Switchback

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1:47

Switchback

R

1997

1h 58m

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

32%

Tomatometer

25 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

Jan 1, 2000

2/4

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

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 2000

2/4

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

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Mal Vincent

The Virginian-Pilot

Mar 14, 2022

2/4

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

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Lori Hoffman

Atlantic City Weekly

Dec 7, 2006

4/5

A superb, underrated drama

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Caffeinated Clint

Moviehole

Mar 11, 2006

3/5

High-class thriller, with a superb turn by Quaid

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Jake Euker

F5 (Wichita, KS)

Oct 10, 2005

3/5

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Tom B.

@RT37211778 Feb 27, 2026

Ok for a rainy day..

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Sean M.

@Thymeout Jan 29, 2026

A good way to discover film making in the 90’s. All over the place yet the filming of some of the scenes had to be dfficult. Good to always see R.Lee Emeryand his scratchy voice and personality!

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Sidney W

@RT14308198 Nov 28, 2025

Its a 90s modern western with some great plot twists, a lot of great action footage, and some cool one liners. Dont believe these idiot "critics", most of them are dead or dont know their ass from a hole in the ground.

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Vincent F

@RT65343698 Aug 1, 2024

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.

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Will K

@RT46204403 Sep 11, 2023

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%

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Farah R

@Farah May 2, 2023

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.

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Jeb Stuart

Director

Dennis Quaid

Frank LaCrosse

Danny Glover

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Switchback: Trailer 1

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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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