Nightmare in the Desert

This movie clocks in at just over 1 hour, which is a blessing. I would guess this was a student film if it weren't for the somewhat half-decent production values. The actors seem like beginners from some acting school. Especially bad are the lead actress and the park ranger. Neither come across as authentic. They are both obviously "Acting!". And awkwardly, at that. I can't remember when I last saw acting this bad. They were just reading lines, with no emotion behind them. It actually made me feel bad for the actors, since this will be forever in their credits. The"third reviewer" here who gave this a bad review (which seems to have disappeared) was right - the 10 star reviews had to come from people involved in the project. No one could possibly find the characters believable. Or the plot, which was predictable. There was no suspense at all. For example when the lead actress looked over the cliff, we all knew what she was going to see. The whole movie was like that. What is surprising is that the director has some credibility. Why he took this job is a mystery. It must have been for some quick bucks, considering how short the movie is, which means it didn't take long to make.

The storyline of this movie was somewhat predictable but enjoyable to watch. I watched it with my son on a lazy Friday afternoon. Unfortunately, I had a hard time connecting with the primary characters. I found their interactions to be very scripted with not the right amount of emotion. The supporting actors in my opinion, (Chris the boyfriend ),were much more authentic and believeable than the primary characters. I enjoyed them and what they brought to the film. The music added to the overall fun and thrilling effect of the movie. The setting of the movie is near and dear to me as it is not far from where I live!!

This movie clocks in at just over 1 hour, which is a blessing. I would guess this was a student film if it weren't for the somewhat half-decent production values. The actors seem like beginners from some acting school. Especially bad are the lead actress and the park ranger. Neither come across as authentic. They are both obviously "Acting!". And awkwardly, at that. I can't remember when I last saw acting this bad. It actually made me feel bad for the actors, since this will be forever in their credits. The"third reviewer" here who gave this a bad review was right - the 10 star reviews had to come from people involved in the project. No one could possibly find the characters believable. Or the plot, which was predictable. There was no suspense at all. For example when the lead actress looked over the cliff, we all knew what she was going to see. The whole movie was like that. What is surprising is that the director has some credibility. Why he took this job is a mystery. It must have been for some quick bucks, considering how short the movie is, which means it didn't take long to make.

This, by itself, is a very good hint of what You are in for... Firstly, I would like to know who casts these people? A blind, deaf and dumb guy who can't see nor hear their auditions and then cannot say they suck? Oh Lord!!!!! The main character (Gia something) is a terrible actress! Monotonic and expressless, delivers a fake speech with no emotion or tone, whatsoever... God awful acting! The park ranger came straight from a bad episode of "Blossom"... The old man is as belieaveable as a 3 dollar bill!!!!! The editing was made by a trainee from cooking school, as the cutaways are just terrible!!!! I mean... who supports Lifeline financially??!?! How can a company with such low quality products can still be up and running!?!?!? Honestly, I don't get it!!!! This is everything that cinema is NOT supposed to be!!!!! The other two people who reviewed this pile of garbage gave it a 10... I would bet they are the two main characters trying to boost up the ratings.... the girl and the ranger, making an even worse performance than they did in the movie (hardly achievable). Please people... higher-ups of Lifeline... get some shame in you and start doing things right. You are not required to create blockbusters, but you are definitely not in the market of guano production!!!!!

Nightmare in the Desert was the front runner Lifetime needed to kickstart their fall line up of movies. This film elicits suspense and questions from the rip, and the audience is snatched along for the ride. The locations are great, with perfect transitions between night and day, adding to the thrill and race against time - and villain - that the protagonists must overcome. With a realistic plot and well written script, I found myself jumping at the commercials in anticipation of what would happen next. The cast all carry themselves and their characters through complex, 3D emotions. Gia, Tristan, and Allen are stars in this picture and I can't wait to see what cinema has in store for them next!

source: Nightmare in the Desert

This movie was so much fun to watch! Lifetime movies have a knack for drawing you in and keeping you glued to the action all the way to the end--commercials and all! The story takes place in Joshua Tree, California, against a stunning backdrop, and is based on actual events. Suspicions arise from the get-go as the three main characters find themselves involved in an increasingly suspenseful dialogue, which leads to some rather unfortunate consequences. All in all, a fun ride with a cast that I want to see a lot more of in the future. Well done, Tristan, Gia, Craig, and Allen! Lifetime, you did it again!