REVIEW: “Thieves Highway” (2025)

by

It’s been a while since Aaron Eckhart, a consistently good actor who doesn’t always get the recognition he deserves, has appeared in a big, widely-released movie. He’s worked with some of the most respected directors in the industry – names like Oliver Stone, Steven Soderbergh, and Christopher Nolan – but recently he’s been starring in action films released directly to home video. Hopefully, Hollywood will soon remember his talent!

Travis Mills’ new thriller, “Thieves Highway,” benefits from a unique Oklahoma setting, but suffers from a predictable storyline. The film centers on Frank Bennett, a seasoned law enforcement officer played by Eckhart, who works for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, tracking down those responsible for a surge in cattle theft that’s costing the state millions.

Frank’s work as a lawman has become increasingly difficult. Cattle thefts are up, and the thieves are becoming more violent – his friend and colleague, Johnny Messner, was recently paralyzed in an attack. Still, Frank continues, largely because he’s lost everything since his wife died. A glimmer of hope appears when he reconnects with an old friend, Sylvia, but their budding romance quickly becomes predictable.

It’s no surprise when Frank’s friend, Bill (Lochlyn Munro), meets a tragic end. After announcing his retirement plans and desire to focus on family, Bill stubbornly joins Frank to deal with some cattle rustlers. He’s killed in the ensuing shootout, but Frank escapes. Now alone and driven by revenge, Frank sets out to find Bill’s killers. Meanwhile, the gang, led by the unstable and dangerous Jones (Devon Sawa) – who carries a vintage machine gun from World War II – is hunting him down.

Throughout much of the film, director Jesse V. Johnson creates a thrilling chase between Frank, who is outmatched but clever, and Jones and his crew. After being abandoned without transportation or communication, Frank unexpectedly teams up with Axsel, a man living off the grid. Meanwhile, a determined waitress named Peggy becomes surprisingly important as the situation escalates.

“Thieves Highway” is a fast-paced movie, efficiently telling its story in just 87 minutes. However, it feels a bit rushed and could have benefited from about fifteen more minutes to develop the plot and characters more fully. While Johnson and Mills deliver enjoyable performances, and Eckhart is a solid lead, the film relies too heavily on shortcuts and lacks the suspense needed to truly engage the audience, making the plot somewhat predictable.

Read More

2025-12-12 18:57