Red Rock West

R

Now Playing

1h 38m

Crime

Drama

List

98%

Tomatometer

41 Reviews

75%

Audience Score

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.

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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

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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

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

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

Rated: 3/4

Jan 11, 2024

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Rob Aldam

Backseat Mafia

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

Aug 17, 2022

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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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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

Serge L

Classic Westerny neo noir with great Cage and Hopper performances. High recommend!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/22/24

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Tibor F

Boring, nothing happens. Could not watch more than 13 minutes. Skip.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/20/24

Full Review

Tony R

Perfectly plotted,well acted and funny. Can't ask for much more. Watch it, it's a ball tearer.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/26/24

Full Review

Alec C

Welcome to Red Rock, where things are not always as they appear! A grifter finds himself involved with a murder-for-hire scheme and must contend with a deranged hitman, a corrupt cop and a woman who is more dangerous then she seems. A twisted western thriller that manages to make the most with its characters as they manage to make this movie a forgotten experience!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/13/24

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: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Red Rock Films
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