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* InternalReveal: The audience discovers who's the killer before the other characters do, since we see him just as she's about to murder someone (with the actual act offscreen).
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* InternalReveal: The audience discovers who's the killer before the other characters do, since we see him just as she's he's about to murder someone (with the actual act offscreen).
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* TerminologyTitle: Switchback refers to a section of a railroad going up a steep hill.
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* WhamShot: Two of them:
** When [=LaCrosse=] wakes up to the sound of a freight train passing by the motel he's staying at, [[spoiler:he sees the number on the back of the train is 218, and realizes the serial killer was referring to that, instead of a date]].
** A little later, [[spoiler:when [=LaCrosse=] is on the train, the engineer shows him a map of the train's path, and one of the towns listed there is "Believe", which makes [=LaCrosse=] realize what the killer meant when he wrote, "You must come to Believe."]]
** When [=LaCrosse=] wakes up to the sound of a freight train passing by the motel he's staying at, [[spoiler:he sees the number on the back of the train is 218, and realizes the serial killer was referring to that, instead of a date]].
** A little later, [[spoiler:when [=LaCrosse=] is on the train, the engineer shows him a map of the train's path, and one of the towns listed there is "Believe", which makes [=LaCrosse=] realize what the killer meant when he wrote, "You must come to Believe."]]
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* EveryCarIsAPinto: Averted - when Bob loses control of his car, and it goes off the road and then over the pass, it doesn't catch fire, though it does break into several pieces.
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* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Sheriff Olmstead may have his own murder investigation to deal with, but when he realizes why [=LaCrosse=] is investigating the case, he not only helps [=LaCrosse=], but when [=LaCrosse=]'s boss comes to arrest him, Olmstead instead helps [=LaCrosse=] get to the next town so he can find his son.
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* RogueAgent: Frank [=LaCrosse=] is an FBIAgent who's a heroic example. He went rogue after the FBI closed the case of a {{serial killer}} he'd been hunting down on a taskforce. [=LaCrosse=] (rightly) believes the killer faked his suicide (which caused the case to be closed) as well as kidnapping [=LaCrosse=]'s son with a taunting note left behind as a lure. He'd been assigned another case, but left and went after the killer again without permission. During the film, his superior is trying to arrest [=LaCrosse=] for this. [[spoiler:However, in spite of all this, [=LaCrosse=] finds the killer and also his son.]]
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* AdultFear: Frank [=LaCrosse=]'s son was taken out of his house by the killer, who murdered the child's babysitter. Since then, naturally [=LaCrosse=] has been obsessed with finding him, as the killer promised he could, though most people think it's hopeless.
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* MissingChild: Frank [=LaCrosse=]'s son was taken out of his house by the killer, who murdered the child's babysitter. Since then, naturally [=LaCrosse=] has been obsessed with finding him, as the killer promised he could, though most people think it's hopeless.
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C Ms can't be genuinely affable.
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* AffablyEvil: [[spoiler:Bob]] is a friendly, charming man, though he does show a hard side early on. He's friends with lots of people, who all can't believe he could ever be a serial killer. Yet he shows zero hesitation in killing them. Still, he rescues [[spoiler:Lane]] early on without gaining anything from doing so, indicating some genuine affection in his own twisted way. He also spared [=LaCrosse=]'s son, apparently not stooping ''[[WouldntHurtAChild that]]'' low.
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* FauxAffablyEvil: [[spoiler:Bob]] puts on a front as a friendly, charming man, though he does show a hard side early on. He's friends with lots of people, who all can't believe he could ever be a serial killer. Yet he shows zero hesitation in killing them.
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* AffablyEvil: [[spoiler:Bob]] is a friendly, charming man, though he does show a hard side early on. He's friends with lots of people, who all can't believe he could ever be a serial killer. Yet he shows zero hesitation in killing them. Still, he rescues [[spoiler:Lane]] early on without gaining anything from doing so, indicating some genuine affection in his own twisted way.
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* AffablyEvil: [[spoiler:Bob]] is a friendly, charming man, though he does show a hard side early on. He's friends with lots of people, who all can't believe he could ever be a serial killer. Yet he shows zero hesitation in killing them. Still, he rescues [[spoiler:Lane]] early on without gaining anything from doing so, indicating some genuine affection in his own twisted way. He also spared [=LaCrosse=]'s son, apparently not stooping ''[[WouldntHurtAChild that]]'' low.
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* AffablyEvil: [[spoiler:Bob]] is a friendly, charming man, though he does show a hard side early on. He's friends with lots of people, who all can't believe he could ever be a serial killer. Yet he shows zero hesitation in killing them.
