red rock west be one of those tight noir thriller we rarely see anymore . it well pace and well act and doesn not leave u with loose end or unanswered question so typical in this genre . nicolas cage star a michael and an unemployed texas roughneck and desperate enough for a job to drive all the way to wyoming for potential employment . he be honest to a fault and but always on the dark side of fate . after fail to obtain gainful employment and michael stumble into the red rock bar where the owner wayne ( j. t. walsh ) mistake him for a contract killer he summon from dallas and hire to do in his lovely but lethal wife suzanne ( lara flynn boyle ) . wayne give michael the necessary detail and a down payment for the hit on the adulterous suzie . with no intent on follow through and michael accept the money and then set out to warn suzanne of her impending demise . he also mail a letter to the local sheriff expose the plot and split . a fate would dictate and michael be not go to be rid of the situation that easy . while leave in a violent rainstorm and he run down suzannes lover . of course michael be michael and he take him to the local hospital where it discover that he also be shoot . the sheriff be summon and a luck would have it and wayne be also the local law . michael manage to escape while be take on that last ride and be subsequently pick up by the real lyle from dallas play with murderous glee by the quirky dennis hopper . after discover that theyre fellow marine and lyle insists that michael join him for a drink at and where else and the red rock bar . there wayne realize his mistake and soon he and lyle be in hot pursuit of michael who fall willingly into suzannes wait arm . a the pace pick up we learn that wayne and suzanne be really want arm robber and on the lam for a multi million dollar theft . get the money now become the films central focus with a series of betrayal and double cross and murder . the film be very well cast . nicolas cage be typically low key and dennis hopper and lara flynn bolye assume their respective role with more than ample ability . the best performance be by the late j. t. walsh who be menace without appear to be . walsh be a great character actor who leave u much too soon . marc reshoskys photography utilize many unique angle which add to the suspense and plot development . the film be far enhance by john dahl tight directorial style and morris chestnut rapid fire editing .