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Red Rock West

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Red Rock West

R

Released Jun 16, 1993

1h 38m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

41 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

When unemployed ex-marine Michael Williams (Nicolas Cage) stumbles into a bar in Red Rock, Wyo., the owner, Wayne (J.T. Walsh), mistakes him for a hired killer and offers him $10,000 to kill his wife, Suzanne (Lara Flynn Boyle). Michael plays along, taking half the money up front, then tells Suzanne what her husband is planning. She seduces Michael and proposes that he kill her husband instead. While he weighs his options, the real killer (Dennis Hopper) turns up looking for his money.

Critics Consensus

Red Rock West is a hidden neo-noir gem with some delightful cracks in its surface -- and an opportunity to see Lara Flynn Boyle, Nicolas Cage, Dennis Hopper, and J.T. Walsh go toe-to-toe in all their early '90s glory.

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Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

And though Cage is effortlessly watchable as Williams, the performance of the movie is Dennis Hopper as the typically extroverted hitman “Lyle, From Dallas”.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 19, 2023

Full Review

Joshua Katzman

Chicago Reader

Helping the story move along at a brisk clip is Dahl’s tight control of the editing coupled with a well-tuned ear for the rhythms and cadences of everyday conversation.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 6, 2022

Full Review

Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

It's well worth tracking down, wherever you can find it. For it has the kind of tension and energy -- maybe even a touch of delirium -- that is only a memory in most of today's big studio movies.

Mar 13, 2009

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a slow-moving yet predominantly engaging film noir...

Rated: 3/4

Jan 11, 2024

Full Review

Rob Aldam

Backseat Mafia

While it does naval-gaze a little too much, the focus and pacing keeps it on track.

Aug 17, 2022

Full Review

Mal Vincent

The Virginian-Pilot

...a little gem. Its success is due to the fact that there are so few authentic movie plots around these days...

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 25, 2022

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Daniel C. M

A escapist neo-noir with great direction, though not really much else.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/03/25

Full Review

Richard G. R

One of my favorite low budget independent films. When it was released on video and cable in 1993, I was attending the University of North Texas studying filmmaking, and this film along with Carl Franklin and Billy Bob Thornton's "One False Move" in 1992 became prime examples of the type of films (Neo-Noir) that spoke to me. Nicolas Cage gives a great performance as Michael, the down and out drifter mistaken for a hitman (forgoing his usual over the top acting style). Director John Dahl carved out a nice niche in the low budget neo-noir genre with his three films (Kiss Me Again-1989, Red Rock West-1993 and The Last Seduction-1994).

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/19/25

Full Review

Ari V

Decent little movie that might've in part inspired Stone's better Uturn.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/03/25

Full Review

Brad CKA L

https://youtu.be/9YGF_B7YgDY?si=FUwB2Ml1nvP8iywl

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/27/24

Full Review

Dom L

Great little neo noir. One of Cage's best earlier performances, but Hopper steals the acting honors!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/06/24

Full Review

Brian C

AMAZING FILM NOIR CLASSIC. I WOULD RATE IT OVER 'OUT OF THE PAST' AND EVEN 'MALTESE FALCON'. GREAT PLOT, CLEVER TWIISTS, MARVELOUS WRITING AND CHARACTERS.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/26/24

Full Review

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John Dahl

Director

Nicolas Cage

Michael Williams

Dennis Hopper

Lyle from Dallas

Lara Flynn Boyle

Suzanne Brown aka Ann McCord

Timothy Carhart

Deputy Matt Greytack

J.T. Walsh

Wayne Brown aka Kevin McCord

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Synopsis

When unemployed ex-marine Michael Williams (Nicolas Cage) stumbles into a bar in Red Rock, Wyo., the owner, Wayne (J.T. Walsh), mistakes him for a hired killer and offers him $10,000 to kill his wife, Suzanne (Lara Flynn Boyle). Michael plays along, taking half the money up front, then tells Suzanne what her husband is planning. She seduces Michael and proposes that he kill her husband instead. While he weighs his options, the real killer (Dennis Hopper) turns up looking for his money.

Director: John Dahl
Producer: Steve Golin, Sigurjon Sighvatsson
Screenwriter: Rick Dahl, John Dahl
Distributor: Columbia TriStar Home Video, Capital Filmes
Production Co: Red Rock Films, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 16, 1993, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 27, 2015
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Surround