{{Short description|2018 American action crime thriller film by Brian A. Miller}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = Backtrace | image = Backtrace poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Brian A. Miller | producer = [[Randall Emmett]]<br />George Furla<br />Matt Luber<br />Mark Stewart | screenplay = Mike Maples | starring = [[Sylvester Stallone]]<br />[[Ryan Guzman]]<br />[[Meadow Williams]]<br />[[Christopher McDonald]]<br />[[Colin Egglesfield]]<br />Lydia Hull<br />Tyler Jon Olson<br />Sergio Rizzuto <br />[[Swen Temmel]]<br />[[Matthew Modine]] | music = [[Tim Jones (film composer)|Tim Jones]] | cinematography = Peter Holland | editing = | studio = {{plainlist| * [[Grindstone Entertainment Group]] * [[Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films]] * Diamond Film Productions LLC * [[Ingenious Media]] * Dreamscape Productions * The Fyzz * [[Happinet|Happinet (I)]] * Highland Film Group }} | distributor = [[Lionsgate Premiere]] | runtime = 87 minutes | released = {{Film date|2018|12|14|United States}} | country = United States | language = English | budget = $6 million{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}} | gross = $490,636<ref name=BOM>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/intl/?page=&wk=2019W6&id=_fBACKTRACE01 |title=''Backtrace'' |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |publisher=[[IMDb]] |access-date=August 4, 2019}}</ref><ref name="NUM">{{cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Backtrace-(Canada)-(2018)#tab=summary |title=''Backtrace'' (2018)|website=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]] |publisher=Nash Information Services, LLC |access-date=August 4, 2019}}</ref> }}
'''''Backtrace''''' is a 2018 American [[action film|action]] [[crime thriller film]] directed by Brian A. Miller, and starring [[Sylvester Stallone]], [[Matthew Modine]] and [[Ryan Guzman]]. The film was released as [[video on demand]] and limited theatrical release by [[Lionsgate Premiere]] on December 14, 2018 in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/trailers/1007693-1007693|title = New Trailer for Sylvester Stallone's Backtrace Brings the Pain to VOD|date = 13 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://rogersmovienation.com/2018/12/07/movie-review-stallone-is-back-on-the-beat-with-backtrace/|title=Movie Review: Stallone is back on the beat with "Backtrace"|date=December 7, 2018}}</ref>
==Plot== {{hook|date=June 2022}} After suffering a brain injury from a [[bank heist]] gone wrong, MacDonald (Matthew Modine) develops [[amnesia]] and is put into a prison psychiatric ward. Following his seventh year in evaluation, he is coerced by an inmate and a ward doctor (Ryan Guzman and Meadow Williams) to break out of prison and injected with a serum that forces him to relive the life he's forgotten. MacDonald must now elude a local detective (Sylvester Stallone), a toughened FBI agent (Christopher McDonald) and the drug's dangerous side effects in order to recover the stolen money all while confronting his past.
==Cast== * [[Sylvester Stallone]] as Detective Sykes: An experienced police detective, assigned to work with Agent Franks on the case involving Donovan MacDonald. * [[Matthew Modine]] as Donovan "Mac" MacDonald: A suspected bank robber and thief, who is overcome with amnesia following a shootout. MacDonald is imprisoned in a prison psychiatric hospital for seven years, before escaping and seeking to remember his past and prove his innocence. * [[Ryan Guzman]] as Lucas MacDonald: Introduced as MacDonald's inmate in prison, it is later revealed that Lucas is MacDonald's son. * [[Meadow Williams]] as Dr. Erin MacDonald: Introduced as the medical official attending to MacDonald's condition in prison; it is later revealed that Erin is MacDonald's wife. Williams additionally served as executive producer on the film. * Tyler Jon Olson as Farren MacDonald: Introduced as a security guard, assigned to MacDonald while in prison; it is later revealed that Farren is MacDonald's son. * [[Christopher McDonald]] as Agent Franks: An FBI special agent, assigned to the investigation involving Donovan MacDonald. Franks is revealed to be the criminal mastermind, guilty with framing MacDonald and his family. * [[Colin Egglesfield]] as Detective Carter: A young police detective, who works as the [[Mentorship|protégé]] under Det. Sykes on the case involving Donovan MacDonald. *[[Brooks Nader]] as Orderly Lisa * Jenna Willis as Detective Bay * Lydia Hull as Dr. Nichols * Baylee Curran as Secure Guard Alicia
==Production== ''Backtrace'' was officially announced in November 2018, co-starring [[Sylvester Stallone]], [[Matthew Modine]] and [[Ryan Guzman]]. Brian A. Miller served as director, with a script written by Mike Maples, the story was detailed as an action crime-thriller involving Stallone's Det. Sykes pursuit of an escaped convicted psychotic bank robber.<ref name="Backtrace_MW">{{cite web|url=https://movieweb.com/backtrace-trailer-sylvester-stallone/|work=MovieWeb|title=Backtrace Trailer Has Stallone Hunting a Psychotic Bank Robber|author=Orange, B. Alan|date=November 13, 2018|accessdate=November 23, 2021}}</ref>
