Jonathan Mostow and Sam Montgomery wrote a captivating story that was directed by Mostow into the 1997 thriller Breakdown. Featuring Kurt Russell in an intense role, the movie makes a road misadventure into a life-or-death crime thriller that can make a drowsy viewer sit upright in his chair till the closing credits roll.
Russell plays an average guy, Jeff Taylor, moving from Boston to California along with his wife Amy (Kathleen Quinlan) in their new jeep. But their vehicle breaks down by the desert near California. Amy gets a lift from the driver (J. T. Walsh) of a tractor‑trailer to go to the nearby diner to make a phone call for help. But she never returns, leading to a frantic search by Jeff whose own life is on the line in a murderous plot he is about to uncover.
Breakdown is a riveting thriller with relatable characters and situations. Mostow’s directorial talent shows in the perfect proportion of action, adventure, dialogue, and mystery that all fit neatly into the tightly written plot and deliver an impactful story. The filming locations and cinematography literally take you to the scene across the screen.
Russell as Jeff comes as the ideal blend of two elements that are at the core of a good thriller: vulnerability and desperation. Even with fewer plot twists but good revelations at the right moment, these drive the story with interest and intensity to the finish line. Mostow’s pacing of the events is pitch-perfect. Not overdoing it really paid off for this ride down the road of danger in a place where you hope not to cross its path.
When this reviewer wrote on a social media post that Breakdown seems worth watching, a fan of the movie commented, “You’re in for a treat.” He was right. This is a nothing less than a treat for all thriller fans.
