Bone Dry a Horrifying Adventure Through Death Valley

Author/Michael Allen

Eddie, a family man and traveller finds himself on the wrong side of a gun in the desolate Mojave Desert. An anonymous killer who stalks, then terrorizes his prey puts this seemingly innocent man through a gruelling series of tests that few could survive. Yet, sometimes people's cruel intentions serve a purpose (Internet).

Rating: Restricted for violence and language.

Release Date: Winter 2007.

Starring: Luke Goss, Lance Henriksen, Tommy Lister, Dee Wallace, and Jennifer Siebel.

Director: Brett A. Hart.

Writers: Brett A. Hart, and Jeff O'Brien.

Musical Composition: Scott Glasgow.

"Bone Dry," is a low production picture, that while more thriller than horror manages to weave an interesting story of survival, torture and revenge. Two men pit themselves against each other in a test of wills where the desert will determine the winner. The story of "Bone Dry," is mostly linear with the imaginative scenes of a beautiful women swimming in a pool contrasting the otherwise dry, hostile environment of the Mojave desert. The mysterious, principal antagonist, the hunter (Lance Henriksen) is a truly cold-blooded outdoorsman who appears to be both a wilderness survivalist and serial killer. Devoid of any back story the anonymity of both killer and hunted add two interesting characterizations to a mostly brutal torture story.

Unfortunately, the music within the picture stands out a little too much and is overly loud. The musical composition from Scott Glasgow, although, adding several different cultural elements from Africa to South America, the soundtrack seems out of synch with the developing story. Very unsubtle and forefront within "Bone Dry," the music distracts from the enjoyment of the film.

The acting of Lance Henriksen who is a film veteran of several different genres seems very capable in his role of a mysterious killer. On the other hand, amateur actor, Luke Goss starts off as unbelievable and constantly seems to be off his mark throughout the picture. Henriksen balances hatred, and mystery in his character of a solitary hunter who preys on human travellers. With a quiet confidence Henriksen delivers dialogue and physical acting with an understatement that is in the tradition of quality acting. However, Goss repeatedly delivers the same lines over and over. Whether in the story or not Goss acts in an unbelievable fashion including one scene where his character wears a dark, black jacket in the middle of the desert. Also, this character rarely sweats in one of the harshest environments on the planet the Mojave Desert. Fortunately, On the whole the acting does not overly distract from the quality of the picture.

Brett A. Hart has a very discernable directing style with many open shots of the natural environment which utilizes black fade in and out cuts with a linear storytelling structure. Early in the film many of the shots of the desert involve slow tracking shots and distant slow pans of moving vehicles. As the film progresses more static shots take place along with frequent close-ups as the character's personalities come in to focus. Dusk, dawn, and nighttime sequences help to keep the story continuous while hinting at the time frame. The cinematography of the film is beautiful and almost speaks for itself, but director Hart knows how to draw even more life out of the cinemascape with the use of digital photography. The landscape shots within "Bone Dry," are some of the most stunning within film.

Finally, the believability of the script and plotlines within "Bone Dry," while on the unlikely side of the spectrum create for a very watchable film that keeps its focus on the two interesting, principal characters. An early sequence involving Eddie and a water bottle seems unbelievably stupid as the character seems to fully trust a serial killer which breaks the bubble of realism; however, most of the scenes including potential death traps and chase sequences keep the focus on the outcome of the scenes rather than the unbelievability of the situation. Even Henriksen with his human flaws and pointless hatred for another man seems real and the man versus man plot really keeps the pace of the film flowing ever onward. Few plot holes develop within the picture. "Bone Dry," and the story manages to stay logical while only hitting a few road bumps in the form of mysterious motivations within the characters.

"Bone Dry," is a high recommend as the picture basically sells itself with the use of beautiful cinemascapes, some experienced acting, and an enjoyable, frenetic storytelling pace. Although, on the low production side of movie making, this mostly unheard of thriller really delivers the goods and will satisfy most horror/thriller fans out for something original and cinematical.

6.5 Dusty Skulls out of 10.

A preview of "Bone Dry:"



Sources:

Bone Dry at IMDB

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