Desert Son2010

Director
James Mann, Brandon Nicholas

Acters

John Bain (Phillip)
Erica Curtis (Lucy)
Nathan Halliday (Jack)
Bill Oberst Jr. (Step Dad)
Chauna Wertlow (The Housekeeper)
Elvis Winterbottom (The Priest)

Left for dead – You fight for life.
Seventeen year old Phillip is left stranded on the side of a dirt road by his stepdad. After days spent wandering Phillip is found unconscious by Lucy and Jack, two orphans living in an abandoned mining town in the middle of nowhere. They bring Phillip back to health and quickly initiate him into their oddly unconventional way of life. But three is always a crowd. And as a bond develops between Lucy and Phillip, Jack grows spiteful and increasingly dangerous. When his anger boils over, Jack leads Lucy and Phillip across the desert and back into civilization. Jack breaks into one of the houses and forces Lucy and Phillip inside. When a housekeeper appears the scene turns to violence. Jack ties up the housekeeper and uses an axe from the garage to cut off her head. Jack, Lucy and Phillip ride across the desert covered in blood. By the morning, Jack is in a paranoid frenzy. They spend a few days on the run, but as their exhaustion grows absolute the group unravels towards a disastrous and bloody conclusion.
„(A) beautifully constructed and photographed, an engrossing, involving and original dramatic thriller (with) a strong ensemble cast: Erica Curtis is simply mesmerizing and unforgettable. James Mann’s script is relentlessly harsh (but) it’s also quite endearing and keeps you glued to the screen. Mann serves as D.P. for the film, his camera work is as unconventionally wonderful and moving as is his dialogue. A film you simply should not miss.“ – The Independent Critic
„’Desert Son’ manages to skirt the usual genre trappings to become something bold and unique. It expertly balances being a drama about dislocated youth on one hand and a volatile thriller on the other. The film masterfully builds tension in such a way that you’re never quite sure when it’ll blow, but you know it will.“ – Quiet Earth
„One of the most original and endearing films that I’ve seen all year.“ – Screen Crave