Breakdown [DVD] [1998]

Russell, as the helpless pawn of Walsh, is superb, and you see him becoming half-crazed, as he finds himself in a desert twilight zone, unable to get answers to his dilemma...the look in his eyes when Walsh tells him "time to get the show on the road" is a memorable moment in the film.
Quinlan looks stunning, with a natural sensuality that is a rare thing to see these days, and though her screen-time is relatively short, she is one of the ingredients that help make this film believable.
Beautiful cinematography by Doug Milstone of locations in California, Nevada and Utah, and a wonderful score Basil Poledouris add a lot to the film.
Strangely, knowing the ending doesn't diminish the tension of this film...it's a gem that doesn't lose its luster even after several viewings.
Total running time is 93 minutes.

Before I go into the film I would like to ask you this. Have you ever broken down on a road and as a car pulls up to help, a tiny thought triggers in your brain that maybe they could mean you harm as you sit stranded? Breakdown amplifies that fear. The reason why the film works, for me, is that the tag line "It could happen to you" rings true. The Exorcist didn't scare me but this did. However, if you do prefer supernatural thrillers you are not going to be happy with this.

Before I saw it I remember Barry Norman commenting "The reason why the film works is that the hero is not superhuman and does nothing superhuman." or something like that. And it is true, Kurt Russell's hero runs around like a rabbit stuck in headlights. Suffice to say Kurt Russell is wonderfully as the unfortunate Jeff.

The tension is thick in this film and not one setup is badly handled. The villain is an utterly terrifying truck driver, a man whose every twitch oozes icy malice. When Kurt Russell final turns the tables it is wonderfully satisfying.

Breakdown offers nothing really that new but it wonderfully succeeds on its own terms.

What Russell does bring to his role is a complete normality in the way he plays it. There's no superman type stunts here, no ripped shirt heroics as Kurt leaps into actions and beats the baddies to a pulp. On the contrary, here is a regular man who has just had his normal mundane world turned upside-down, trying to battle against a foe he doesn't really understand to save the woman he loves. Russell's act is that of a man thrown in a perilous situation he cannot comprehend, his animal caught in a trap expression is exactly what the role calls for and heightens the tension brilliantly. His actions also are truly believable, what happens when he first overcomes one of the baddies and the police re-appear? Does he overcome the State Trooper also and then commandeer his patrol car to race to his wife's rescue? No he throws himself on the understanding of the authorities believing they will help him, such is his conviction in the normal way of things.

As I say, I hadn't really heard of many of the supporting cast before watching the film although I did recognise them from their other outings as the film progresses. J T Walsh, whom viewers will remember from his outing in "A Few Good Men" gives a pretty good account of himself as the "lead baddie". Indeed it is his very "ordinary-ness" that makes his performance that little more chilling. M C Gainey (ConAir) with a face that only a mother can love and Jack Noseworthy, a sort of cheaper version of Christian Slater are likewise good value as Walsh's henchmen. Kathleen Quinlan also deserves plaudits for her nice performance as Russell's wife, again a most realistic and competent routine.

All in all a very credible and tense thriller that uses all the tools to increase the pressure. Both the scenery and the music are great additions to great performances from the whole cast.