Lane Dixon M.D. R. Lee Ermey as Sheriff Buck Olmstead William Fichtner as Jack McGinnis Ted Levine as Deputy Nate Braden Walt Goggins as Bud Maggie Roswell as Fae Allison Smith as Becky Julio Oscar Mechoso as Jorge Martinez Kevin Cooney as Grant Montgomery Leo Burmester as Clyde 'Shorty' Callahan Brent Hinkley as Man on Porch Other The film's visual effects were designed by veteran studio VIFX/Video Image. The Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Snowplow AX-044, featured near the end of the film, is listed on the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties and is on permanent display at the Pioneer Village Museum in Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado. Reception The film grossed $6.5 million in the US and had a budget of $38 million. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 31% rating based on 26 reviews, with an average rating of 4.8/10. The critics consensus reads, "Burdened by its heavy load of digressive plot turns and uneven performances, Switchback never gains any sense of narrative momentum." Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B-" on an A+ to F scale. Stephen Holden of The New York Times describes the film as "a disorganized mess". He faults Quaid for being too dour and Glover for being too likable. Both Holden and Roger Ebert praised the film's atmosphere, especially its location shots. Ebert found the setting and the minor characters, like Ermey's sheriff, the most charming parts of the film, concluding, "What we have here is a potentially good movie swamped by the weight of Hollywood formulas it is forced to carry". References External links Movie review from the Cincinnati Enquirer 1997 films 1997 crime thriller films American crime thriller films American detective films American serial killer films Films produced by Gale Anne Hurd Films produced by Jeb Stuart Films set in Texas Films set in New Mexico Films set in Colorado Films shot in Colorado Films shot in California Films scored by Basil Poledouris Paramount Pictures films Films with screenplays by Jeb Stuart 1997 directorial debut films 1990s English-language films 1990s American films