Switchback

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1:47

Switchback

R

Released Oct 31, 1997

1h 58m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

31%

Tomatometer

26 Reviews

46%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

After his son is kidnapped by a notorious serial killer, FBI agent Frank LaCrosse (Dennis Quaid) 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 (R. Lee Ermey). 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 kidnapper.

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Critics Consensus

Burdened by its heavy load of digressive plots turns and uneven performances, Switchback never gains any sense of narrative momentum.

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Mike Clark

USA Today

Quaid is a one-note sadsack here and no natural action hero.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Time and again the movie fascinates us with digressions, only to jerk back to the helpless main story line.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Mal Vincent

The Virginian-Pilot

One wishes Quaid could loosen up enough to smile at least once.

Rated: 2/4

Mar 14, 2022

Full Review

Lori Hoffman

Atlantic City Weekly

A superb, underrated drama

Rated: 4/5

Dec 7, 2006

Full Review

Caffeinated Clint

Moviehole

High-class thriller, with a superb turn by Quaid

Rated: 3/5

Mar 11, 2006

Full Review

Jake Euker

F5 (Wichita, KS)

Rated: 3/5

Oct 10, 2005

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Vincent F

Switchback is Another a diabolical killer that needs to be stopped flick but it does have some surprises. And the performances from Danny glover and R. lee ermey are amazing.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/01/24

Full Review

Will K

Danny Glover was outstanding. Casting and cast were very good. Switchback - just like the winding roads ... yes there were constant switchbacks throughout the script. Some may not have liked that - but, in this case, I thought they added more fun and suspense. Eventually we found out who "dun-nit", but then it was fun watching to figure out who among the characters would figure it out. It was also uplifting to see that even among rivals - integrity won out. BTW - I can't tell you how happy I am to see a movie were - NOT ONCE - did anyone play the race-card! It didn't matter what color one's skin was! How refreshing! Yes, classic Hollywood treatment - especially toward the end - one "cliff-hanger" after another (literally as well as figuratively). And the psychopathic killer - a mastermind? was just a little too brilliant to be believable (the manipulations and traps he set for Quaid's character). But hey, it's a movie and I was entertained. Cinematic masterpiece? ... of course not. and it's unfortunate that it did not receive higher ratings, but I give it a solid 60%

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/11/23

Full Review

Farah R

Not a bad thriller, but not a good film. Switchback had the potential to be better in plot devices and suspense building, but it played it too safe, and the result is lackluster, however entertaining.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/02/23

Full Review

Steve D

Ok but there are no surprises to be found.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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Audience Member

Strong cast with an unconventional plot makes it captivate throughout, but very predictable. It is a 100% guy movie though, and those are rarer and rarer to just come across while browsing so maybe I did score it a touch too high. WHAT!?!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

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Audience Member

Very good movie. Keeps you guessing till the end. Loved it in 97 and good watch in 2022. They don't make movies like this anymore.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

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Jeb Stuart

Director

Dennis Quaid

Frank LaCrosse

Danny Glover

Bob Goodall

Jared Leto

Lane Dixon

R. Lee Ermey

Sheriff Buck Olmstead

Ted Levine

Deputy Nate Booker

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Switchback: Trailer 1

1:47

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Synopsis

After his son is kidnapped by a notorious serial killer, FBI agent Frank LaCrosse (Dennis Quaid) 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 (R. Lee Ermey). 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 kidnapper.

Director: Jeb Stuart
Producer: Gale Anne Hurd
Screenwriter: Jeb Stuart
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Rysher Entertainment, Pacific Western
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 31, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.5M
Runtime: 1h 58m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, Surround
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Scope (2.35:1)

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