Backtrace (2018)

Backtrace has a pulpy, late-night-thriller confidence: it takes a familiar crime setup and spikes it with a memory-shredded twist that keeps the movie moving like a man running from his own past. Matthew Modine anchors the chaos with a surprisingly committed, jittery intensity, making the amnesia angle feel less like a gimmick and more like a pressure cooker, while Sylvester Stallone and Ryan Guzman add grizzled weight and sharp edges around him. The vibe is lean, violent, and propulsive—more about momentum, close calls, and hard choices than grand speeches—so it plays best if you’re in the mood for a gritty B-movie ride with a hook. If you want deep character study or pristine realism, this may not be your stop, but if you’re on the fence and craving a tight, tough little thriller with a strong lead performance, it’s an easy bet.

Backtrace is clearly trying to mash up a gritty heist thriller with a mind-bending “memory drug” hook, aiming for a slick chase movie with a sci-fi edge. The problem is the execution feels flat: the story leans hard on familiar twists and generic pursuit scenes, so the amnesia/serum angle never becomes as tense or clever as it wants to be. Performances are serviceable and there are a few moments of tough-guy energy (especially if you’re here for Stallone’s presence), but the tone and writing rarely rise above straight-to-video routine. If you’re craving a fresh crime thriller with real atmosphere or emotional punch, this will likely feel like wasted time; if you just want a simple, violent, low-stakes action watch, it may do the job.