• Genre: Crime, Thriller
• MPAA Rating: R
• AMG Rating:
• Regional Coding: 1
  USA and territories, Canada

The feature film debut of producer and TV director D.J. Caruso, this pulpy noir mystery is a dark tale of redemption set among southern California crystal methamphetamine "tweakers." Val Kilmer stars as Danny Parker, a former trumpet player who has become a tattooed speed freak living in a cesspool of murderous dealers and hardcore addicts near the desert lake of the title. Danny's fall from grace is the result of a hidden agenda, however -- he's seeking answers about the murder of his beloved wife. He's also working undercover for a pair of brutal narcotics cops (Anthony Lapaglia and Doug Hutchison), while trying to rescue his beautiful neighbor Colette (Deborah Kara Unger) from an abusive situation and her own demons. As he and his slacker buddy Jimmy the Fin (Peter Sarsgaard) are antagonized by the sadistic, noseless dealer Pooh Bear (Vincent D'Onofrio) and his henchman, Danny draws closer to the truth about his wife's death, but the crime's solution isn't quite what he expected. Produced by Frank Darabont, The Salton Sea co-stars Adam Goldberg, Meat Loaf, Luis Guzman, and Azura Skye. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

Bonus Features

• cc Documentaries
• Interactive menus
• Theatrical trailer
• Cast/director film highlights
• Scene access
• English & Français languages
• English, Français, & Español subtitles

Actors

Val Kilmer

Director

D.J. Caruso

Producer

Eriq La Salle, Frank Darabont, Butch Robinson, Ken Aguado

Graphic Violence, Not For Children, Adult Language, Substance Abuse, Sexual Situations

• Sound : DD5.1
• Language : Eng/Fre
• Subtitles : Eng/Fre/Spa

• Screen : WSE
• Oar :
• Dar :

Review

A one-time producer for John Badham, director D.J. Caruso scores a significant artistic success (if not, unfortunately, a financial hit) with this taut psychological thriller that strikes a fascinatingly mournful tone and features the best performance from erratic star Val Kilmer in years. Much of what is so compelling and effective about the film can be chalked up to a superb script from writer Tony Gayton that mixes elements of the noir genre with the fiendishly absurd sensibilities and violent underworld characters of Quentin Tarantino and Danny Boyle. But credit is due to the director and star. Caruso gets things off to a zippy, attention-grabbing flourish of a kick start with a rapid-cut, quasi-documentary on the history of methamphetamine and its users or "tweakers," while Kilmer impresses with a performance that begins as wan and spaced-out, but is gradually revealed, layer by layer, to be far more cunningly intelligent and manipulative than one initially expects. It's a performance of nuance and grace, with the often too-eccentric actor nailing a deft bull's eye. Well-chosen supporting players are uniformly strong, with Vincent D'Onofrio a flashy standout as a drug dealer missing a nose along with quite a few marbles. It all comes back to that script from Gayton, however, one that takes the audience on an emotional roller-coaster ride as the story manages to shift seamlessly into a completely different mode with each act turn, ultimately transforming from a painfully funny drug satire into a heart-wrenching tragedy of violent revenge. Gayton is a crime screenwriter to watch, quite literally. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

• Release Date : September 10, 2002
• Length : 103 Minutes
• Dvdsides : 1
• Dvddiscs : 1
• Upc : 085391888222