Backtrack

Backtrack is a not entirely traditional thriller, for it is about a hitman who falls in love with his victim. The target is Anne Benton, a young artist who on one unlucky evening both gets a flat tyre and happens to witness a gangland murder. Anne has no idea of the consequences when she goes to the police the next day - so little does she want to become the key witness and get a new identity that she immediately flees from the authorities. But the Mafia is hot on her heels, and when an assassination attempt fails and Anne vanishes without a trace, the gangster boss Leo Carelli hires the consummately professional hitman Milo. Milo's research is so thorough that he all but falls in love with his victim before he has even met her, so instead of liquidating Anne, he abducts her. Together they are now on the run from both police and gangsters.

The big question in the film is whether Anne will try to escape at the first opportunity, or whether she will actually be able to return Milo's awkward love. Apparently she falls in love with Milo. The transition from hatred to love takes place in no time at all, so Anne's development is not especially credible.

Backtrack's strength is that there are surprises waiting around every corner. There is certainly nothing wrong with its entertainment value.