Blue Desert

This movie is way above average. Along the lines of a "chick power" movie (starring Courtney Cox - who looks great here riding a big Harley motorcycle, by the way), it has a compelling storyline, an interesting desert setting, and just enough plot twists and turns to make it intriguing until the very end. The movie has a genuine atmosphere of suspense and mystery throughout, as well as an interesting side-bar of a comic strip that gets lightly woven into the story.

What strikes me most about this film is that the characters and the setting all seem extremely realistic and believable - it's almost as if this story really happened.

There are a few scenes of violence, a bit of gun action, plus a few car chase segments, but they are very low-key - not at all like the way over-the-top nonsense that you see all too often in the movies. This only adds to the realism of the movie.

I was also struck by certain similarities between this movie and "Tank Girl" (1995), which also had a "chick power" theme, as well as comic book segments woven into the movie.

Anyway, if you like realistic crime-drama movies, I'd highly recommend this little gem.

This movie had lots of flaws but overall still watchable such as Saturday night entertainment for example. I liked the actors, the setting, and atmosphere and the base idea of the script was really good.

But the way the whole script was played out and directed was full of plot holes and that was the main flaw of he movie and why it was not as engaging as it could have been. It is very unfair to blame actors for it though as some other reviewers have done as the actors simply have to do what the script and director says.

So the way Lisas character was acting and reacting in certain situations was totally unrealistic. Like she had been threatened by the geeky guy before and when he turns up again instead of locking herself in trailer she goes out and offers him a sandwich. OK, suppose that was for diversion,for calming him down. But while the guy is eating sandwich, she had a good opportunity to run inside, lock the door, grab a hammer or something.But no, she instead joins him for a drink! On top of that, she lets him inside all the while she had all the time to slam the door in front of his nose, lets him to fix the sink and then volunteers to go near him!

Or, a after another attempt of sexual attack, she undresses herself with lights on and windows uncovered! Also, the couple who rented her the trailer were just 50 m away in the house! Yet it never occurred to her to ask their help or to sleep in the house together with couple after the attacks and threats! Also, in the life threatening situations Lisa remains surprisingly calm and mellow. That was not very realistic either. A normal reaction would have been absolute hysteric and panic.

In spite of all that, I still quite liked the movie but I wish i had thread and needle to sew up the plot holes!

I first saw 'Blue Desert' by chance on a late TV show and I liked so much I rented it twice on video, although I had missed the first scenes and didn't know its title.However, every time I've talked to friends about this movie, it looks like they haven't even heard about it. And it's a shame because in my opinion this is one of the best thrillers of the decade, much better than the overrated 'Silence of the lambs' and 'Wild things', but somehow it seems that it never attracted the attention it deserved.

The plot and direction are (almost) flawless, the suspense builds on from the first until the last minute and Courteney Cox makes a top-quality performance.

However, I would still advise everyone to give this movie a chance because it's definitely worth it.

(My Rating: 8/10)

Courtney COX, (does a nude scene you get to see her nubs) plays a comic book writer (every fan-boys wet dream) who gets raped. She reports it to the police, and a Sipowicz style detective mocks her for being raped before. So she packs up her self up and moves out to a secluded trailer in the desert. She's immediately set upon by the village idiot. He gets chased away by the deputy who while protecting her seduces her. As things don't sync-up with the deputy she wonders who's really stalking her the Deputy or town fool. All of which gets written into her comic book. A while ago I watched "DOGVILLE" where Nicole KIDMAN is raped over and over by the townsfolk. Those who can't get a piece of KIDMAN she has to drag around on a heavy metal stockade. That's what this film should've been this joyless kind of thrilling movie missed on so many levels. It's not an empowering woman movie where she finds the strength through her character and ordeal to go on. Its not a don't judge a book by the cover as the cops the criminal and the criminal the hero. Its just goes no-where does nothing and you like just bend her over already. Since you're not gonna do anything meaningful, or better with the assembled cast mise well turn it into a sexploitation film.

This movie really builds to a climax at the end. D B Sweeney (Memphis Belle, Superfire, Hardball, 8 Men Out, The Cutting Edge) is such an under-rated actor. This guy should be getting major movie roles!

I ordered this movie, Blue Desert, because Sweeney was in it. I was not disappointed. He plays the local law enforcement officer (Steve Smith) of a small, sleepy, boring desert town. Lisa, (Courtney Cox), a rape victim, leaves NYC to get away from that madness and settle in the desert where she will feel safer. Boy, was she wrong! She meets a weird drifter who immediately tries to take sexual advantage of her (Craig Sheffer of A River Ran Through It). So she finds out fast that this sleepy little town isn't as safe as she wishes. She turns to Steve, (D B Sweeney), who is the helpful and protective police officer. Steve is always polite, trusting, and soft spoken. Sweeney plays this role perfectly! Steve is there to help the damsel in distress.

The movie twists and turns. Evidence mounts against the drifter but Sweeney can't get enough evidence to put the guy away. The drifter tells Lisa bad things about Steve and the polite and efficient Steve tells Lisa he is there to protect her and not to believe the drifter. Who to believe? After awhile Lisa doesn't know who is the bad guy and who is the good guy.

The ending is as suspenseful as you can get in a movie. Like I have said before, Sweeney is wonderful in this role. He makes this movie work as far as I am concerned because he is so believable.

If you like a psycho thriller. If you like suspense. If you like Courtney Cox and if you like D.B. Sweeney, then this movie is for you. I highly recommend this sleeper of a movie. It is well worth watching.