Retroactive (1997)

Director:

Louis Morneau

Writers:

Michael Hamilton-Wright (writer) &
Robert Strauss (writer) ...

Release Date:

1 January 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Thriller | Adventure

Tagline:

On a lonely Texas road, time, space and murder are about to collide.

Plot:

A psychiatrist makes multiple trips through time to save a woman that was murdered by her brutal husband.

Plot Keywords:

Time Loop | Exploding Gas Station | Repeated Event | Desert | Road

Awards:

6 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

James Belushi	...	Frank
Kylie Travis	...	Karen
Shannon Whirry	...	Rayanne
Frank Whaley	...	Brian
Jesse Borrego	...	Jesse
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Sam
Sherman Howard	...	Trooper
Guy Boyd	...	Bud
Kristina Coggins	...	Martha
Robbie Thibaut Jr.	...	Paul
Roger Clinton	...	Truck Driver

Also Known As:

Inferno na Estrada (Brazil) [pt]
Rétroactif (Canada: French title) [fr]
Rétroaction (France) (video title) [fr]
Retroactiv (Romania) [ro]
Retroactive (Finland) [fi]
Retroactive - Gefangene der Zeit (Germany) [de]
Reverse (Japan: English title) [en]
Timelock (Denmark) (video box title) [da]

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and language.

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Spain:18 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | Germany:16 | UK:18 (video premiere) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Palmdale, California, USA

Company:

Cohiba Pictures

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Frank is pulled over the Trooper asks for "license and registration". In Texas registration is displayed on the windshield on the driver's side. In Texas law enforcement officers ask for license and proof of insurance during a traffic stop.

Quotes:

Frank: Women. Can't live with them, can't blow their heads off.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Soundtrack:

DON'T LET THE DOORKNOB HIT YA

Very good movie

Interesting premise. If you could relive a moment that went wrong, how could you "fix" it? It's not as simple as it may seem, and that is the point. Karen relives the moment that went wrong numerous times and every time she tries to "fix" it, it gets even worse! Very enjoyable. It is the imperfect ways that she tries to fix things that ring true. James Belushi is convincing as a red-neck creep who has neither class nor morals.

The fundamental premise (turning back time) is a real stretch. However, that is not a real drawback, since you only have time to ponder it in retrospect. Also, anyone who watches this will have their own ideas of how they would have "fixed" the problem. However even though it's not a perfect movie, it's still one that interestingly and entertainingly explores it's premise.