Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- melancholic
- gloomy
- oppressive
- late night viewing
- serious drama night
What critics said
Critics found the film an uneven but intriguing debut, praising its sombre atmosphere and performances while questioning the credibility and development of its darker material.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Altmyer family lives in a poor Pennsylvania coal-town backwoods community marked by service-economy stagnation and isolation.
Harley and his sisters remain shaped by their abusive father’s violence and their mother’s imprisonment after his shooting.
The film combines grim family secrets, abuse, murder, sexual transgression, and a sombre but occasionally camp quality.
Harley abandons his college prospects to care for three younger sisters after his mother is arrested.
Films like Back Roads, and why
Winter's Bone
shares bleak family dysfunction, rural poverty, buried trauma, and southern gothic atmosphere
Sharp Objects
shares oppressive family secrets, damaged siblings, and a psychologically dark rural setting
The Florida Project
shares working-class isolation, abuse aftermath, and morally compromised family relationships
Movie Details
- Director
- Alex Pettyfer
- Release Date
- 2019-11-15
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Rating
- 5.8 / 10 (63)
Cast
- Alex Pettyfer
- Jennifer Morrison
- Nicola Peltz
- Chiara Aurelia
- Hala Finley
- June Carryl
- Juliette Lewis
- Robert Patrick
- Robert Longstreet
- Tom Everett Scott
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Back Roads about?
- A traumatized young man struggles to raise his sisters in rural Pennsylvania while violence, desire, and family secrets threaten to repeat themselves.
- What is Back Roads like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Back Roads as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Back Roads violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Back Roads as moderate.
- What did critics think of Back Roads?
- Critics found the film an uneven but intriguing debut, praising its sombre atmosphere and performances while questioning the credibility and development of its darker material.
- Which films are like Back Roads?
- Films with a similar feel include Winter's Bone, Sharp Objects, and The Florida Project.
- How long is Back Roads?
- Back Roads runs 101 minutes.
- Where can I watch Back Roads?
- In United States, Back Roads streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
