Red Rock West

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Red Rock West

R

1993

1h 38m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

121 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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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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Robert P

@Superbad Oct 6, 2026

Red Rock West is a *4* star Movie!

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Janav S

@TheCoolJ92781 Sep 20, 2026

Great early masterpiece of Nic Cage, it's truly a hidden noir gem.

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Huntin P

@PaxVobiscum80 Sep 15, 2026

Bit of a tongue twister, Wed Wock Rest is a neo noir, a modern western, and a morality tale, and is superb entertainment. Nicholas Cage is on commendably restrained form as Mike, a veteran with a banged-up leg, who wanders into Red Rock with no money and a car almost out of gas. The bartender mistakes him for a hired killer, hands over a wad of cash, and tells him the target. Mike pays a call on the intended victim, gets paid double to swot the bartender, and prepares to skip town having done nothing wrong. He drops a letter in for the sheriff to warn him of these people's murderous intentions. Thing is, the bartender, and his quarry, are more than they seem to be, and that long awaited killer man is on his way into town. Where's it all going to end? This movie is very cool, in the proper sense of the word. It just makes you want to rent a car and hit the road out west, and let's see what trouble we can find. Pity the creative team behind RRW didn't make more movies. A treasure!

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Erin M

@Mightymotes Mar 29, 2026

Great acting by all involved, and great pace. It keeps you guessing until the end.

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Marc T.

@NoFluffReviews Feb 26, 2026

A bit of suspension of disbelief is required but its believable enough and the performances were really good. The cinematography is good at reflecting the vibe and setting. It paces nicely and doesn't get too convoluted or sidetracked from the main premis. A really good sleeper film that I never heard of for over 30 years.

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mark g

@Mark_Alan_G. Feb 18, 2026

Brilliant modern film noir. Cage, Walsh and Hopper are perfectly cast. Dwight Yoakam provides a hilarious cameo. Beautiful cinematography, choreography and scenery. This film is close to perfect.

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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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