Red Rock West

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Red Rock West

R,

1993,

1h 38m,

Crime/

Drama

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Watchlist

Watchlist

95%

121 Reviews

Tomatometer

75%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

121 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

When unemployed ex-marine Michael Williams (Nicolas Cage) stumbles into a bar in Red Rock, Wyo., the owner, Wayne (J.T. Walsh), mistakes him for a hired killer and offers him $10,000 to kill his wife, Suzanne (Lara Flynn Boyle). Michael plays along, taking half the money up front, then tells Suzanne what her husband is planning. She seduces Michael and proposes that he kill her husband instead. While he weighs his options, the real killer (Dennis Hopper) turns up looking for his money.

Critics Consensus

Red Rock West is a hidden neo-noir gem with some delightful cracks in its surface -- and an opportunity to see Lara Flynn Boyle, Nicolas Cage, Dennis Hopper, and J.T. Walsh go toe-to-toe in all their early '90s glory.

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Bernard Zuel

Sydney Morning Herald

Apr 23, 2026

John Dahl's seductive, sly thriller never takes a false step.

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Christopher Harris

Globe and Mail

Oct 8, 2025

2.5/4

A neat and prickly little thriller, dressed up in cowboy noir clothing.

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Julie Lang

Village Voice

Jul 16, 2025

The film itself wallows seductively in the twisted, consumptive murk of America's small towns.

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Zak Goodwin

Screen Slate

Aug 26, 2026

Red Rock West is a potboiler at heart. It’s a film that trusts that its audience will find its narrative twists compelling in and of themselves—the cinematic equivalent of comfort food.

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Larry Ratliff

San Antonio Express-News

Aug 24, 2026

This is a blistering mystery thriller with a deadly sense of humor at every turn.

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Matthew Soergel

Florida Times-Union

Feb 4, 2026

4/5

Red Rock West tweaks conventions nicely, acting a lot smarter than the B-movie it is.

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Feb 2, 2019

The best thrilling movie ever made!

Kylo S

Oct 29, 2018

Back when Nicolas Cage was doing some real acting.

Han S

Sep 23, 2018

It's as if this film doesn't exist, or nobody has seen it. Well I have and it's immediately underrated.

Kylo W

Feb 4, 2018

Often overlooked and copied a lot (Stone's U-turn and Hot-spot) but this is the best. Well worth a watch for Dennis Hopper's performance. Also, one of Cage's better films.

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Finn L

Jul 11, 2017

Cage's most restrained performance. I kept waiting for his explosions, which never came, ended up adding a cool layer of uncertainty to an already trippy affair.

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Luke P

Mar 29, 2017

This film noir is criminally unknown. Has Nicholas Cage had a better role? This stylish thriller keeps you guessing with an impressive cast and excellent pacing. Action, humour, romance and plenty of badness, if you don't know it, check it out urgently.

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John Dahl

Director

Nicolas Cage

Michael Williams

Dennis Hopper

Lyle from Dallas

Lara Flynn Boyle

Suzanne Brown aka Ann McCord

Timothy Carhart

Deputy Matt Greytack

J.T. Walsh

Wayne Brown aka Kevin McCord

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Synopsis

When unemployed ex-marine Michael Williams (Nicolas Cage) stumbles into a bar in Red Rock, Wyo., the owner, Wayne (J.T. Walsh), mistakes him for a hired killer and offers him $10,000 to kill his wife, Suzanne (Lara Flynn Boyle). Michael plays along, taking half the money up front, then tells Suzanne what her husband is planning. She seduces Michael and proposes that he kill her husband instead. While he weighs his options, the real killer (Dennis Hopper) turns up looking for his money.

Director: John Dahl
Producer: Steve Golin, Sigurjon Sighvatsson
Screenwriter: Rick Dahl, John Dahl
Distributor: Columbia TriStar Home Video, Capital Filmes
Production Co: Red Rock Films, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 16, 1993, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 27, 2015
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Surround

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