Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Switchback

Play trailer 1:47 Poster for Switchback R Released Oct 31, 1997 1h 58m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 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.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

Switchback

Switchback

What to Know

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (26) Critics Reviews
Susan Stark Detroit News Rated: 1/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Steve Davis Austin Chronicle Rated: 2/5 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Mike Clark USA Today Quaid is a one-note sadsack here and no natural action hero. 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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (157) audience reviews
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 Full Review barry b It was so promising a script, wrong actors! Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews
Switchback

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Kiss the Girls 34% 62% Kiss the Girls Watchlist Snake Eyes 43% 35% Snake Eyes Watchlist Nick of Time 30% 47% Nick of Time Watchlist TRAILER for Nick of Time Jade 16% 43% Jade Watchlist Jennifer Eight 36% 39% Jennifer Eight Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

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)
Most Popular at Home Now