Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
A free-spirited woman "kidnaps" a yuppie for a weekend of adventure. But the fun quickly takes a dangerous turn when her ex-con husband shows up.
Jonathan Demme's offbeat 1986 gem is a genuinely distinctive tonal hybrid — starting as breezy screwball comedy before pivoting into genuine menace, a tonal shift few films execute so convincingly. Melanie Griffith and Jeff Daniels deliver charming, committed performances, while Ray Liotta's explosive debut as the psychopathic ex-husband is a career-making turn that elevates the film's second half considerably. The plot's genre-switching structure is its defining feature but also its slight weakness — the tonal lurch can feel jarring rather than seamless, and the resolution is somewhat conventional. Cinematography by Tak Fujimoto is competent and colorful but not exceptional. Where the film truly shines is in its singular voice and spirit — it feels unmistakably like a Demme film, with its eclectic soundtrack, vivid character details, and genuine affection for American eccentricity. A one-of-a-kind road movie that earns its cult reputation.