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Poster for One False Move

One False Move

There was no crime in Star City, Arkansas. No murder. And no fear. Until now.

1991 · 1h 45m · R Crime, Drama, Thriller
Directed by Carl Franklin

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Overview

Following a series of drug deals and murders, three criminals -- Fantasia, Ray Malcolm and Pluto -- travel from Los Angeles to Houston, finally arriving in a small Arkansas town to go into hiding. Two detectives from the LAPD, who are already on the case, contact the town's sheriff, Dale Dixon, to alert him of the fugitives' presence in the area. Underestimating Dixon, the criminals have no idea what they are about to face.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
93%
Tomatometer
Fresh

Franklin's convincing portrait of life on both sides of the color line isn't quite like anything I've come across before, making One False Move one very assured directorial move. We need more filmmakers like him.

Michael Upchurch, Seattle Times
Fresh

For most of the way, One False Move is taut and sure-footed.

Peter Rainer, Los Angeles Times
Fresh

Skillfully performed and welcomely unpredictable, this low-budget crime film, made by actor turned director Carl Franklin, starts out as a herky-jerky exploitation piece, then turns into something better.

Michael Sragow, New Yorker
Fresh

Everything about this movie -- the terse writing, the concise directing, the smart, unaffected acting -- is eminently satisfying.

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
Fresh

The biggest difference between One False Move and most other action films is the sting in its violence. There is so little stylization here -- so little gimmickry -- that when someone is shot or knifed, you feel it.

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel

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