Death in the Desert (film) explained

Death in the Desert
Director:Jose Evans
Producer:Josh Evans
Starring:
Narrator:Michael Madsen
Music:Chris Goss
Editing:Edward D. Wood, Jr.
Distributor:Osiris Entertainment
Runtime:83 minutes
Country:United States
Language:English

Death in the Desert Is a 2015 American love-drama film directed and produced by Josh Evans, and starring Michael Madsen, Shayla Beesley, John Palladino, Paz de la Huerta and Roxy Saint. Principal filming completed in February 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada.[1] It is the second film collaboration between Madsen and Evans, who produced The Price of Air in which Madsen starred.[2]

Released in March 2016 by Osiris Entertainment, the film is based on the book Death in the Desert by true-crime author Cathy Scott about Ted Binion, a wealthy gambling executive and one of the sons of famed Las Vegas casino magnate Lester Ben "Benny" Binion, owner of Binion's Horseshoe. The book adaptation was written by screenwriter John Melmoth.

The storyline covers the real-life 1998 death of the younger Binion, a drug addict who had lost his Nevada gaming license, and his live-in girlfriend Sandra Murphy, charged with murdering Binion along with her lover Rick Tabish, who was caught digging up Binion's buried silver.[3]

Reception

The film first premiered in October 2015 at the Tucson Festival of Films.[4]

Indiewire wrote, "Luckily for Madsen fans, the actor looks to be having a complete blast in his most recent film, Death in the Desert.[5]

Vegas Seven Magazine, in its review, wrote, "Death in the Desert, despite its protagonist’s wealth, rides the downbeat vibe of a back-alley, underbelly Vegas. What emerges is a muted, thoughtful study of disillusionment, dashed dreams and fatal appetites via a relationship that takes root amid the mechanical sensuality of a Downtown strip joint."[6]

Movies Review 101 described the film as "already labelled a 'classic' by The Huffington Post, who applauded the film’s 'captivating' cast of characters and 'dark and addictive' story" which is "expected to win Michael Madsen some of the best notices of his career."[7]

Cast

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 'Death in the Desert': Josh Evans Discusses His Latest Film Along With Star Michael Madsen. 29 August 2014. The Huffington Post UK. 21 May 2016.
  2. Web site: 'Price of Air' Filmmaker Trades Personal for Plot. 3 November 2000. Los Angeles Times.
  3. Web site: Death in the Desert is the Locally Tinged Story of Ted Binion's Death - OC Weekly. Matt Coker. 15 February 2016. OC Weekly. 21 May 2016.
  4. Web site: Tucson Festival of Films captures the city's cinematic presence. 24 April 2022. Arizona Daily Wildcat.
  5. Web site: Watch: Michael Madsen Tries to Stop His 'Death in the Des - Indiewire. Riyad Mamedyarov. 19 February 2016. Indiewire. 21 May 2016.
  6. Web site: The Hollywood Ballad of Lonnie 'Ted' Binion - Vegas Seven. Vegas Seven. 21 May 2016. 3 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160603142307/http://vegasseven.com/2014/08/06/hollywood-ballad-lonnie-ted-binion/. dead.
  7. Web site: New Release – Death in the Desert. October 10, 2015. Movies Review 101. April 24, 2022. January 24, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220124112914/https://moviesreview101.com/2015/10/10/new-release-death-in-the-desert/. dead.