Red Rock West

Red Rock West is an entertaining modern film noir packed with surprises and dense atmosphere. The film's young hero is Michael, who is mistaken for a hitman when he arrives in the little town of Red Rock West. The bar owner Wayne offers him a large sum of money to murder his wife. Michael gets half the money in advance, whereupon he goes to see Wayne's wife, Suzanne, to warn her. Without hesitation Suzanne offers Michael double to murder her husband. She is a beautiful young woman to boot, so before long Michael is caught in a web of lies and deadly intrigue.

When Michael learns that Wayne is not just a bar owner but also the local sheriff, he becomes rather less confident, but things only really go to hell when the real hitman, the stark raving mad Lyle, comes to town. In the course of a couple of breathless days in Red Rock West, Michael learns that it is every man for himself. Fortunately the town also has a couple of deputies who have more brains than most films allow.

The story is reminiscent of "U-Turn", but is much better told.