History Film / BreakerBreaker

* SmugSnake: Judge Josh.

** It should be noted though that $250 in 1977, adjusted for inflation, would equal over $1200, far beyond the amount a working class trucker would carry on their person.

Norris plays John David "J.D." Dawes, trucker, badass and all-around nice guy. After JD's younger brother, Billy, goes missing in the middle of his first solo freight run, he and his sweet custom van go out to the notorious town of Texas City, California. There he befriends Arlene (Terry O'Connor), a waitress and single mom and the only person in town who isn't openly hostile to him (other than Arney, the mentally challenged gas station attendant). He runs afoul of town patriarch Judge Joshua Trimmings (George Murdock) and his band of corrupt deputies led by Sgt. Strode (Don Gentry).

* BookEnds: A quite ironic set: the movie begins with Trimmings showcasing to the citizens of Texas City the documents he just received that declare the town a full official city and his promise to improve it. The film ends with Texas City dying at the hands of a bunch of heroic truckers [[CarMeetsHouse going full demolition derby]] on the place in revenge for Trimmings' corruption.

* DownSouth: Well, Southern California, not that there's too much of a difference. Texas City is as stereotypical a redneck WretchedHive as you get.

* NoodleIncident: It's never made clear *how* Tex Trimmings was killed. Arlene claims [[OffingTheOffspring Judge Josh was responsible]], and the judge's accusation that [[AwfulMarriedLife Arlene drove Tex away by being a nagging shrew of a wife]] is clearly a lie, but otherwise nothing more is shared about how Tex died.

* NoodleIncident: It's never made clear how Tex Trimmings was killed. Arlene claims Judge Josh was responsible, but we're never really given further insight into the accusation.

* PosthumousCharacter: Tex Trimmings, Judge Josh's son and Arlene's husband, who the judge exploits the memory of in order to fire up the townsfolk, even when Arlene makes it clear that Tex hated Josh's guts, and implies he met his demise because Josh [[TheFettered couldn't corrupt him.]]

* PosthumousCharacter: Tex Trimmings, Judge Josh's son and Arlene's husband, who the judge exploits the memory of in order to fire up the townsfolk, even when Arlene makes it clear that Tex hated Josh's guts, and implies met his demise because Josh [[TheIncorruptible couldn't corrupt him.]]

* FauxAffablyEvil: Judge Josh puts on a very jovial demeanor for most of the townsfolk in Texas City, [[TheBarnum but it's pretty obvious that he's an egomaniacal despot who only sees his constituents as exploitable rubes and/or his personal good squad]], and any attempt he makes at being good-natured is tainted by his naturally slimy, smarmy demeanor.

* NeutralFemale: (Defied) As soon as Arlene learns JD is in trouble, she manages to escape from Judge Josh's goons and call for help.

* The Barnum: Judge Josh, in spades.

* FauxAffablyEvil: Judge Josh puts on a very jovial demeanor for most of the townsfolk in Texas City, but it's pretty obvious that he's an egomaniacal despot who only sees his constituents as exploitable rubes and/or his personal good squad, and any attempt he makes at being good-natured [[SlimeBall is tainted by his naturally slimy, smarmy demeanor.]]

* NoEnding: Once the climactic showdown between JD and Strode is over, one quick shot of the burning remains of Texas City later and roll credits.

* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: The main force of the plot, though JD is a bit light on the "roaring" part...[[spoiler: up until he sees Boles brutalizing his tied-up brother, at which point it becomes VERY literal when he kicks Boles through a wall.]]

* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: The main force of the plot, though JD is a bit light on the "roaring" part...[[up until he sees Boles brutalizing his tied-up brother, at which point it becomes VERY literal when he kicks Boles through a wall.]]

* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: The main force of the plot, though JD is a bit light on the "roaring" part.

* TheDragon: Strode.

* InformedAbility: Strode is made out to be a menacing, dangerous brute of a man. He turns out to be a paunchy bully who gets his ass kicked by JD at every turn. Though he is the only character JD fights that doesn't get KO'ed within five seconds.

* JustAFleshWound: JD is gut-shot from less than three feet away with a normal caliber bullet by Wade, yet he is able to rescue his brother and fight Strode in a long, drawn out brawl as if it were just a minor inconvenience.
* MinionWithAnFInEvil: Arney, though his cousin/boss, Wade, seems to make sure Arney doesn't know they are doing anything illegal.

* DisproportionateRetribution: When Arlene puts out the call for help, every trucker in range takes the opportunity to ride in and literally destroy the town. ''Somewhat'' justified in that Texas City had a reputation for abusing truckers and stealing their loads.

* TheCavalry: The impromptu convoy of truckers who swoop in and rescue JD. Though they don't really "rescue" JD so much as "cause a commotion that ultimately ends up distracting JD's would-be executioner, allowing him to escape.

* RoaringRampageOfRescue: The army of truckers who form TheCalvary at the end. A big part of the reason they ride in to help JD is that ItsPersonal.