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* AffablyEvil: [[spoiler:Bob]] is a friendly, charming man, though he does show a hard side early on. He's friends with lots of people, who all can't believe he could ever be a serial killer. Yet he shows zero hesitation in killing them. Still, he rescues [[spoiler:Lane]] early on without gaining anything from doing so, indicating some genuine affection in his own twisted way.
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Reverting edit of ban evader
* AffablyEvil: [[spoiler:Bob]] is a friendly, charming man, though he does show a hard side early on. He's friends with lots of people, who all can't believe he could ever be a serial killer. Yet he shows zero hesitation in killing them.
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* FauxAffablyEvil: [[spoiler:Bob]] puts on a front as a friendly, charming man, though he does show a hard side early on. He's friends with lots of people, who all can't believe he could ever be a serial killer. Yet he shows zero hesitation in killing them.
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* FrameUp: The killer had an accomplice (seen early on) or dupe who helped him kidnap [=LaCrosse=]'s son. When the FBI were closing in, he left evidence after murdering the guy (staged as a suicide) to make it look like he'd been the killer, so they'd declared it closed. [=LaCrosse=] didn't buy this, and kept hunting.
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* FrameUp: The killer had an accomplice (seen early on) or dupe who helped him kidnap [=LaCrosse=]'s son. When the FBI were closing in, he left evidence after murdering the guy (staged as a suicide) to make it look like he'd been the killer, so they'd declared declare it closed. [=LaCrosse=] didn't buy this, and kept hunting.
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* IHaveYourWife: The killer kidnapped [=LaCrosse=]'s son, but doesn't coerce him into stopping the hunt. Rather, he left [=LaCrosse=] a note saying he can only save his son by killing him, as a challenge. Most everyone believes his son, though [=LaCrosse=] says he has to keep believing otherwise.
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* IHaveYourWife: The killer kidnapped [=LaCrosse=]'s son, but doesn't coerce him into stopping the hunt. Rather, he left [=LaCrosse=] a note saying he can only save his son by killing him, as a challenge. Most everyone believes his son, son is already dead, though [=LaCrosse=] says he has to keep believing otherwise.
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* AffablyEvil: [[spoiler:Bob]] is a friendly, charming man, though he does show a hard side early on. He's friends with lots of people, who all can't believe he could ever be a serial killer. Yet he shows zero hesitation in killing them.
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* FauxAffablyEvil: [[spoiler:Bob]] puts on a front as a friendly, charming man, though he does show a hard side early on. He's friends with lots of people, who all can't believe he could ever be a serial killer. Yet he shows zero hesitation in killing them.
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A 1997 thriller film, ''Switchback'' revolves around the hunt for an elusive serial killer. Sheriff Buck Olmstead is facing a tough battle for reelection, while two grisly murders have just been committed in town. An FBI agent quickly arrives named Frank [=LaCrosse=], who tells him these were committed by a serial killer who he has been chasing. It turns out though the FBI believes the case is closed, and [=LaCrosse=] has gone rogue because he's convinced otherwise (the serial killer also kidnapped his son, shown in the opening). Meanwhile, a young drifter, Lane Dixon, gets picked up from the side of the road while hitchhiking by an affable man named Bob Goodall, the pair setting off cross-country. Yet who is the killer?
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[[quoteright:285:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/switchback.jpg]]
A 1997 thriller film, ''Switchback'' revolves around the hunt for an elusive serial killer. Sheriff Buck Olmstead is facing a tough battle for reelection, while two grisly murders have just been committed in town. An FBI agent quickly arrives named Frank [=LaCrosse=], who tells him these were committed by a serial killer who he has been chasing. It turns out though the FBI believes the case is closed, and [=LaCrosse=] has gone rogue because he's convinced otherwise (the serial killer also kidnapped his son, shown in the opening). Meanwhile, a young drifter, Lane Dixon, gets picked up from the side of the road while hitchhiking by an affable man named BobGoodall, Goodall; the pair setting set off cross-country. Yet who is the killer?
A 1997 thriller film, ''Switchback'' revolves around the hunt for an elusive serial killer. Sheriff Buck Olmstead is facing a tough battle for reelection, while two grisly murders have just been committed in town. An FBI agent quickly arrives named Frank [=LaCrosse=], who tells him these were committed by a serial killer who he has been chasing. It turns out though the FBI believes the case is closed, and [=LaCrosse=] has gone rogue because he's convinced otherwise (the serial killer also kidnapped his son, shown in the opening). Meanwhile, a young drifter, Lane Dixon, gets picked up from the side of the road while hitchhiking by an affable man named Bob
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* WouldntHurtAChild: Though the killer shows no compunctions at killing anyone else, he lets [=LaCrosse=]'s son live. Although this may be to screw with [=LaCrosse=] initially, he could have murdered the boy, making [=LaCrosse=]'s search futile, and this suggests [[EvenEvilHasStandards even he's reluctant or unwilling to murder children]].
to:
* WouldntHurtAChild: Though the killer shows no compunctions at killing anyone else, he lets [=LaCrosse=]'s son live. Although this may be to screw with [=LaCrosse=] initially, he could have murdered the boy, making [=LaCrosse=]'s search futile, and this suggests [[EvenEvilHasStandards even he's reluctant or unwilling to murder children]].
