SWITCHBACK

US, 1997, 113 minutes, Colour.
Dennis Quaid, Danny Glover, Jared Leto, Ted Levine, R. Lee Ermy, William Fichtner.
Directed by Jeff Stuart.

Switchback is a thriller, written and directed by the co-writer of Die Hard and the writer of The Fugitive. It is a story of the pursuit of a serial killer, played with breezy charm and sinister malice by Danny Glover. Dennis Quaid is the FBI agent tracking him, his son having been kidnapped by Glover, Quaid offers a rather grim and morose but effective performance. R. Lee Ermy, a character actor in many films from Full Metal Jacket on, has a much more substantial role in this film as a hard-nosed sheriff on the day of election, but one with compassion and a search for the truth. Ted Levine is his assistant. William Fichtner is the rival candidate for sheriff, egoistic but not without final compassion. Jared Leto is very good as the enigmatic young travelling companion for Glover, a suspect for the murders, but set up by Glover with malice aforethought.

The contrivances and coincidences in the plot do not bear thinking of afterwards, they would seem highly improbable. However, given the characterisations and the pace, while one is watching the film, one accepts the pursuit. There are some action sequences at the end, car crashes, fights on trains.

The film did not receive a wide circulation and release.

1. Entertaining police investigation thriller? The portrait of a serial killer?

2. Amarillo, Texas, the Texas locations, the Colorado mountains, winter? The action sequences, cars on the ice, the fight on the train? The musical score?

3. The title, its reference to Bob, his work on the railways, clearing the tracks for the trains through the Rockies?

4. The opening sequence, the man at the door, the babysitter, the menace, her being murdered, the taking of the boy? The effect on his father, his pursuit? The fact that he was still alive - Bob giving the address to Lane? The recovery of the boy at the end?

5. The focus on the murders in Amarillo, the mystery, the setting of the election for sheriff, the rivalries, the use of the media, one-upmanship? Buck and his earnestness, the long years in office, Nate as his assistant? His concern? Jack, his ambitions, muscling in on the investigations? The scenes at the motel, the clues? The mysterious young man? The assault, the family under siege, the criminal and his holding the knife, Frank's arrival, going right into the siege, confronting the man, getting the family out, shooting the criminal in the leg? Jack and his wanting to proclaim him the killer? Buck preferring to listen to Frank?

6. Frank, his arrival, the FBI? Morose and taciturn? Well-dressed? His role in the siege? The FBI ringing Buck to tell him to hold him, that he was off the case? His attitude towards Jack, the issues of the guilt of the man holding the family? His not being the murderer? The information, Frank and his getting the local police on-side? The confrontation with the criminal's lawyer, the demands the lawyer made, his being beaten down?

7. The intercutting of the sequences of Bob? On the highway, giving the lift to Lane (Lane and his previous lift with the family, on the road, waiting for hours, Bob picking him up)? The car with the photos of the women? Bob's story about the car? Being genial, letting Lane off when he requested? Lane and the fight in the bar, the accusations? Bob and the rescue, tough with the gun and the knife? Their leaving together? The bond between the two? Bob and his getting the car fixed by Shorty (and later killing him)? Everybody friendly with Bob, his previous work on the railroad? The going into the shop, confronting the girl - and Lane coming in and preventing any violence? Staying the night in the motel after crashing the car, the crash, the rescue of Bob, Lane getting his case but falling over the cliff, the rescue? The town, the men talking about the murders, the television report? Lane and his holding the gun on Bob, Bob and his smooth explanations? The going on the train? The hearing of the old man on the train talking about the killings, the box of matches with the address? The murder of the old man? The fight between Bob and Lane?

8. Lane and his background, enigmatic, his story, medical skills, pulling out? His helping the old man choking with medical precision? His suspicions of Bob? Those being allayed? The fight with Bob? Bob and his personality, genial, audience knowledge about the eighteen killings? His motivations - unclear?

9. Frank and Bob, the murders, the FBI investigations, the pursuit, the challenges to Frank, the abduction of the boy? The card and the clues? The train? Frank and his getting to the town, crashing the car? His going over the mountain, dropping onto the train? Saving Lane, fighting with Bob? Bob's death? Lane and his injuries, giving the address to Frank?

10. The FBI putting Buck in jail, Nate's opinion? Jack letting him out? The pursuit? Jack winning the election? Buck and his acceptance of it?

11. The action sequences, the nature of the pursuit, the work of the FBI, police investigations, serial killers?