Breakdown

The Force Awakens isn't the only big movie opening this month. Quentin Tarantino's latest, The Hateful Eight, opens in limitied release this Friday.So this week, I thought I'd look back at some forgotten gems from some of those eight. First up, Kurt Russell in 1997's Breakdown.

Jeff and Amy Taylor, Russell and Kathleen Quinlan, are a married couple traveling cross country when their vehicle breaks down. A truck driver named Red, J.T. Walsh, stops and offers them help and offers Amy a ride to the next town so she can call for help. Reluctant at first, they agree. After she takes off, Jeff notices that someone has tampered with his battery cords. He reconnects them and gets the vehicle started Heading into the next town to look for Amy, Jeff has no luck. He goes to the sherriff and they track down Red, who says he has never seen Jeff in his life. Jeff soon finds out that Red and a bunch of his thug friends are holding her ransom. Having no funds, Jeff sets out to rescue his wife and get revenge on her captors.

This is an intense movie. It's somewhat like The Vanishing, but so much better. Director Jonathon Mostow really knows how to build the suspense. Russell is perfect as a man at the end of his rope. Also perfect is J.T. Walsh as the evil Red.

It was hard picking a Russell movie. I recently did Used Cars, but he has so many films that have seem to be forgotten. His best work is with John Carpenter, but all of those films are instant classics. I think this is one that people don't seem to remember and is a real showcase for Russell.

If you want an edge of your seat ride, you should check it out.

It's available on dvd.