Backtrace (2018): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
Backtrace is a 2018 crime drama directed by Brian A Miller, starring Matthew Modine as Donovan MacDonald, Sylvester Stallone and Christopher McDonald. It runs 1 hour 32 minutes and earned $490,636 worldwide on a $6 million budget. Critics gave it 9% on Rotten Tomatoes and 34 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 3.8/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 32m (92 min)
- Director
- Brian A Miller
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Happinet
- Budget
- $6M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Backtrace About?
The premise of Backtrace without spoilers.
Haunted by amnesia, former thief MacDonald awakens in a prison psychiatric ward. He’s forced to confront his forgotten past while navigating a dangerous game involving detectives and agents determined to stop him. MacDonald must recover stolen riches and face the dark secrets that led to his current predicament, all while struggling to piece together his identity.
Backtrace Themes & Keywords
· 37 tags- car
- stolen money
- gunfight
- firefight
- shot to death
- amnesia
- hidden loot
- gunshot wound
- wounded in the head
- head injury
- crime scene
- police detective
+25 more Show fewer
- bank robber
- bank robbery
- news report
- memory loss
- security check
- escape from prison
- prison hospital
- louisiana
- manhunt
- experimental drug
- flashback
- regaining memory
- pov
- pov shot
- abandoned factory
- shootout
- headache
- side effects
- fbi agent
- federal agent
- corrupt fbi agent
- corrupt federal agent
- loss of son
- low budget
- memory drug
Backtrace Cast & Characters
Matthew Modine leads the cast as Donovan MacDonald, with Sylvester Stallone as Det. Sykes and Christopher McDonald as Special Agent Franks. Directed by Brian A Miller; 11 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Brian A Miller
-
Matthew Modine as Donovan MacDonald -
Sylvester Stallone as Det. Sykes -
Christopher McDonald as Special Agent Franks -
Meadow Williams as Erin
Also Starring in Backtrace
· 7 more- Colin Egglesfield Detective Carter
- Swen Temmel John Truby
- Ryan Guzman Lucas
- Lydia Hull Dr. Nichols
- Jenna Willis Detective Bay
- Baylee Curran Security Guard Alicia
- Heather Johansen
Backtrace Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Backtrace 9% on Rotten Tomatoes and 34 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 3.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 20/100, strongest in sensory experience (28) and weakest in rewatch factor (10).
Backtrace Echo Score Breakdown
In general Backtrace fails to coalesce its components into a compelling thriller. The direction and editing produce uneven pacing and incoherent action sequences, while the characters remain underwritten and emotionally unengaging. The plot offers predictable twists and underutilizes its experimental drug premise, resulting in minimal narrative momentum. Visually, the film employs drab design choices and featureless settings that undermine immersion. Limited enjoyment on repeat viewings further reduces its lasting appeal. Ultimately, the film falls short of delivering a satisfying experience.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 25
In terms of art and craft, Backtrace exhibits uneven direction and uninspired cinematography. Action scenes are frequently incoherent due to excessive camera shake, and the production design relies on featureless exteriors that lack visual interest. Editing choices slow the narrative flow, contributing to a sense of tedium. Overall, the film’s technical construction does little to enhance engagement.
- Character & Emotion 20
When it comes to character and emotion, the performances are largely unconvincing and lack depth. The lead cast delivers wooden dialogue, and supporting roles are allocated minimal screen time, preventing any meaningful chemistry. Occasional efforts to introduce tension fall flat amid underwritten personalities. As a result, the film struggles to elicit emotional investment from its audience.
- Story & Flow 15
In terms of story and flow, the narrative follows predictable genre beats without offering fresh intrigue. Pacing lags in extended setup sequences, and plot twists are telegraphed early, reducing suspense. The experimental drug subplot never achieves its potential, and the amnesia element shifts abruptly from serious to farcical. Consequently, engagement wanes as the film advances toward an unsurprising conclusion.
- Sensory Experience 28
In terms of sensory experience, the film’s visual style is marked by drab color schemes and generic locations that lack cohesion. Sound design and musical cues seldom elevate tension, and action sequences rely on rapid fire effects rather than immersive audio elements. Overall, the sensory components fail to compensate for the weak narrative and character fundamentals.
- Rewatch Factor 10
When considering rewatch value, Backtrace offers minimal incentive for repeat viewing. The lack of memorable moments and underdeveloped characters provides little new discovery on subsequent watchings. Predictable plotting and flat execution further diminish any residual appeal. Therefore, the film’s lasting attraction remains extremely limited.
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IMDb 3.8 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 9% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 23%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 34 Metascore
User score 3.2
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 50% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 1.7 /5
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 2.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
Backtrace Box Office & Budget
Backtrace grossed $490,636 worldwide on a $6 million budget, 8% of what it cost.
Worldwide gross
$490.6K
8% of its budget back
- International
- $490.6K
- Budget
- $6M
Backtrace Trailers & Videos
3 videos: 2 trailers and 1 teaser.
- Trailer Official International Trailer
- Teaser Official Trailer
Cars in Backtrace
15 cars on screen, including the 2015 Dodge Charger and the 2004 Dodge Durango.
-
2015 Dodge Charger Important role -
2004 Dodge Durango Important role -
2014 Chevrolet Impala Minor role -
2015 Chevrolet Impala Minor role
Backtrace Also Known As
25 alternative titles, including “Amnesia” and “Cuenta pendiente”.
- Also known as
-
- Amnesia
- Cuenta pendiente
- عقب نشینی
- ردگیری
- Compte pendent
- Flashback
- Memória de um Crime
- Гра пам'яті
- Точка возврата
- Po własnych śladach
- Обратно проследяване
- מרדף קטלני
+13 more Show fewer
- Geritakip
- 백트레이스
- 回溯者
- Stopa do minulosti
- Grįžimo taškas
- Visszafejtés
- Retracer, თვალთვალი
- Compte impagat
- Pe firul amintirilor
- バックトレース
- التعقب
- Ropar brez spomina
- Pavediens
Seen Backtrace?
Movies Like Backtrace
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Back Stab, Wasteland and Stolen.
Backtrace FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Backtrace, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Backtrace?
Backtrace runs 1 hour 32 minutes (92 minutes).
When was Backtrace released?
Backtrace was released on December 14, 2018.
Who directed Backtrace?
Backtrace was directed by Brian A Miller.
More films by Brian A Miller Who is in the cast of Backtrace?
Backtrace stars Matthew Modine as Donovan MacDonald, Sylvester Stallone as Det. Sykes and Christopher McDonald as Special Agent Franks, among 11 credited actors.
How much did Backtrace make at the box office?
Backtrace grossed $490,636 worldwide on a budget of $6 million.
How is Backtrace rated?
Backtrace has 3.8/10 on IMDb, 9% on Rotten Tomatoes, 34 on Metacritic and 50% on TMDB.
Does Backtrace have a post-credit scene?
No. Backtrace has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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