IMDb > One False Move (1992)
One False Move
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One False Move (1992) More at IMDbPro »


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Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   3,672 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Billy Bob Thornton (written by) &
Tom Epperson (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for One False Move on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
8 May 1992 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
All it takes to bring him down is one bullet... one woman or... One False Move. more
Plot:
With the assistance of two Los Angeles Police Department detectives, Star City, Arkansas Police Chief... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
6 wins & 7 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(5 articles)
User Comments:
Not what it seems to be more (49 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Bill Paxton ... Dale 'Hurricane' Dixon
Cynda Williams ... Fantasia - Lila

Billy Bob Thornton ... Ray Malcolm

Michael Beach ... Pluto

Jim Metzler ... Dud Cole

Earl Billings ... McFeely
Natalie Canerday ... Cheryl Ann
Robert Ginnaven ... Charlie
Robert Anthony Bell ... Byron
Kevin Hunter ... Ronnie
Phyllis Kirklin ... Mrs. Walker
Meredith 'Jeta' Donovan ... Bonnie
Jimmy Bridges ... Bobby (as James D. Bridges)
Phyllis Sutton ... Jackie

Derrick Williams ... Darren
more
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Additional Details

Runtime:
105 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The script was originally titled "Hurricane". more
Goofs:
Continuity: When we first see the dead girl in the yard, her eyes are open. A few minutes later, they are closed. more
Quotes:
Cheryl Ann: He don't know no better, he watches television. I read non-fiction. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Film Geek (2005) more
Soundtrack:
Don't Walk Away from Love more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
23 out of 25 people found the following comment useful.
Not what it seems to be, 1 April 2002
8/10
Author: frankfob from California

At first glance, "One False Move" would seem to be just one more "cops vs. psycho cocaine killers" movie, but it's actually quite a bit more than that. It shows us what we first take as stereotypes, then throws them back at us: clean-cut, good-looking, intelligent (black) Pluto (Michael Beach) and beady-eyed, slovenly, foul-mouthed, slack-jawed trailer-trash (white) Ray Malcolm (Billy Bob Thornton) are partnered with beautiful black call girl Phantasia (Cynda Williams) in a rip-off of some Hollywood coke dealers. The robbery turns into a horrific massacre--instigated by Pluto, who, it turns out, is a heartless, remorseless serial killer whose few pleasures in life include slicing up his victims with a knife. And, as it also turns out, Phantasia isn't Pluto's girlfriend, as would seem logical, but she's with Malcolm, who looks and acts like he should be on a recruiting poster for the Ku Klux Klan--and who, for all his outward bluster, tough talk and murderous appearance, is actually the weaker of the two men by far, and almost totally under the thumb of the icy, cold-blooded Pluto, of whom he appears (with good reason) to be terrified.

The L.A. police eventually discover the trio's identities, and their investigation leads them to believe that the killers are headed for an Arkansas backwater called Star City, so they send two homicide detectives there to help the local sheriff apprehend them. In this film, though, even the two "sophisticated", big-city cops aren't exactly what they seem, either; one is an easygoing, slow-talking, overweight black guy, the other is a good-looking, stereotypical "Joe Friday" type white guy who, as it turns out, has his own demons to deal with. Even the Star City sheriff, a young, garrulous "bubba" (Bill Paxton, in a first-rate job) excited by the prospect of doing some "real" police work with some "real" big-city cops, turns out to have more of an interest in this case than just a purely law enforcement one.

This is a crackerjack movie, with no big stars but chock full of good, solid character actors, an inventive, well written script (by Thornton) and direction by Carl Franklin that brings to mind the best of Don Siegel, Phil Karlson, Joseph H. Lewis and other noir icons of the '40s and '50s. A clever, sharp, tough (it does contain some quite graphic violence) and twisted--in the best sense of the word--thriller from start to finish. Don't miss it.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for One False Move (1992)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Tense movie from beginning to end.... hannahp1
what's with the stabbing? goganational
Hidden Gem of a movie! glenmoreland
Entertaining joshg91362
Question about ending (spoiler) miz bell
Pluto v. Ray in Hotel rsr26
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