A Dese rt –

by

The stark, empty roads and landscapes of the American Midwest have long been popular filming locations, so it’s fitting that Joshua Erkman titled his film ‘A Desert’. The setting particularly appeals to photographer Alex Clark (Kai Lennox), who we first meet while he’s exploring an abandoned cinema in a remote area. He uses an old-fashioned camera with photographic plates, operating the shutter and timing exposures himself. He’s on a solitary work trip, keeping his wife, Samantha (Sarah Lind), updated on his progress from a very basic hotel – one that makes the Bates Motel from ‘Psycho’ seem comfortable.

Alex can’t sleep because of a fighting couple next door. When the hotel receptionist refuses to intervene, he handles the situation himself. The couple, Renny and Susie Q, initially claim to be siblings to convince Alex to let them into his room, but it soon becomes clear they are likely involved in something more—possibly a pimp and a sex worker.

The film progresses as expected until it surprisingly shifts its attention to Sam, who becomes worried after not hearing from Alex for a week. When the police aren’t helpful, she hires private detective Harold (David Yow) to find him. His investigation leads him to a cast of questionable characters and a hidden secret at an abandoned military location.

Okay, so this movie starts off pretty deliberately, a bit of a slow burn. But it really picks up steam in the second half, and you start to get a sense of some seriously shady, even potentially evil, stuff happening in this desert setting. Honestly, David Lynch’s style is all over it – that dreamy, unsettling vibe. The way the landscapes and buildings are filmed is interesting because they feel both ordinary and creepy at the same time. And the ending? Wow, it’s like the story just loops back on itself, almost like a Mobius strip. It definitely makes you think!

Here’s the trailer for A Desert….

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2025-11-23 02:23