Breakdown (1997)

January 9, 2023 10:21 AM

On their cross-country drive, a married couple, Jeff (Kurt Russell) and Amy Taylor (Kathleen Quinlan), experience car trouble after an accident. Stranded in the New Mexico desert, the two catch a break when a passing truck driver, Red Barr (J.T. Walsh), offers to drive Amy to a nearby café to call for help. Meanwhile, Jeff is able to fix the car and make his way to the café, only to find his wife missing and Barr claiming ignorance. Jeff then begins a frenzied search for Amy.

Also starring M.C. Gainey, Jack Noseworthy, Rex Linn, Ritch Brinkley, Moira Sinise, Kim Robillard, Thomas Kopache, Jack McGee, Vincent Berry, Helen Duffy, Ancel Cook, Gene Hartline, Steve Waddington, Rick Sanders.

Directed and co-written by Jonathan Mostow (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines). Music by Basil Poledouris.

83% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

Currently streaming in the US on Epix. Also available for digital rental. JustWatch listing.

posted by DirtyOldTown (5 comments total)

Maximum JT Walsh. Recommended.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:39 AM on January 9, 2023 [1 favorite]

Just watched Breakdown a couple days ago! This was so infuriating, it does that (usually 1950s) film thing of characters annoying the f out of each other and yelling in faces instead of communicating. But it's got a great cast and is perfect for what it is.
posted by iamkimiam at 2:58 PM on January 9, 2023

Truly a terrifying movie.
posted by davidmsc at 11:45 PM on January 9, 2023

J.T. Walsh, patron saint of "Hey, it's that guy!". (See also: Dick Miller.)

I'll watch him in pretty much anything, and this is a pretty good film to watch him in.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 2:15 AM on January 10, 2023

I made the mistake of watching this picture a few days before I drove cross country from San Francisco to NYC. I spent the next day frantically calling car transport companies to see if they’d drive they car back for me while I flew back.
posted by holborne at 10:41 PM on January 10, 2023