The Dark Wind (1991)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Errol Morris

Writers (WGA):

Tony Hillerman (novel)
Neal Jimenez (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

15 May 1992 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery

Plot:

An Indian police officer is mixed up in murder and drug smuggling on the reservation. |

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Police | Drug Smuggling | Rookie Cop | Neo Noir

Cast

Lance Baker	...	Mr. Archer
Betty C. Barlow	...	Old Navajo Woman #2
Gary Basaraba	...	Larry
Billy Beck	...	Motel Clerk
Arlene Bowman	...	Edna Nezzie
Guy Boyd	...	Agent Johnson
Charlie Carpenter	...	Pilot
Blake Clark	...	Ben Gaines
Julia Collins	...	Old Navajo Woman #1
Kee Collins	...	Old Navajo Man #1
Gary Farmer	...	Cowboy Albert Dashee
Patrick Jensen	...	Albino Boy
John Karlen	...	Jake West
Neil Kayquoptewa	...	Lomatewa
James Koots	...	Taylor

Runtime:

USA:111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Navajo | Hopi

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:16 | USA:R (certificate no. 21293)

Filming Locations:

Hopi Indian Reservation, Arizona, USA

Company:

Carolco Pictures

Trivia:

Director Errol Morris, better known for his documentary work, did not finish the film due to "artistic differences" with Robert Redford.

Movie Connections:

References "The Simpsons" (1989)

Soundtrack:

Louisiana Hush Puppy

Low budget , but faithful

For using native actors, I give it a 10 of 10. The production values are rather poor, but then again, they used a lot of local people for grips, etc. Many shots with the sound boom in them.

This film was never distributed, so the editing was never really finished. Those shots with the boom could have been optically cropped. The sound very often picks up too much..for instance late in the film, in Leaphorn's house, the ticking of a clock near the mic almost drowned out the conversation.

Chee is supposed to be somewhat quiet, slow to move, but Phillips might have taken that a bit far.

Overall, it's fairly faithful to the book.