Miller described the project as a [[whodunit]]-styled crime mystery. The filmmaker described his experiences with the cast with high praise, noting his life-long fandom of Sylvester Stallone. Miller stated that Stallone's experiences in filmmaking enhanced the film, classifying Stallone as an [[auteur]]. The filmmaker additionally that though the final act is a plot-twist, clues and hints are scattered throughout the movie, intended for repeated viewings from the audience. The script underwent several rewrites, prior to production, with major plot changes; while McDonald, Guzman, and Egglesfield joined production immediately after receiving word that Stallone had signed on to co-star in the film.<ref name="Backtrace_Storyocity">{{cite web|url=https://www.storyocity.co/blog/2018/12/17/story-behind-the-story-backtrace|work=Storyocity|title=Story Behind the Story: Backtrace|author=Storyocity|date=December 20, 2018|accessdate=November 23, 2021|archive-date=November 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123080855/https://www.storyocity.co/blog/2018/12/17/story-behind-the-story-backtrace|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The film was shot in [[Savannah, Georgia]] and lasted 12 days.<ref name="Backtrace_IP">{{cite web |date=February 6, 2018 |author=Lisa Wilson |title=Sylvester Stallone is filming a movie in Savannah. Here's what we know about it |url=https://www.islandpacket.com/entertainment/movies-news-reviews/article198604349.html }}</ref><ref name="Backtrace_SN">{{cite web |date=2018-02-05 |last=Rayburn |first=Josh |title=Sylvester Stallone, Matthew Modine, Colin Egglesfield movie filming in Savannah |url=https://www.savannahnow.com/news/2018-02-05/sylvester-stallone-matthew-modine-colin-egglesfield-movie-filming-savannah |website=Savannah Morning News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211161126/https://www.savannahnow.com/news/2018-02-05/sylvester-stallone-matthew-modine-colin-egglesfield-movie-filming-savannah |archive-date=2018-02-11 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Production endured varied unexpected weather patterns, but quickly completed principal photography.<ref name="Backtrace_Storyocity" />
==Release== ===Theatrical=== ''Backtrace'' was given a limited-theatrical, and simultaneous [[Video on demand|VOD]] release on December 14, 2018.<ref name="Backtrace_MW" />
===Home media=== It was later released on home video, on February 19, 2019.<ref name="home video_Lionsgate">{{cite web|url=https://www.lionsgatepublicity.com/home-entertainment/backtrace|work=Lionsgate Publicity|title=Backtrace|author=Lionsgate|accessdate=November 23, 2021}}</ref> ''Backtrace'' grossed $0 in North America and $488,148 in other countries,<ref name="BOM" /> plus $717,998 with home video sales.<ref name="NUM" />
==Reception== ===Critical response=== The film received generally negative reviews with critics criticizing the plot, while giving praise to the performances of Stallone and Guzman. On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an approval rating of {{RT data|score}}, based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}.<ref name="Backtrace_RT">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/backtrace|title=''Backtrace''|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}</ref>
Joe Leydon of ''Variety'' gave the film a positive review, stating: "Matthew Modine is outstanding as an amnesia-stricken bank robber in Brian A. Miller's VOD-centric thriller."<ref name="Backtrace_Varitey">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/backtrace-review-1203089356/|title=Film Review: 'Backtrace'|author=Leydon, Joe|date=December 14, 2018|accessdate=November 23, 2021}}</ref>
Kevin L. Lee of ''Film Inquiry'' called the film a "cinematic...headache." The critic criticized the writing, and the film's tone.<ref name="Backtrace_FI">{{cite web |url=https://www.filminquiry.com/backtrace-2018-review/|title=BACKTRACE: The Cinematic Equivalent Of A Headache|work=Film Inquiry|author=Lee, Kevin L.|date=January 16, 2019|accessdate=November 23, 2021}}</ref> Similarly, Noel Murray of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' critiqued the plot as unoriginal and familiar, stating: "A movie that very quickly becomes yet another story about people with guns chasing other people with guns, through featureless forests and abandoned buildings."<ref name="Backtrace_LAT">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-capsule-genre-string-20181212-story.html |work=The Los Angeles Times|title=Reviews: Jack Black in 'The Insufferable Groo,' Sylvester Stallone (barely) in 'Backtrace' and other movies|author=Murray, Noel|date=Dec 13, 2018 |accessdate=November 23, 2021}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title}} * {{rotten-tomatoes|backtrace}} * {{Metacritic film}}
[[Category:2018 films]] [[Category:2018 crime action films]] [[Category:2018 action thriller films]] [[Category:American crime action films]] [[Category:American action thriller films]] [[Category:American direct-to-video films]] [[Category:Films about amnesia]] [[Category:Films produced by Randall Emmett]] [[Category:Films shot in Georgia (U.S. state)]] [[Category:2018 English-language films]] [[Category:Films directed by Brian A. Miller]] [[Category:2018 American films]] [[Category:English-language crime action films]] [[Category:Lionsgate films]] [[Category:MoviePass Films films]]