Storyline
They say a blast of flames can take a life ... and hide a secret. But now firemen brothers Brian and Stephen McCaffrey are battling each other over past slights while trying to stop an arsonist with a diabolical agenda from torching Chicago.
Directors
Writers
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Trailer
Reviews
75
Chicago Sun-Times
What I regret is that all of the expertise lavished on this movie couldn't have been put at the service of a more intelligent story about real firemen, real working conditions, real heroism, and the real craft and art of fire-fighting.
75
Entertainment Weekly
Fire, as this movie makes clear, is nothing if not photogenic, and Howard has done a beautiful job of conjuring both its danger and its deceptive, primal beauty.
60
Not only do the firefighting scenes evoke a feeling of gritty authenticity, but the fire itself really does seem to be alive.
60
Variety
Visually, [the film] often is exhilarating, but it's shapeless and dragged down by corny, melodramatic characters and situations.
50
The New York Times
While Mr. Howard ably maintains a strong forward momentum, Backdraft often feels directionless beneath its overlay of frantic activity. One clear story line would have been worth more than a series of subplots and tangents.
