Out of the Cage: Red Rock West (1993) – 30th anniversary screenings
Director: John Dahl Run Time: 98 min. Rating: R Release Year: 1993
Starring: Dennis Hopper, J.T. Walsh, Lara Flynn Boyle, Nicolas Cage, Timothy Carhart
Country: United States
Language: English
About the film:
When a promised job for Texan Michael fails to materialize in Wyoming, Mike is mistaken by Wayne to be the hitman he hired to kill his unfaithful wife, Suzanne. Mike takes full advantage of the situation, collects the money, and runs. During his getaway, things go wrong, and soon get worse when he runs into the real hitman, Lyle.
“Concealed in an obscure corner of Cage’s vast, prolific filmography is this hidden gem… an irresistibly well-pitched thriller, full of intrigue”
After premiering theatrically in Europe, Red Rock West (1993) was presented at the 1993 Toronto International Film Festival, had a very limited theatrical run in the United States, and earned Film Independent Spirit Award nominations for Best Director and Best Screenplay.
About the filmmaker:
John Dahl is an American film director and screenwriter known for his work in modern film noir. After starting his career as a storyboard artist and assistant director, he began making short films and directing music videos. In 1989, he wrote and directed his first feature film, Kill Me Again (1989). He also directed the feature films Red Rock West (1993), The Last Seduction (1994), Unforgettable (1996), Venice Film Festival selection Rounders (1998), Joy Ride (2001), The Great Raid (2005), and You Kill Me (2007). He has worked on dozens of television shows, directing episodes of Californication, True Blood, Dexter, Justified, Ray Donovan, The Affair, Shameless, Homeland, and Billions, among many others. Dahl studied film at Montana State University before attending the American Film Institute as a directing fellow. In 2003, he received AFI’s Franklin J. Schaffner Award for exemplary alumni.
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