Blind Horizon (2004)

Left for dead in the remote Southwest, Frank (Val Kilmer) is found clinging to life and in a state of amnesia. As he recovers from the bullet wounds, ominous memories begin to flash back – offering clues that point to an impending Presidential assassination.

Who is the man in the red car? More importantly who cares?

If you've seen one thriller of this type you've seen them all. Well, at least you've seen this one. Uninteresting. Unoriginal. Implausible. I wasted two hours of my life so you don't have to. Of course, if you've never ever seen a movie or TV show before you might find this interesting. But if you have, be warned. August 3, 2007

Nifty Little Thriller, Better Than You'd Think!

"Blind Horizon", an amnesia action/mystery with some 'big name' stars, went straight to DVD without ever being theatrically released, so many have 'written it off' as a lousy film; but if you give it a chance, this is actually a very entertaining little gem!

Directed by Michael Haussman, the distributor, Lion's Gate, dissatisfied with the rambling 'director's cut', brought in ace film editor Alain Jakubowicz to punch up the film, and his re-cut gives the movie an edgy, fast-paced 'look', reminiscent of Christopher Nolan's "Memento", especially in the central portrayal of Val Kilmer's "Frank Kavanaugh". A likable 'lost soul', shot and left to die in the desert, who knows vague details of a plot to assassinate the President, he gradually discovers he is not a 'nice' person, and is, in fact, a key player in the high-level conspiracy. But as with Harrison Ford, in "Regarding Henry", his amnesia offers him an opportunity to 'change' his whole persona...if he can survive the attempts to silence him, and conquer his own instincts as a 'hit man'.

Blessed with a first-rate cast, "Blind Horizon" offers many intriguing supporting portrayals, from a likable local sheriff (Sam Shepard), and his politically ambitious deputy (Noble Willingham), to the mysterious 'fiance' (Neve Campbell) Kavanaugh can't seem to remember, and the beautiful nurse (Amy Smart), he'd LIKE to know better, to a mysterious 'contact' (Faye Dunaway), who drifts in and out of his dreams, with missing pieces of the puzzle. Kilmer is, as always, eminently watchable, capturing both the innocent and unsavory sides of Kavanaugh very effectively, and making his climactic actions worth waiting for.

Of special note is the film score, written by the collective group of composers, Machine Head. Working with non-traditional instruments, the 'sound' is both musical and mysterious, and ideally suits the film's ambiguity.

"Blind Horizon" certainly deserves a look, as a film far better than it's ill-fated history would indicate. I enjoyed it, and I think you will, too! October 11, 2006

Rewarding Mental Workout

This review refers to "Blind Horizon" Widescreen DVD Edition(Lions Gate)...

"Blind Horizon" is not a film you will want to view if you are in the mood to just veg out and be only entertained.I would also say that if you like your films formulized or predictable, again, you should probably skip this one. On the other hand, if you are in the mood for something that sets itself apart from the rest, one that will give you a rewarding mental workout, and leaves you stunned at both the outcome and the visual arts, "Blind Horizon" will fulfill your needs!

A man is found in a small town in New Mexico left for dead. Shot in the head, lying in his own blood and comatose. Finally awakened by the sweet voice of his nurse, and the familiar smell of cigarette smoke. The sheriff and his deputy are on the case. They have questions galore. Who tried to commit murder in their little town and why? Who is the victim? But, they'll have to wait for the answers(as does the viewer), as the victim is an amnesiac.

Bits and pieces start coming back to him. He feels he knows something that is dangerous. A plot to assassinate the President of the United States. He doesn't have all the pieces to the puzzle yet, but he must warn the Secret Service so they may prevent this disaster. His Doctor says, the mind plays tricks after a trauma like this. He is probably remembering some book he read, or movie he saw.What could the President have to do with this little border town? Or maybe he is just plain out of his mind. Only the Sheriff considers the possibility he may be right.

