THE KILLING GROUNDS (1997)
A Film Review Copyright Dragan Antulov 2004
When someone gains wealth in short time and without much effort, it is very likely that such fortunes would be short-lived. This unpleasant truth is something that faces protagonists of THE KILLING GROUNDS, 1997 thriller directed by Kurt Anderson. For Art Styles (played by Anthony Michael Hall) and Vincent Reynosa (played by Courtney Gains) stealing half a tone of gold was the easiest part of their criminal enterprise. Getting the loot out of country is much more difficult, so two robbers charter a plane to carry the gold across Mexican border. The plane crashes in Californian mountains where it is discovered by two hikers - Mel (played by Charles Rocket) and Della Desordo (played by Priscilla Barnes) - and their Indian guide Ned Stillwater (played by Rodney A. Grant). Their group is joined by another hiker, Janice Harper (played by Cynthia Geary), but they would discover that the woman is not what she claims to be. While the hikers get consumed by greed, jealousy and paranoia, two criminals are determined to retake their gold.
For a while, it looks like this low budget film, with a plot that resembles THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE, could work as some kind of devilishly misanthropic black comedy. But it gradually becomes quite obvious that most of the laughs weren't intentional, and that the film was nothing more than conventional thriller made with little money and few ideas. It is, therefore, hardly surprising that THE KILLING GROUNDS remained obscure despite the presence of relatively well-known actors like Cynthia Geary (of NORTHERN EXPOSURE fame) and Anthony Michael Hall. Cinematography that shows beauty of American landscapes and Rodney A. Grant's very effective performance in rather thankless role are reasons why THE KILLING GROUNDS are watchable. Everyone expecting quality entertainment is going to be disappointed, though.
RATING: 4/10 (+)
Review written on March 23rd 2004
Dragan Antulov a.k.a. Drax http://film.purger.com - Filmske recenzije na hrvatskom/Movie Reviews in Croatian http://www.ofcs.org - Online Films Critics Society
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