Customer Reviews

Backfire

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This UK-based ITC Productions 93-minute 1987 film fits comfortably in the same genre as "Above Suspicion" (Christopher Reeve), "Murder by Natural Causes" (Hal Holbrook), and "Death Trap" (Christopher Reeve and Michael Caine): not strictly murder mysteries, but close.

Non-working Donny (Jeff Fahey) isolates himself on a small Pacific-northwest island in an elaborate mansion inherited with sister Jill (Dinah Manoff) from the estate of their late rich parents. He is having terrible, repetitive flashback dreams of his Vietnam battlefield experiences which spill over into his waking hours. He also obsesses that wife Mara (Karen Allen) has unwholesome side interests in old flame Jake (Dean Paul Martin) - perhaps also part of Donny's post-traumatic stresses? Enterprising and money-conscious Mara, a local timber mill manager from the more deprived side of the social tracks, thinks Donny's mental state is deteriorating and attempts to deal with the situation as she deems best. Enter mysterious stranger Reed (Keith Carridine) who seems ready to fill any gaps that may develop; followed by Clinton James (Bernie Casey, Martian Chronicles' Spender) as the suspicious, nosy sheriff who gets involved when Jake disappears and things start snapping.

This tidy thriller has an engagingly convoluted plot; surprises even for the jaded; good British Columbia cinematography; fine acting and direction; realistic dialog; and a fairly good script (but with better reasons available, why did Mara return home during the night just because no one answered the phone?) With some ambiguities, this film is untainted by obvious Hollywood-style plot meddling, gratuitous sex and gore, and juvenility.

Originally filmed in Panavision, the unfortunate aspect ratio of this DVD is 4x3, though (remaining) picture and sound are fine. Hardly a profound masterpiece, but for the price, this entertaining film is nevertheless a pretty good buy.

I was always foolled by sexy or flashy covers when I was younger, not so much now, but a good cover still attracts me, and the cover for the video tape of this film did make me want to hire it, and we're talking a long time ago. Twenty years ago in fact!! The cover of the video had a woman's pair of legs and she was holding a gun in her hand and of course, I was tempted to get it out for that alone. But I refused.

It took all this time and little did I know it would become so rare, but having finally got it, all I can say is, I am so glad I did. It was an absolutely cracking psychological thriller, with a brilliant twist.

The cast itself should have given me hope of a decent package, Karen Allen, Keith Carradine and Jeff Fahey, all three of whom have hardly ever let us down. Their work is usually top notch, even if not all of it is to my taste. But that alone even wasn't enough to tempt me back then. But they were all in great form and a very clever script, eerie tension throughout and some steamy scenes between Keith Carradine and Karen Allen, who sort of played the villain of this film all made it worth it. She was such a bitch!!! And Karen Allen has a lovely body which she shows off a bit in this film, for the first time if I'm not mistaken.

There were clever twists and turns throughout and it had that sense of mystery and intrigue that really felt like an old eighties suspense shocker. It took me right back and it was terrific. And the ending was so damn good, I was quite breathtaken.

All I can say is well done indeed to Messers Allen, Carradine and Fahey for coming up with such a great piece, which was actually worth twenty years of thinking about seeing it!!!

A long time ago I thought about it, and now my curiosity is finally satisfied. Strange though how some of these films become so rare.

BRILLIANT BACKFIRE!!!

For anyone who enjoys a solid mystery with good, interesting characters, Backfire is the movie. Seemingly missed among mainstream movies, this one is a breath of fresh air when compared to the many lackluster, computerized movies Hollywood seems to produce today. Excellent movie with surprising ending.