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Red Rock West

Play trailer Poster for Red Rock West R 1993 1h 38m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 117 Reviews 76% 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.
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Red Rock West

Red Rock West

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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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Critics Reviews

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Christopher Harris Globe and Mail A neat and prickly little thriller, dressed up in cowboy noir clothing. Rated: 2.5/4 Oct 8, 2025 Full Review Julie Lang Village Voice The film itself wallows seductively in the twisted, consumptive murk of America's small towns. Jul 16, 2025 Full Review Larry Worth New York Post John Dahl's best trick is adeptly blending suspense and comedy, all keyed to split-second timing. Jul 16, 2025 Full Review John Ferguson Radio Times The plot twists and turns deliciously, and Dahl's deft direction strikes a clever balance between knowing humour and genuine suspense. Rated: 4/5 Aug 31, 2025 Full Review Joe Leydon Houston Post (Texas) Red Rock West is a solid, well-crafted and consistently involving thriller. Rated: 3/4 Aug 19, 2025 Full Review Peter Keough Boston Phoenix Red Rock West doesn't break any new ground, but it is a supremely confident, blackly comic, oddly humane addition to the noir genre. Jul 16, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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tucker s Absolutely fantastic movie in every respect. Five stars all day long Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/27/25 Full Review revolver.0 8 absolute pure comedy Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 08/03/25 Full Review Glen H One of the best modern neo-noirs. Dahl is simply a master of the genre. From the outcast hero who finds himself in a tough strange situation out of desperation to the femme fatale who is also desperate to escape her own strange situation. It's just an excellent film and the cast is impeccable, including Cage in a subdued believable role. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/29/25 Full Review Daniel C. M A escapist neo-noir with great direction, though not really much else. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/03/25 Full Review Richard G. R One of my favorite low budget independent films. When it was released on video and cable in 1993, I was attending the University of North Texas studying filmmaking, and this film along with Carl Franklin and Billy Bob Thornton's "One False Move" in 1992 became prime examples of the type of films (Neo-Noir) that spoke to me. Nicolas Cage gives a great performance as Michael, the down and out drifter mistaken for a hitman (forgoing his usual over the top acting style). Director John Dahl carved out a nice niche in the low budget neo-noir genre with his three films (Kiss Me Again-1989, Red Rock West-1993 and The Last Seduction-1994). Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/19/25 Full Review Ari V Decent little movie that might've in part inspired Stone's better Uturn. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/03/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Red Rock West

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Cast & Crew

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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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Red Rock West

Red Rock West (1993) Red Rock West (1993) Red Rock West (1993) Red Rock West (1993) View more photos

Movie Info

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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