Backfire (1988)

Mara, the wife who wants more... Jake, the lover she wants more of... Donny, the husband the war almost destroyed... Reed, the stranger who answers everyone's darkest prayers. Mara and ... See full summary »

Director:

Gilbert Cates

Writers:

Larry Brand, Rebecca Reynolds

Stars:

Karen Allen, Keith Carradine, Jeff Fahey

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Karen Allen	...	Mara McAndrew
Keith Carradine	...	Reed
Jeff Fahey	...	Donnie McAndrew
Bernie Casey	...	Clinton James
Dean Paul Martin	...	Jake
Virginia Capers	...	Maxine
Philip Sterling	...	Dr. Creason
Dinah Manoff	...	Jill
Frances Flanagan	...	Claire
Antony Holland	...	Judge Hardin
Dwight Koss	...	Deputy 'Buzz'
Gordon McIntosh	...	Big George
Wendy Van Riesen	...	Alice
Eric Schneider	...	Dr. Cooper
Enid Saunders	...	Aunt Elizabeth

Storyline

Mara, the wife who wants more... Jake, the lover she wants more of... Donny, the husband the war almost destroyed... Reed, the stranger who answers everyone's darkest prayers. Mara and Donny are the ideal couple, young, rich and attractive. Only the horrible nightmares of Vietnam that haunt Donny flaw their perfect life. The fury of artillery, the screams of the wounded, and the ominous putt-putt of choppers rage within him and suddenly, there is blood everywhere...Betrayal, deceit and murder ignite the tension. Is that only a backfire, or is someone firing back?

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Plot Keywords:

tension | murder | vietnam | shower | catatonic state | 

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Taglines:

Before the night is over, someone will be rich, someone will be dead, someone will be avenged.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 June 1988 (Portugal)

Also Known As:

Ambición mortal

Filming Locations:

Saanichton, Central Saanich, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

ITC Entertainment Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the last film of Dean-Paul Martin

User Reviews

Worth a watch

A shell shocked Vietnam Vet (played by Jeff Fahey) is driven over the brink by his greedy wife (Karen Allen) and her boyfriend.

Although the idea of this film is pretty interesting, and the cast is pretty good, unfortunately the script is not good enough to really make the story work. This makes the movie kind of predictable. Karen Allen chews up the scenery, and steams up the screen in a few nude scenes, as the greedy young wife born on the wrong side of the tracks in a small town.

Overall this movie is worth a watch, especially if you are a Karen Allen fan, but not nearly as great as it could be.