Eddie (a fine and credible performance by Luke Goss) gets forced at gunpoint by the ruthless and vengeful Jimmy (superbly played with total conviction and fierce intensity by the always dependable Lance Henriksen) into the Mojave Desert where Jimmy has set up a series of traps and challenges in order to test the limits of Eddie's endurance and survival instincts. Is Eddie just a victim of hapless circumstance? Or does Jimmy have a valid reason for putting Eddie through this punishing ordeal? Director Brett A. Hart, who also co-wrote the crafty and absorbing script with Jeff O'Brien, relates the gripping story at a steady pace, makes the most out of the dusty'n'desolate isolated setting, ably milks plenty of sweat-inducing suspense from the edgy game of cat and mouse between the two central characters, delivers a few jolting moments of raw brutal violence, and tops everything off with a cool surprise twist ending that effectively shifts the viewer's sympathies from one person to another. The strong acting by Goss and Henriksen keeps the picture humming, with Henriksen a particular stand-out throughout as the relentless and determined Jimmy. Popping up in nifty small parts are Dee Wallace as friendly diner waitress Joanne, Tommy 'Tiny' Lister as menacing thug Mitch, and Carl Buffington as eccentric New Age drug dealer Marty. Scott Glasgow's moody score further pumps up the tension. The striking yellow-hued cinematography by John Darbonne and Kevin G. Ellis vividly captures the unsparing severity of the merciless desert heat. A real nice nail-biter.
Review of Bone Dry
