Review of Breakdown (1997) by Asim R — 02 Sep 2007

Great thriller with another solid performance from underrated Kurt Russell.

Breakdown is a thriller that depicts the nightmare what if scenario of a road trip in the middle of no where gone wrong. The movie focuses on how the lead Kurt Russell (underrated in my view) loses his wife after they break down in a backward US town and how the locals are potentially involved. Breakdown is a thriller despite what may sound as a recipe for another teen horror slasher with crazed cannibal murderers who wield axes, chainsaws or funny laughs. The villains whilst driven by greed as opposed to insanity are truly evil and the late JT Walsh successfully conjures up a strong hatred from the viewer. Breakdown is a simple thriller that is not overtly ambitious in plot development, action sequences or special effects. It relies on its characters, a fast pace that keeps viewer interest from start to finish and a sense of tension. Strong performances from all leading characters, careful direction and good plot development combine to create what the viewer perceives as a realistic sequence of events that is all the more horrifying since one continuously can put themselves in Russell's shoes. Acting Chameleon Russell is successful in depicting your average Joe facing a desperate situation. The viewer has a natural affinity for his character and he delivers another good performance. Breakdown is one of the few thrillers that actually works given its acting performances, plot development, pace and its ability to stick to what keeps the viewer interested whilst not being overly ambitious. The director (John Mostow) went on to direct Terminator 3 for which he is likely to burn in hell. However, Breakdown provides its audience with a very entertaining evening and a movie that stands up well to repeat viewings.