Breakdown

There’s little doubt that Breakdown remains one of the most effective and flat-out engrossing thrillers within recent cinematic history, as the film, anchored by star Kurt Russell’s engaging performance, boasts a blistering pace that’s perpetuated by several absolutely enthralling action sequences. The movie’s irresistible premise – mild-mannered Jeff Taylor (Russell) must take matters into his own hands after his wife (Kathleen Quinlan’s Amy) is kidnapped by a mysterious trucker (J.T. Walsh’s Red) – is backed by Jonathan Mostow and Sam Montgomery’s consistently (and surprisingly) plausible screenplay, and it consequently goes without saying that the viewer is quickly forced to place themselves in the central character’s increasingly harried shoes. Director Mostow offers up a tight narrative that’s almost exhausting in its relentlessness, as the palpably suspenseful opening hour gives way to a thrilling third act that’s nothing short of electrifying (with the movie’s final 20 minutes especially riveting). Russell’s top-notch turn as Breakdown‘s everyman protagonist is effortlessly matched by an impressive roster of supporting performers, with Jeff’s inevitable triumph over the impressively sinister quartet of villains, Walsh’s Red, M.C. Gainey’s Earl, Jack Noseworthy’s Billy, and Ritch Brinkley’s Al, as gratifyingly vicarious as one might’ve hoped (and the appreciatively painful manner with which Jeff extracts information out of Earl is a clear highlight). The end result is a near flawless thriller that holds up just as well today as it did upon its original theatrical release, and it’s ultimately impossible to envision even those viewers with an inherent grudge against the genre walking away dissatisfied.

**** out of ****