As the Sheriff investigates, he and the audience as well, are met with a slew of twists and turns, unsavory characters and questions to ponder. And like the Sheriff, every time we think we have the answer, we are proved wrong as we weave through the maze of flashbacks and evidence.

The filming of this mystery/thriller is extraordinary. The flashbacks and the present are well separated by the use of colors. Like the amnesia victim, we are only giving bits of flashbacks at a time, each time a little more is added to the puzzle. The cast is amazing in their roles, never giving anything away. It stars Val Kilmer, Neve Campbell, Sam Shepard and Amy Smart. Faye Dunaway also gets top billing, but I felt she wasn't part of the story nearly enough. Noble Willingham, and Giancarlo Esposito add their marvelous talents as well. There was not a frame, where I wanted to pause to get up for a snack or anything. I had many questions during the film, MOST were answered by the final frame, there were a couple I'm still trying to work out. Without giving anything away, I just say it had to do with character motivation. Hmmmm...maybe another view will help!

Lion's Gate as usual has done a wonderful transfer to DVD. The widescreen presentation, lets you take in the entire story. Colors, which are used very well in this film, were excellent, and the sound in 5.1 Dolby(also has a 2.0 Stereo option)was totally surrounding, each noise distinguishable. A feature entitle "Cutting Room - The Inside Perspective", with commentary from the editing crew, was enlightening as to why the film was put together the way it was(faster moving then origianlly planned), but it also made me wonder who was running the show? Someday, I would be interested to see a Director's(Micheal Haussman) cut of this film and compare it to this final cut.

So..if you like film that makes you work a little, say like something along the lines of "Vanilla Sky", and a film that begs to be talked about with others that have viewed it, have a look at "Blind Horizon". Oh Yeah...Remember to pop that popcorn before you get involved with this thriller!

Enjoy....Laurie

February 26, 2006

Moody but Confusing

I'm still not sure what happened at the end, and I don't feel inclined to watch it again. The plusses? Well-photographed with some nice moody Tex-Mex scenes. Sam Shepard I liked as the friendly cigar smoking sherrif. Val Kilmer was OK but it would have killed him to wash his hair? The female roles were OK and predictable. The American movie industry again tries to persuade us that a multiple killer/assassin hired to shoot the President; who in one flashback kills a man in front of his child; and in another murders a victim in a confessional, is just a little misunderstood and needs the right woman to set him straight. Aw shucks who couldn't forgive that toothy grin. December 6, 2005

I had no expectations anyway.

ichael Haussman's over-directed conspiracy thriller takes place in a small desert town in New Mexico and recalls a bad episode of The X-Files, with Val Kilmer as an amnesiac Mulder to Sam Shepard's Cigarette-Smoking Man. Frank Kavanaugh (Kilmer) wakes up from a coma and starts having flashbacks that lead him to believe that the President of the United States is going to be assassinated. Among the shady lot of characters occupying the man's periphery: Faye Dunaway's Ms. K, who may be mediating the plot against the President; Shepard's small town sheriff, whose cowboy hat isn't to be trusted; Neve Campbell as the grieving girlfriend; and Amy Smart as a fidgety, chain-smoking nurse. Naturally, nothing is what it seems. More specifically: The more conspicuous the behavior (like, say, smoking inside a hospital room or wearing an unexplained bandage across one's nose), the more blameless the person. Beyond Horizon is no fun, not so much because of all the rote tricks up its sleeve, but because of a flashy aesthetic that doesn't so much bring to mind an indie-minded In the Line of Fire as much as it does a Hollywood thriller like The Ring that's predicated on all sorts of loud noises and flashing images. Every time Frank has a flashback, it's the equivalent of watching someone piece together a 500-count puzzle. Haussman, whose most famous work to date is Madonna's over-bloated "Take A Bow" music video, doesn't exactly afflict his protagonist with amnesia. By the looks of it, he caught whatever Patricia Arquette had in Stigmata. November 22, 2005

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