Desperation (2006)

Too much of everything

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

When Stephen King's work started being turned into movies, they were always great, but the newer stuff, has really been hit or miss. For the first hour, Desperation was great and Ron Pearlman was hilarious as the twisted sheriff, abducting people on the highway. Unfortunately, about half way through this film, the movie changes focus to young David, played by the kid from the Stacy's Mom video, Shane Haboucha. David is some kind of prophet who is more aware of things than the other. That was cool, but his constant ramblings about God, and spouting of all this religious garbage got really annoying. By the time things built up to the end, I was so annoyed with this little kid and his ramblings that I just didn't care about what was going to happen. I just wanted the film to be over. Desperation is just another case of a writer and an actor taking things too far, to a point where it taints the whole movie.

Well....Stephen King's dialog in books is easy to read, comfortable and real. Or seems real. Why doesn't it translate better to movies? Some do of course, but not all. I think a LOT depends on the director and "feel" of the movie. The techniques, the lighting, the timing. This particular version was more on the level of syfy channel not so great movies, but SHOULD have been on a much higher level. I remember reading the book and whether you know it is a being or something living underground or not, the tension and well, TENSION is palpable. Sadly, this didn't show in the movie. Could have been better. And the boy who is put in charge of saving everyone sure is calm. If I'd been a young kid who had seen all that, I'd be scared stiff, and MUCH jumpier. Kill the dog, hurry to let everyone out...not nonchalantly walking over to the desk, casually looking for keys...etc. etc. Maybe the next movie based on a King novel will be better. We can always hope, right?

"Stephen King's Desperation" is a fine if somewhat-flawed entry.**SPOILERS**Moving to the Nevada Desert, Mary Jackson, (Annabeth Gish) is arrested by Collie Entragian, (Ron Perlman) a local policeman and hauled off to the town's jail. Meeting up with Ralph, (Matt Frewer) Ellie, (Sylvia Kelegian) and David Carver, (Shane Haboucha) and Tom Billingsley, (Charles Durning) others who have run afoul of the policeman and are kept there in his grasp. Soon afterward, John Marinville, (Tom Skerritt) happens upon the town and is taken hostage as well, allowing for friends Steve Ames, (Steven Weber) and Cynthia Smith, (Kelly Overton) to pick up on what's happening to him. Managing to get away temporarily, they realize that he is the current host of a demonic entity that has played a part in the town's past and has been reawakened and going on a deadly rampage, forcing them to face up to their past fears and take the force head-on to get away from the town alive.The Good News: There was some pretty good stuff in this one. One of the best elements is that the film has a pretty great atmosphere to it that really shines through at times. From the wonderful shots early on of the desert being just empty and desolate to the overhead shots of the simply immense canyon where it takes place and finally the shots of the car traveling through the deserted town featuring all sorts of debris left lying on the ground and the dead bodies littering the streets, it makes for a very isolated feel that is wonderfully captured here and helps to make for a very atmospheric time. Later scenes, such as the harrowing windstorm that practically blows sand through the entire town, allow for even more atmosphere to take over the film and make it all the better. Another good point to this one is the fact that there's a fantastic mystery on display that really makes this one a lot of fun. From the journey through the desert where the discarded bike being found in the bushes off the highway, who's importance was built up nicely, which is segued nicely with their discovery of the town and what's left inside. These scenes are absolutely classic, with there being a lot of good stuff about them. The scenes in the abandoned police station are quite chilling and suspenseful, with the several dead bodies showing up and so many off-screen banging noises make for a good atmosphere during these moments. Even more impressive is the sequence within the supermarket, which has a ton of impressive points. From the abandoned look being fully captured, the scares from the spiders on the phone and the dead body coming to life to make the scare even better. The fact that these scenes are incredibly long and extended, which is afforded due to the length, makes them all the better and that much more fun, as it has time to develop them and give them time, rather than just being thrown out there with nothing that can make them seem fun and exciting but here they can. The finale at the mine is perhaps just as good, due mainly to the emphasis on action and actually making for some fun times. From the car chase through the quarry to the possessed-birds assault and then the main part where they confront each other in the mine itself, with it's fantastic setting and great action, making for some really good parts to it. There's also a rather fun premise here, with the lurking demon coming back, that is part of the simply outstanding sequence where it shows it, from the verbal story to the old-time film that shows everything, this one has a nice back-story that feels really creative. The last plus is the blood and gore, most of which is from the previously-dead bodies but there's still some good stuff here, from the severed arm, gunshot wounds, bleeding facial wounds, a mauled throat and a pick-ax in the chest, among others. These here are the film's good points.The Bad News: There was a few things in this one that didn't work at all. One of the main issues, and what could end up being the major stumbling block for this one for most viewers, is the heavy Christian edict that runs through the end of it. This is really found in the last half, which has the major characters using Christian mythology to defeat a foe claimed to be older than those ideologies, and then there's the fact that it even shows up to begin with. Some of those out there would be completely against this even appearing in the film, and with the severity it uses them in here, makes the most of this angle. It really doesn't need them in there to begin with, it really could've done something else that could've explained those issues with another topic that utilizes the same guidelines to get the same result while taking a road away from religion to get there. The last problem is the fact that, once you think about it afterward, the film doesn't really have any action at all. There's not a whole lot of action in here, but instead it just builds up with nothing but action isn't a part of that. It's not at all boring since there's always something going on, but not all of it's action and can tend to drag at times, especially when it's just the group stuck in jail. These here are what's wrong with the film.The Final Verdict: A rather enjoyable affair, mostly hurt by the religious theme which may not be that detrimental to some overall. Certainly recommended to those who enjoy these kinds of films, a fanatic of the creative cast or the film's idea, while those that are turned off by the flaws should heed caution at best.Rated R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language

There are NO spoilers in this review, just questions I would like answered! My one question is: how? How on earth could such a talented writer, who brought such amazing horror novels such as: IT, Pet Semetary, Carrie, Christine and The Stand, write such nonsensical drivel. Everything, from the random comments the characters would make to the religious droning which was too contrived and forced to be of any depth, was terrible. The story, after starting off with a bang, descended literally into nothing. What the hell happened? Someone tell me please! Now, I have not read the novel, which is probably better than this movie, but an ounce of explanation would have helped. Who is Tak? Where did he come from? Why did he speak in a computerised voice? Was he God? What happened to the hundreds of dogs, did they just vanish? Those are a few questions I would love answered, as the story barely touches upon them. Besides the lackluster story, the characters are clichéd to the point of embarrassment. I mean, come on Mr. King: a skeptic, phony writer who becomes the hero, a kid who can speak with God, a drunken old man who tells the story, give me a break! Furthermore, it does not help that there are three good actors out of the bunch (Tom Skeritt, who looks like he is sleepwalking through the role, Steven Weber and the always reliable Ron Perlman). The little religious kid could NOT act to save his life, neither could the annoying hitchhiker or the kid's parents.What else is wrong here? Poor special effects, a made-for-TV feel and mediocre direction courtesy of regular Stephen King collaborator Mick Garris (who I find incredible overrated). Admittedly, he does conjure up a few genuine frights and a couple of eerie scenes, but these can not make up for the slow pace and lack of interesting story. There are only a few King adaptations which I have thought either fall into the overrated category or not-as-good-as-they-could-have-been category and this falls into the latter (assuming the book was at least good).1½/5