Retroactive

R

1997

1 hr. 27 min.

Mystery & Thriller

List

57%

7 Reviews

Tomatometer

47%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Stranded on the road, psychiatrist Karen (Kylie Travis) is offered a ride by Frank (James Belushi), a disturbingly jealous man traveling across Texas with his wife, Rayanne (Shannon Whirry). At a gas station, Frank learns from a crony that Rayanne is cheating on him, so he kills her. Karen escapes to a research facility run by scientist Brian (Frank Whaley) and uses his time-travel technology to try to stop the murder -- but only manages to increase the carnage with every trip back.

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gary d

Interesting plot idea gone wrong. Disappointing, because it could of been much better.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This time-travel roadmovie needs a while to get interesting, but every jump back just makes a bigger mess. Belushi really has a good time playing the badguy!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Nice premise, but over the top

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

"Groundhog's Day" meets "The Hitcher." Kylie Travis makes the unfortunate mistake of hitching a ride with mutton-chopped killer Jim Belushi and his wife. Travis ends up witnessing Belushi killing a cop, his wife and assorted others. Belushi then chases her into a secret government facility where she is accidentally sent back in time, finding herself back in Belushi's car. The story then has Travis trying to play out the scenario differently several different ways. I always find these types of stories interesting, seeing how characters might try to rewrite their own history, but these stories can easily become tedious and annoying. This film manages to stay interesting, with the characters making smart choices and also does it with some decent action sequences. Although the film is strictly Roger Corman/Charles Band quality, taken on that level, it's a pretty entertaining film. And it never hurts to cast M. Emmet Walsh in your film.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great time manipulation experience--Great concept, fun thriller!!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I saw this little gem of a movie 10 years ago or so and had almost forgot about it, but while looking through IMDB to help me add to my James Belushi dvd collection I clicked on the link it and it all came back to me of how good this movie was, so right away I had to see if it was on dvd and then I had to get it (amazon uk £3.95) The movie is Groundhog Day meets 12:01 meets The Hitcher. I don't want to give any of the plot away as it's best not knowing much about it and just letting it play out. James Belushi is great in this and Kylie Travis is also very good (she gave up acting in 2001 though) and it's almost like a 2 actor play although there are other actors in it (not many) like Frank Whaley (swimming with Sharks). The movie is well shot and the fx are good for it's low budget. Well worth an hour and a half of your time.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

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Louis Morneau

Director

Jim Belushi

Frank

Kylie Travis

Karen

Shannon Whirry

Rayanne

Frank Whaley

Brian

M. Emmet Walsh

Sam

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83%

68%

Breakdown

25%

33%

Shattered Image

60%

58%

Heaven

64%

54%

Wild Things

68%

70%

Stir of Echoes

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

With its explosive action, black comedy and far-fetched sci-fi imposed on an otherwise vaguely plausible crime thriller, this modest indie film is reminiscent of such low budget '80s exploiters as Tremors and the work of Charles Band.

Feb 9, 2006

Full Review

Chuck O'Leary

FulvueDrive-in.com

A high-energy road thriller with a time-travel twist. A fast, fun 90 minutes.

Rated: 7/10

Mar 2, 2006

Full Review

Caffeinated Clint

Moviehole

Belushi's career just got flushed down the toilet

Rated: 1/5

Sep 17, 2002

Full Review

Scott Weinberg

eFilmCritic.com

Rated: 1/5

Jul 26, 2002

Full Review

Diane Selkirk

Apollo Guide

If a repulsive main character and lots of bloodshed appeal to you, Retroactive might be your movie. But that's about all it has going for it.

Rated: 52/100

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

There's nary a talented bone up there. But surprise, this isn't such a bad movie.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

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Synopsis

Stranded on the road, psychiatrist Karen (Kylie Travis) is offered a ride by Frank (James Belushi), a disturbingly jealous man traveling across Texas with his wife, Rayanne (Shannon Whirry). At a gas station, Frank learns from a crony that Rayanne is cheating on him, so he kills her. Karen escapes to a research facility run by scientist Brian (Frank Whaley) and uses his time-travel technology to try to stop the murder -- but only manages to increase the carnage with every trip back.

Director: Louis Morneau
Executive Producer: Jeff Ivers
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Mar 6, 2007