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The film stars Creator/DennisQuaid, with Creator/DannyGlover, Creator/JaredLeto and R. Lee Emery in supporting roles.
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* InternalReveal: The audience discovers who's the killer before the other characters do, since we see him murder someone (with the actual act offscreen).
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* InternalReveal: The audience discovers who's the killer before the other characters do, since we see him just as she's about to murder someone (with the actual act offscreen).
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* WouldntHurtAChild: Though the killer shown no compunctions at killing anyone else, he lets [=LaCrosse=]'s son live. Although this may be to screw with [=LaCrosse=] initially, he could have made it futile, and this suggests even he's reluctant or unwilling to murder children.
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* WouldntHurtAChild: Though the killer shown shows no compunctions at killing anyone else, he lets [=LaCrosse=]'s son live. Although this may be to screw with [=LaCrosse=] initially, he could have made it murdered the boy, making [=LaCrosse=]'s search futile, and this suggests [[EvenEvilHasStandards even he's reluctant or unwilling to murder children.children]].
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A 1997 thriller film, ''Switchback'' revolves around the hunt for an elusive serial killer. Sheriff Buck Olmstead is facing a tough battle for reelection, while two grisly murders have just been committed in town. An FBI agent quickly arrives named Frank LaCrosse, who tells him these were committed by a serial killer who he has been chasing. It turns out though the FBI believes the case is closed, and LaCrosse has gone rogue because he's convinced otherwise (the serial killer also kidnapped his son, shown in the opening). Meanwhile, a young drifter, Lane Dixon, gets picked up from the side of the road while hitchhiking by an affable man named Bob Goodall, the pair setting off cross-country. Yet who is the killer?
* FBIAgent:
* FBIAgent:
to:
A 1997 thriller film, ''Switchback'' revolves around the hunt for an elusive serial killer. Sheriff Buck Olmstead is facing a tough battle for reelection, while two grisly murders have just been committed in town. An FBI agent quickly arrives named Frank LaCrosse, [=LaCrosse=], who tells him these were committed by a serial killer who he has been chasing. It turns out though the FBI believes the case is closed, and LaCrosse [=LaCrosse=] has gone rogue because he's convinced otherwise (the serial killer also kidnapped his son, shown in the opening). Meanwhile, a young drifter, Lane Dixon, gets picked up from the side of the road while hitchhiking by an affable man named Bob Goodall, the pair setting off cross-country. Yet who is the killer?
!Examples:
* AdultFear: Frank [=LaCrosse=]'s son was taken out of his house by the killer, who murdered the child's babysitter. Since then, naturally [=LaCrosse=] has been obsessed with finding him, as the killer promised he could, though most people think it's hopeless.
* AffablyEvil: [[spoiler:Bob]] is a friendly, charming man, though he does show a hard side early on. He's friends with lots of people, who all can't believe he could ever be a serial killer. Yet he shows zero hesitation in killing them.
* AloneWithThePsycho: [[spoiler:Lane]], after he's realized [[spoiler:Bob]] really is the serial killer. They're in a train car, and [[spoiler:Bob]] murders the other person there.
* BarBrawl: Lane stops in a roadside bar against Bob's advice. He gets accused of beating up a man's friend in another town right away, and it quickly turns into a fight. Bob rescues him after they plan to do worse when he's overpowered by them.
* CriminalMindGames: The killer started writing [=LaCrosse=] taunting letters when he began hunting him, along with leaving clues and later kidnapping [=LaCrosse=]'s son. In his last letter, he left clues on how to catch him that take a long time for [=LaCrosse=] to figure out.
* FBIAgent: Frank [=LaCrosse=], who has been hunting the serial killer and headed the taskforce formed to catch him. However, the FBI has suspended him as he's gone rogue to keep up the hunt after they ruled the case is closed. A higher FBI official is trying to arrest him during the film for this.
* FrameUp: The killer had an accomplice (seen early on) or dupe who helped him kidnap [=LaCrosse=]'s son. When the FBI were closing in, he left evidence after murdering the guy (staged as a suicide) to make it look like he'd been the killer, so they'd declared it closed. [=LaCrosse=] didn't buy this, and kept hunting.
