Retroactive (1997): Cast & Plot
Retroactive is a 1997 crime thriller directed by Louis Morneau, starring Kylie Travis as Karen, Jim Belushi and Shannon Whirry. It runs 1 hour 31 minutes.
- Release year
- Runtime
- 1h 31m (91 min)
- Director
- Louis Morneau
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Orion Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Retroactive About?
The premise of Retroactive without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
On a desolate Texas highway, the boundaries of time, space and murder converge. A determined psychiatrist makes repeated journeys back, trying to prevent the brutal husband from killing his wife, striving to rewrite the fatal night and save her life.
Retroactive Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- time travel
- alternate timeline
- time machine
- time loop
- wife murders her husband
- crime of passion
- race against time
- rampage
- cruelty
- psycho thriller
- shootout
- experiment gone wrong
+38 more Show fewer
- dark comedy
- body lands on a car
- character repeats someone else's dialogue
- child in jeopardy
- wife shoots her husband
- husband murders his wife
- husband shoots his wife
- woman
- time
- escape
- back in time
- death
- scientist
- murder
- black and white scene
- alternate reality
- alternate history
- mousetrap
- photograph
- female protagonist
- title at the end
- handcuffed woman
- police arrest
- cigarette smoking
- hit by a car
- microchip
- reference to open sesame incantation
- grabbed by the hair
- cooler
- waving down a car
- shooting from a car
- revolver
- kicked through a window
- male ponytail
- ethnic slur
- elbowed in face
- bitten on the arm
- cadillac
Retroactive Cast & Characters
Kylie Travis leads the cast as Karen, with Jim Belushi as Frank and Shannon Whirry as Rayanne. Directed by Louis Morneau; 11 actors are credited in all.
- Director Louis Morneau
- Kylie Travis as Karen
- Jim Belushi as Frank
- Shannon Whirry as Rayanne
- Sherman Howard as Trooper
Also Starring in Retroactive
· 7 more- M. Emmet Walsh Sam
- Frank Whaley Brian
- Jesse Borrego Jesse
- Robbie Thibaut Jr. Paul
- Guy Boyd Bud
- Roger Clinton, Jr. Truck Driver
- Kristina Coggins Martha
More from Louis Morneau
More films directed by Louis Morneau, best-rated first: Bats, Werewolf: The Beast Among Us, Joy Ride 2: Dead Ahead and Bet Your Life.
Retroactive Plot Summary
What happens in Retroactive from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Karen Warren is a former criminal psychologist who finds herself stranded on a lonely Texan desert road when her car breaks down. A tense hitchhiking ordeal unfolds as she accepts a ride with Frank Lloyd, who travels with his abused wife, Rayanne Lloyd, on a grim mission to sell stolen computer chips. A quick encounter with a passing state Trooper escalates the danger, and the trio is later slowed by a tow truck driver’s presence before they pull into a gas station owned by Sam. At that stop, Sam reveals a painful connection between Rayanne and the driver, uncovering a web of betrayal that inflames Frank’s already volatile temper.
Full summary
The whole story of Retroactive, scene by scene
Retroactive Trailers & Videos
4 videos: 1 trailer and 3 clips.
- Clip Time Machine Experiment
- Clip Karen Accidentally Travels Back In Time
- Clip "Send Me Back"
How Well Do You Know Retroactive?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What profession did Karen Warren have before getting stranded on the desert road?
Cars in Retroactive
10 cars on screen, including the 1970 Cadillac Sedan DeVille and the 1987 Chevrolet Caprice.
-
1970 Cadillac Sedan DeVille Main role -
1987 Chevrolet Caprice Main role -
1973 Ford Galaxie 500 Country Sedan Main role -
1993 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible Important role
Seen Retroactive?
Movies Like Retroactive
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Timecrimes, Out of Time and Time Cut.
Retroactive FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Retroactive, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Retroactive?
Retroactive runs 1 hour 31 minutes (91 minutes).
When was Retroactive released?
Retroactive was released in 1997.
Who directed Retroactive?
Retroactive was directed by Louis Morneau.
More films by Louis Morneau Who is in the cast of Retroactive?
Retroactive stars Kylie Travis as Karen, Jim Belushi as Frank and Shannon Whirry as Rayanne, among 11 credited actors.
Does Retroactive have a post-credit scene?
No. Retroactive has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
