Blue Desert

1991 "Never run...where you can't hide."
5.2| 1h37m| R| en
Details

After surviving rape, comic-book artist Lisa Roberts is moving from New York City to small town in Arizona. But there's danger in small towns too.

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Reviews

Whitech It is not only a funny movie, but it allows a great amount of joy for anyone who watches it.
Aubrey Hackett While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.
Sarita Rafferty There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.
Phillipa Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.
Movie Enthusiast 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!
Pepper Anne 'Blue Desert' may have had the potential to be even a half-way plausible and more enjoyable thriller had the main character, Lisa Roberts (Courtney Cox) not been so stupid. When she is the victim of another attack on the streets of New York, comic book artist Roberts moves to a small town out West. In her first days there, she meets the suspiciously crazy Randall Atkins (Craig Sheffer, playing this part well) who will eventually not leave her side. Fearing for her safety after having been in the situation already twice before, she strikes up a friendship and relationship with the suspiciously amicable town cop, Steve Smith (D.B. Sweeny, who's character does not seem convincing enough, leaving disbelief among viewers who should otherwise be convinced of the red herrings thrown by the writers). Smith needs Roberts cooperation because, as he tells her, Atkins is an ex-con and guilty of sexual assault. But, the cops have lacked the evidence to put him away before.The movie had enough ploys to at least make an interesting movie because soon enough, there is such confusion as to whom Roberts should trust. However, much of the intended suspense appears too forced because Roberts character never seems to react to simple things as we think any reasonable person might. And her delayed responses allow much of that suspense to occur to easily and unconvincingly, particularly in the finale. Perhaps Sweeny was the wrong choice for this role; too baby faced in ways that kind of recall Kevin Anderson's persona evident in his character in 'Sleeping With the Enemy.' Or, if Lisa Roberts was written as a stronger character, this might suffice as well. In the meantime, the film is not all that great, even as a low-budget B-thriller.
kcalahan@swbell.net 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.
Eric-1226 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.