Wounds of war, tangled desires, and a stranger's arrival set the stage for betrayal and suspense.
BACKFIRE
Before the night is over... someone will be rich, someone will be dead, someone will be avenged.
Disgruntled wife cheats on her well off husband, who's been suffering from PTSD ever since he came home from the Vietnam War. After an incident he ends up in a catatonic state. Soon, she begins to suspect that someone is after her.
Quick Answer
Backfire is a 1988 Canadian-American drama, mystery, and thriller directed by Gilbert Cates about a woman whose war-scarred husband’s trauma and her own affair ignite a dangerous spiral of deceit and suspicion.
Programmer's Pick
Backfire doesn’t just simmer with postwar tension—it throws in a cheating heart, a mysterious drifter, and enough double crosses to keep even the most jaded noir fan guessing. Karen Allen and Keith Carradine bring the heat, but it’s the psychological aftershocks and steamy betrayals that do the real damage.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Why This Matters
Backfire is notable for being dedicated to star Dean Paul Martin, who died in a plane crash before its release, and for its shift from a planned theatrical release to a Showtime premiere in 1989.
Cast & Crew
View all →
Why Cult
Donny’s PTSD and the psychological toll of war are at the film’s core, driving both character and plot.
Affairs, betrayal, and murder plots ensure that the tension isn’t just psychological—it’s physical and dangerous.
Reed’s arrival stirs paranoia and uncertainty, pushing the story into true neo-noir territory.
Set against the backdrop of affluence and emotional decay, the film serves up a moody, modern noir aesthetic.
Scene Gallery
Threat File
Wife’s affair and husband's trauma
Paranoia, betrayal, and possible murder plot
Drives characters to suspicion and fear
Affluent home shadowed by war memories
Questions from the Vault
When was Backfire released? +
Backfire was released in 1988.
Who directed Backfire? +
Backfire was directed by Gilbert Cates.
How long is Backfire? +
Backfire has a runtime of 93 minutes.
What genre is Backfire? +
Backfire is a drama, mystery, and thriller.
Where can I watch Backfire? +
Backfire is available to watch on SassyFlix.
How does Reed impact the McAndrews' marriage? +
Reed’s arrival intensifies the existing tension, introducing paranoia and suspicion into Mara and Donny’s already strained relationship.
