Backflash (2001 Video) User Reviews

Die-hard Robert Patrick Fans only

[refinedsugar · 5/10 · 5 October 2003]

I'm barely ten minutes into this movie when I start thinking, "This is one of those movies where some naive bulb (Patrick) shacks up with the wrong person (Esposito) and gets burned in the process". Well after twenty minutes that's definitely the road this movie was heading down with Patrick playing the everyday joe who's fearful of being a failure and the sexy ex-con Esposito who tries to twist him around her little finger to fulfill her plans.

Patrick and Esposito's chemistry works fine enough and the film features a couple of funny bits, but the story gets pretty convoluted as it reaches into the third act and by the end it has only gotten worse. So when it's all said and done, Backflash has played out like any number of typical straight to video quickies. There's adequate atmosphere and it features some recognizable faces in the supporting cast, but there's little freshness in the story department. As a movie on it's own merits, it's average, but Robert Patrick fans will probably want to check it out.

Cheap B-flick

[=G= · 4/10 · 24 July 2002]

Take a simple-minded story and leave out parts so as to mystify the audience and then plug them in later so we can relish in the revelation. Rent a handful of 2nd tier talent. Drag the shots out because you can't afford to be busy...busy costs money. Pump up the atmospherics because they're cheap. Avoid expensive action like blazing fire fights and blow up a cardboard cabin instead. And, voila! You have "Backflash", a cheap B-movie set in the BFAZ desert which tells of a video store owner, a babe, and a bunch of mob heavies all trying to get their mits on some ill-gotten dinero. This no brainer explains everything with flashbacks so it would make an ideal soporific for the weary couch potato. (D+)

Reminds me a little of "Red Rock West" .........

[merklekranz · 6/10 · 12 October 2013]

Although "Backflash" does remind me a little of a superior film, "Red Rock West", with fine desert locations and plenty of guitar strums, the constant flash backs or should I say "backflashes" are both confusing and annoying. This is the type of twisty story that begs for a re-watch simply to determine if the outcome makes any sense, or is indeed playing games with the audience. The presence of actors Mike Starr and Michael J. Pollard is a nice touch, but the leads, Jennifer Esposito and Robert Patrick are difficult to embrace because of their generic characters. Special mention must be made of the soundtrack, which seems to have a strong Native American influence, and is quite good. - MERK

Lacking juice

[Wizard-8 · 4 April 2004]

For a low-budget movie, BACKFLASH looks pretty good. The cinematography is crisp and bright, and while some scenes look a little sparse at times, it never looks really cheap. The problem instead is with the screenplay. It plays like a first draft - scenes go by v-e-r-y slowly, when the story should play out quicker and tighter. There's no spark, and that includes the various twists and turns - you'll most likely have seen most of them before, so they aren't a surprise. The movie tries to jerk us around more near the end, but the twists in this part aren't believable and/or just lead to plot holes. And while Robert Patrick isn't a bad actor, he's wrong for a role that more belongs to someone who can convincingly play a little dim and not totally sure of things. And sadly, Michael J. Pollard is wasted in a role that just gives him two minutes of screen time at most.

Missed Opportunity

[weasel23 · 3/10 · 19 December 2002]

A massive missed opportunity by the makers of this movie. What should have been a sizzling tale of betrayal and intrigue is turned into a by the numbers 3a.m TV slot filler. Robert Patrick coasts his way through the movie, putting in a bare minimum effort to draw his paycheck. Jennifer Esposito is shockingly under-used by the director, when she should have been setting the screen alight as the sultry temptress. Colm Meaney is reduced to comic relief when he could have been much more sinister.

At the end of the day, with a spring clean of the script to tighten up the dialogue and a decent director, you could remake this movie with exactly the same cast and turn a rating of '3' into a '9'. Sorry Mr Philip J Jones (Producer/ Writer/ Director), trying to do it all yourself was a wrong move.

REALLY LIKED IT,DEFINITELY WORTH WATCHING

[spanky6666 · 7/10 · 25 June 2003]

This really is a nice little movie,definitely worth watching!

The entire movie plays in a desert environment,really an alien looking place to one who lives in Belgium,like me... It's filled with strange people ,the cameraman did an outstanding job of shooting atmospheric images and the music too adds a lot to the atmosphere... See the other reviews to learn more about the content of this movie.

It last only for about 87 minutes but is definitely a time well spend!

Counterpoint

[weasel23 · 3/10 · 20 June 2002]

Warning; The plot of this movie is so thin, some of this might be considered spoilers.

