Blood River

_Reaping the evil which one has sown in an abandoned town in the desert_ A married couple traveling through desolate Nevada (Ian Duncan and Tess Panzer) wind up stuck in a ghost town with a strange cowboy-like man (Andrew Howard). Can they make it back to civilization alive? “Blood River” (2009) is a psychological survival drama set in the vast wasteland of the Southwest. While an Indie, it’s proficiently made on every level, including the cinematography, score/soundtrack, script, cast and acting. Speaking of the latter, Andrew Howard stands out as the intriguing “free spirit” cowboy, reminiscent of Michael Rooker or a younger Robert Duvall and Jon Voight. Like Harvey Keitel’s peculiar drifter in “Finding Graceland,” you wonder about who or what he really is, although the proceedings here are decidedly grim by comparison. Elements of the last act recall the ending of “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” just minus the goofiness and, again, way more dire. I have no doubt that future films like “3 Nights in the Desert” and “Frank and Penelope” were partially influenced by this Indie. The story delves into how something or someone may look well on the surface, but underneath is hidden evil and the corresponding ugliness or death, not to mention impending judgment (if the person refuses to ’fess up, that is). Writer/director Adam Mason respects the intelligence of the viewer to put the pieces of the puzzle together without spelling everything out. The answers are there for anyone who cares, but those uninterested in psychology and biblical spirituality will likely find it dull or annoying. The movie runs 1 hour, 44 minutes, and was shot at Gold Point, Nevada, which is a 3-hour drive northwest of Vegas and a 40-minute drive from the border of central California. Additional stuff was done in Los Angeles. GRADE: B