One False Move (1992)

A small town police chief awaits the arrival of a gang of killers.

Director:

Carl Franklin

Writers:

Billy Bob Thornton, Tom Epperson

Stars:

Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton, Cynda Williams

8 wins & 8 nominations.

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

Storyline

In Los Angeles, after a violent drug rip-off, the Los Angeles Police Department detectives find the identity of the trio - the sadistic I.Q. of 150 and college graduate Lenny "Pluto" Franklyn; his not so bright buddy in San Quentin Ray Malcolm; and his girlfriend Fantasia. Their further investigation indicates that the criminals are fleeing to Star City, Arkanas, and LAPD detective Dud Cole and his partner John McFeely contact the local Chief of Police Dale 'Hurricane' Dixon and they head to the little town. The yokel family man Dale, who is used to resolve domestic issues, is fascinated with the chance to participate of a manhunt and befriends the two detectives. But when he sees the picture of Fantasia, he recognizes her as Lila Walker and is haunted by his past, hiding a secret about Lila Walker.

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Plot Keywords:

police | small town | drugs | arkansas | neo noir | 

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Taglines:

Nothing is as dangerous as the past.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and language, and for drug content

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 May 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hurricane

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,543,112

Company Credits

Production Co:

IRS Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When the film was completed, the original plan was to release it straight to video. Stronger than expected word of mouth convinced the distributor to send it to theaters. The late critic Gene Siskel voted this film as his favorite of 1992.

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Goofs

Ray slaps Jackie when she's against the wall, makes her mouth bleed, and some gets on her shirt. Later, when she's bound and gagged on the floor, the blood has disappeared.

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Quotes

Dale 'Hurricane' Dixon: I figure we can wait up in the woods. The bad folks show up... we'll put the stopper in the bottle like
[snaps fingers]
Dale 'Hurricane' Dixon: that.

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Connections

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

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Soundtracks

Jesus Is Leading Me
Performed by Reverend Julian Turner
Written and Produced by Michael Sutton (as Michael) and Brenda Sutton
© 1991 Mibren Music (ASCAP) and Illegal Film Music (ASCAP)

User Reviews

Scary, twisty, clever, unpredictable. First rate!

This low budget, award winning Indie film is a bitter and gritty crime thriller, not for the faint hearted. It involves a slow witted but good hearted southern sheriff (Paxton) of a small town, who's a bit too talky and a bit too slow witted for his own good. He gets in over his head tangling with on-the-lam, murderous drug dealing thugs escaping from Los Angeles and heading to his small, rural town of Star City, Arkansas, where they plan to hide out at friend's house. This film quickly becomes chilling, horrific and riveting. The female drug dealer named Fantasia, a sultry fox of a black woman, has a terrible secret that complicates the entire situation in this southern crime tale. Billy Bob Thornton's screenplay is superb, as is his acting (and that of his co-stars including Michael Beech and Bill Paxton), which helps us identify, if not quite like the character 'Ray'. The haunting climax aided by a well used blues soundtrack is also worthy of specific recognition, but in short this movie will not disappoint any audience appreciating an interesting story.

Modelled on a High Noon good guys Vs bad guys like destiny, narrative also has little observations on racism and the class divide between big city America and small town Americana. Sly little reveals in the script such as a policeman's alcohol problem show good attention to detail by the makers. While Franklin has a wonderful way with his camera, only revealing enough for us to fill in the blanks, and often his camera is used as a character POV device, with close ups and cuts blending seamlessly with mood of the story. The cast are uniformly strong, with the stand outs Williams, Paxton and Thornton reaching down deep to give their respective characters some stunning grittiness, doling out sadness, misguidedness and rage with a believability that's as impressive as it is riveting to watch.

Overall rating: 9 out of 10.