Muerte en el desierto

I first came across this film one night when I was staying at a friend's house after a night out! All 3 of us drunk watched it an loved it!!! Yes it's very cheesy and has bad acting. But very suspenseful! And quite chilling. Also contains one of the funniest dance scenes ever in a movie! It took me years after to get a copy and that was on VHS. Think the full movie is now only YouTube.

Four men in the desert, on a hunting trip. But something is watching them... and affecting their moods/behaviour...

The cast are good - particularly Chuck Connors and Marc Singer - and the story pulls the viewer in, right from the start. Some of the odd behaviour (like the orgy with the two 'hippy girls') is a genuinely weird viewing experience. But it works because, just like the characters, you are constantly wondering 'what the heck is going on?'

None of the characters are particularly likeable. Deliberately so. And the points made about male bonding and friendship are well observed. There's plenty of tension and a small amount of action. It's never dull or boring, there is always something new/interesting happening. And the ending is good. Both the way the surviving characters use to escape, and the twist in the final seconds.

One of the first TV movies made for USA Network.

Compared to a lot of the Horror movies today, many may find this story rather slow and feel that 'not a lot happens' But, for me personally, this is one of my favourite kinds of older Horror/Sci Fi films. I've always had a real soft spot in my heart for this particular one, so I may favour it more than most (I personally would have given it an '8', but I think people on average would probably not like it quite as much as I do, so I just gave it a '7' : )

The absolute standout in this movie is that it is ***ALL*** about Atmosphere and Mood. I thought the soundtrack was very effective too and adds a lot to the feel of the film. Also, I feel another thing that makes this movie appealing is the strong Mystery factor. I mean, even from the beginning you're wondering, 'What the hell is going on!'

I like the way it starts with the ancient Native American village and that really sets the tone for the entire story. The acting is nothing to get too worked up about, although good ol' Chuck Conners does a nice job with his role. The rest are okay, they get the job done, but no Oscars will be forthcoming, especially since it was made in 1989 :D

I really liked the increasing sense of Mystery and dread. Along with the people the audience gets the tension ratcheted up little by little as they begin to question their own perceptions and even they own sanity. There is not really very much in the way of special effects or anything super visual, it is really old-school that way. I also particularly like movies where they play with your sense of reality (and in this case the reality of the characters) where you are not quite sure as to what is real and what isn't. To me that adds an extra layer of suspense.

Actually, the reason why I say this is a 'Throwback' is because even though it is made in 1989, it still is strongly reminiscent of many of the Telefilms made around 1973 or thereabouts. And, this is most definitely a Telefilm. You can tell by the 4x3 framing (full screen) and the obvious breaks for commercials. So, as you likely know, it is VERY tough to make a truly effective Horror Telefilm, especially back at that time, with the limitations that come with television. Thus the reason I feel strongly that this movie is made very well and is quite effective for a Horror telefilm. In mood and atmosphere it kind of reminds me of another very effective and scary telefilm made in 1973 starring the great Eli Wallach and Robert Culp called 'A COLD NIGHT'S DEATH' Another outstanding example of the use of mood, atmosphere, and sound design to build to a pretty effective Horror movie - in that movie's case, it is more psychological, a tad more scary, and a bit better made, and of course with A-List actors.

So, I would say, don't go into this movie expecting a lot of action or effects or intense violence that is indicative of many of the Horror films today. But, like I mention in my title above, this is a nice old-fashioned throwback with I feel excellent atmosphere and mood, and just a little touch of Science Fiction. If you appreciate older, slower building films like this, then you might enjoy this one.

First the good news."High Desert Kill" is what bad movies are supposed to be, and I guess that's good. Now for the bad news. You will absolutely be mesmerized by the pathetic acting by everyone involved, including Chuck Conners. It's like they just got the script the day of shooting. All the animals are gone and human behavior is being altered by some unseen force. Now just sort of wing it for ninety minutes. Keep the audience guessing or put them to sleep, or both. This movie is what it is, and what it is, is bad. The only redeeming feature is the eerie New Mexico landscape, but you could buy a postcard and save ninety minutes of your life. "High Desert Kill" is a keeper for all the wrong reasons, sort of a gold standard for the worst of the worst. - MERK

This is one film you don't want to miss! This could become a cult classic, if enough people would view it with the right attitude.

Here are some of my random thoughts:

The Cover: The cover has a cool looking design, even though it really has no resemblance with anything in the film.

The dialogue: Probably improvised by the actors as they went along. "What's driving all the animals away, is it the drought?" (As Chuck Connors and Anthony Geary are walking past a large flowing river, in a lush, green forested area)

Cinematography, editing: In one scene, where the guys are scattering Pauls ashes, the scenes alternates many times between overcast skies, with dim illumination to bright sunny skies, casting long shadows on the actors faces and surrounding scenery.

Chuck Connors, playing Stan, the "Professional Hunter": What was he thinking, taking on this role? The poor guy must have really needed the cash. He does all that he can with the material, however. His voice inflections and facial expressions are top notch.

The drunken party with the "Hippie Girls" is a classic. Many memorable moments.

Micah Grant, playing Ray Bettencamp: Why did they even bring Ray along on their hunting trip? He's not their friend, he's not a hunter, he's half their ages... But hey, he delivers some of the worst lines in the film, (and he had access to his dead uncle's 4wd vehicle) so its ok.