Backflash is not a brilliant film. Yes, Jennifer Esposito is attractive and surely destined for great things, and Melissa Joan Hart makes the most of her small role, but in general the film falls flat. The majority of the roles are lifeless with little chance to build character beyond stereotypes. Robert Patrick's sudden shift in demeanour half way through is jarring, and never explained even with the final revelations. The twisty plot just does not gel, mainly because it's full of holes. Why did they need a patsy? Why was RP SO mild mannered before the crack on the head? Why didn't that annoying song wake him up, but the alarm clock did? In general, this was the kind of film you normally find spiced up with sex and violence to cover the holes. A pity they didn't consider that here.

Slow Screenplay

[joanmiller-68139 · 3/10 · 7 April 2020]

Patrick and Esposito's chemistry works fine and there is a dash of fun but after the first half it lost its charisma and story becomes worsen. The cinematography is quite bright but the screenplay is pretty slow and lost the spark.

Backtrash

[Oslo_Jargo · 4/10 · 12 July 2016]

Backflash (2002) could have been a decent little movie, but it tries too hard to be unique and original. By the time the loop-sided ending comes around, it's such a mess that it isn't even clever or worthy. Jennifer Esposito is ridiculous as an ex-con "tough broad". She doesn't even look like she could harm a flea.

Robert Patrick is pretty much boring as a video store owner who gets stuck into trouble when picking up hitchhiker Jennifer Esposito.

The film has a nice desert setting where it is desolate. The acting is made up of TV character actors who aren't that good or strong. Colm Meaney (Star Trek: The Next Generation) does his best to imitate a hard as nails gangster, with weak results.

Funny and entertaining. Dark comedy at it's best.

[laurakarma · 10/10 · 3 December 2001]

The camera loves Jennifer Esposito in this dark comedy. Great acting and directing, this film takes you on a ride through crime and sick humor. Melissa Joan Hart is hilarious in this film. If you like Quentin Tarantino films, you'll love this one.

If you flash past this movie back up and give it a go.

[RPcrazy · 10/10 · 23 March 2002]

I've nominated this as my favourite movie in the IMDb survey. It is funny, quirky, love the music, love the story, there are some terrific lines, great cast line-up and above all my all time favourite actor Robert Patrick (RP) stars.

Why did I choose this as the best movie? Apart from sexy RP's involvement I can see myself watching it over and over again. It is a fun, light-hearted movie with an action-packed ending.

<<Harley (Jennifer Esposito): Mind if I smoke?

Ray (Robert Patrick): Actually I do. It's not good for you. Second hand smoke's not good for you either. Please? (Yes - you go RP!)>>

If you've seen other RP movies you'll notice he's given up smoking since.

To all RP enthusiasts I recommend this movie as an addition to your ever increasing video libraries.

RPcrazy

Melissa stands out (and alone)

[mhanusek2001 · 5 August 2002]

In this film, Melissa Joan Hart leaves Sabrina behind and gives a hilariously sarcastic and sexy performance as a wise-ass, hard-drinking, prostitute-turned-back room mortician. Unfortunately, Melissa's screen time is limited and the viewer is left with a film that mostly comes across as an edited-for-television version of itself. Think Wild Things with all the sex removed and Bill Murray's screen time cut dramatically. My recommendation is to use scene select to watch Melissa prove she can really deliver as an actress, then go watch Body Heat.

Cool old-fashioned B-movie

[inframan · 8/10 · 10 February 2005]

Gritty business. Very entertaining.

Low Budget. No flashy stuff. Sexy leading lady, good character actors. Parched-out desert locales. Cryptic but effective script with plenty of good twists.

This is the kind of movie John Payne made when he switched from playing handsome singing A-leads to laconic tough guys back in the 1950s. Kansas City Confidential, for example.

Later on Lance Hendricksen did a lot of good stuff like this. Maybe Robert Patrick is the new LH.

What more could you ask for?

NOTHING TO REMEMBER BACK IN THERE

[kulabas · 16 February 2004]

To make a great movie sometimes all you need is a good director;not big stars, or huge special effects.The problem of this movie is this;the lack of a good direction.The idea and the story is good and Robert Patrick is enough for this one.But there is no one behind the camera to put it all into an order,to shoot memorable scenes or to create strong characters.In the screenplay there are a lot of logical mistakes but they could be put into a right way with someone who knows what to do.

Director wants to make a movie about crime,lie,people who can not be trusted or can not trust each other.And also he wants to add some kind of romance.We all see how this type of film-noir can be done perfectly by Tarantino,Coen Brothers and absolutely 'Red Rock West' by John Dahl.Besides all the mistakes in the script,lack of character analyzes this movie needs memorable dialogs,quotes,and a song.Sometimes a dialog or a song makes you remember a movie.But this one misses all of them;script,dialogs,music,characters.Speaking of characters am I the only one who is looking for a strong femme-fatale character?

I think this movie is more like to be watched to learn the things not to do in a film-noir.A good idea is not always enough and this one shows everything to turn this good idea upside down.