!Examples:
* AdultFear: Frank [=LaCrosse=]'s son was taken out of his house by the killer, who murdered the child's babysitter. Since then, naturally [=LaCrosse=] has been obsessed with finding him, as the killer promised he could, though most people think it's hopeless.
* AffablyEvil: [[spoiler:Bob]] is a friendly, charming man, though he does show a hard side early on. He's friends with lots of people, who all can't believe he could ever be a serial killer. Yet he shows zero hesitation in killing them.
* AloneWithThePsycho: [[spoiler:Lane]], after he's realized [[spoiler:Bob]] really is the serial killer. They're in a train car, and [[spoiler:Bob]] murders the other person there.
* BarBrawl: Lane stops in a roadside bar against Bob's advice. He gets accused of beating up a man's friend in another town right away, and it quickly turns into a fight. Bob rescues him after they plan to do worse when he's overpowered by them.
* CriminalMindGames: The killer started writing [=LaCrosse=] taunting letters when he began hunting him, along with leaving clues and later kidnapping [=LaCrosse=]'s son. In his last letter, he left clues on how to catch him that take a long time for [=LaCrosse=] to figure out.
* FBIAgent: Frank [=LaCrosse=], who has been hunting the serial killer and headed the taskforce formed to catch him. However, the FBI has suspended him as he's gone rogue to keep up the hunt after they ruled the case is closed. A higher FBI official is trying to arrest him during the film for this.
* FrameUp: The killer had an accomplice (seen early on) or dupe who helped him kidnap [=LaCrosse=]'s son. When the FBI were closing in, he left evidence after murdering the guy (staged as a suicide) to make it look like he'd been the killer, so they'd declared it closed. [=LaCrosse=] didn't buy this, and kept hunting.
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* InstantDramaJustAddTracheotomy: Lane performs one to establish his character used to be in med school.
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* IHaveYourWife: The killer kidnapped [=LaCrosse=]'s son, but doesn't coerce him into stopping the hunt. Rather, he left [=LaCrosse=] a note saying he can only save his son by killing him, as a challenge. Most everyone believes his son, though [=LaCrosse=] says he has to keep believing otherwise.
* InstantDramaJustAddTracheotomy: Lane performs one to establish his character used to be in medschool.school.
* InternalReveal: The audience discovers who's the killer before the other characters do, since we see him murder someone (with the actual act offscreen).
* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Sheriff Olmstead's BLT sandwiches, which he made himself.
* WouldntHurtAChild: Though the killer shown no compunctions at killing anyone else, he lets [=LaCrosse=]'s son live. Although this may be to screw with [=LaCrosse=] initially, he could have made it futile, and this suggests even he's reluctant or unwilling to murder children.
* InstantDramaJustAddTracheotomy: Lane performs one to establish his character used to be in med
* InternalReveal: The audience discovers who's the killer before the other characters do, since we see him murder someone (with the actual act offscreen).
* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Sheriff Olmstead's BLT sandwiches, which he made himself.
* WouldntHurtAChild: Though the killer shown no compunctions at killing anyone else, he lets [=LaCrosse=]'s son live. Although this may be to screw with [=LaCrosse=] initially, he could have made it futile, and this suggests even he's reluctant or unwilling to murder children.
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A 1997 thriller film, ''Switchback'' revolves around the hunt for an elusive serial killer. Sheriff Buck Olmstead is facing a tough battle for reelection, while two grisly murders have just been committed in town. An FBI agent quickly arrives named Frank LaCrosse, who tells him these were committed by a serial killer who he has been chasing. It turns out though the FBI believes the case is closed, and LaCrosse has gone rogue because he's convinced otherwise (the serial killer also kidnapped his son, shown in the opening). Meanwhile, a young drifter, Lane Dixon, gets picked up from the side of the road while hitchhiking by an affable man named Bob Goodall, the pair setting off cross-country. Yet who is the killer?
* FBIAgent:
* GoingByTheMatchbook: [[spoiler:Lane]] realizes that [[spoiler:Bob]] really is a SerialKiller by seeing that he's got a matchbook from a motel where a high-profile double murder was committed.
* InstantDramaJustAddTracheotomy: Lane performs one to establish his character used to be in med school.
* FBIAgent:
* GoingByTheMatchbook: [[spoiler:Lane]] realizes that [[spoiler:Bob]] really is a SerialKiller by seeing that he's got a matchbook from a motel where a high-profile double murder was committed.
* InstantDramaJustAddTracheotomy: Lane performs one to establish his character used to be in med school.
