hokum, but it’s blisteringly done and never lets up its vice-like grip on the tension. Russell acts his little socks off as though he really believes in it all. Walsh has a great time as the baddie, though it’s a shame that Quinlan is totally wasted in a small, passive role as the wife whose only role is that she needs rescuing.

Also in the cast are M C Gainey. Jack Noseworthy, Thomas Kopache, Jack McGee, Vincent Berry, Helen Duffy, Ancel Cook, Gene Hartline, Rex Linn, Ritch Brinkley and Kim Robillard.

When Red says to Jeff ’49 minutes, Jeff, time to get the show on the road’  it is exactly 49 minutes till the end of the movie. Now that’s neat film-making!

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2928

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