One False Move

1991, Crime/Drama, 1h 47m

53 Reviews 2,500+ Ratings

What to know

critics consensus

One False Move makes nary a misstep as it unfurls a seedy caper with hard-hitting action and sly humor, marking an arresting debut for director Carl Franklin. Read critic reviews

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One False Move Photos

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Movie Info

Following a series of drug deals and murders, three criminals -- Fantasia (Cynda Williams), Ray Malcolm (Billy Bob Thornton) and Pluto (Michael Beach) -- travel from Los Angeles to Houston, finally arriving in a small Arkansas town to go into hiding. Two detectives from the LAPD, who are already on the case, contact the town's sheriff, Dale Dixon (Bill Paxton), to alert him of the fugitives' presence in the area. Underestimating Dixon, the criminals have no idea what they are about to face.
  • Rating:
    R
  • Genre:
    Crime, Drama
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Carl Franklin
  • Writer:
    Billy Bob Thornton, Tom Epperson
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $44.5K
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    Columbia Pictures, IRS Media
  • Sound Mix:
    Dolby, Surround, Stereo

Cast & Crew

Bill Paxton
Chief Dale 'Hurricane' Dixon
Cynda Williams
Lila 'Fantasia' Walker
Billy Bob Thornton
Ray Malcolm
Michael Beach
Wade 'Pluto' Franklin
Jim Metzler
Lt. Dudley 'Dud' Cole
Earl Billings
Det. John McFeely
Natalie Canerday
Cheryl Ann Dixon
Carl Franklin
Director
Billy Bob Thornton
Writer
Tom Epperson
Writer
Paul Colichman
Executive Producer
Miles Copeland
Executive Producer
Harold Welb
Executive Producer
Peter Haycock
Original Music
Derek Holt
Original Music
Terry Plumeri
Original Music
James L. Carter
Cinematography
Carole Kravetz-Aykanian
Film Editing
Donald Paul Pemrick
Casting
Gary T. New
Production Design
Dana Torrey
Art Director
Troy Myers
Set Decoration
Ronald Leamon
Costume Design
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for One False Move

All Critics (53) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (50) | Rotten (3)
Full Review… Adam Mars-Jones Independent (UK) Full Review… Glenn Heath Jr. Slant Magazine Full Review… Michael Upchurch Seattle Times Full Review… Peter Rainer Los Angeles Times Full Review… Michael Sragow New Yorker Full Review… Steven Rea Philadelphia Inquirer Full Review… David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Full Review… Jack Hawkins HeyUGuys Full Review… Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Full Review… Owen McNally Hartford Courant Full Review… Quentin Curtis Independent on Sunday Full Review… Alberto Abuín Espinof
View All Critic Reviews (53)

Audience Reviews for One False Move

  • Jul 06, 2021
    A powerhouse of a work that looks at the divide between races, between urban and rural cultures, between big town and small realities, and all of this in a wickedly clever character-driven thriller. How is it that this piece isn't better known? The bad guys are on the run and on the road. The good guys, guessing their plans, simply wait ahead of them. Tension increases as these two parties inexorably collide into one another. All of the actors sink their teeth into this one. Don't let this one get by.
    Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
  • Feb 06, 2012
    Hard boiled. Pretty much unmemorable.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Nov 29, 2011
    Solid direction but ultimately a disappointment. A few parts greatly intrigued me, but as for the rest of the film, it was pretty much routine for a crime thriller.
    Stephen E Super Reviewer
  • Aug 14, 2011
    Solid direction but ultimately a disappointment. A few parts greatly intrigued me, but as for the rest of the film, it was pretty much routine for a crime thriller.
    Stephen E Super Reviewer
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