Death Valley: A Wild Ride Through the Desert

Oh, pals, let me just start by saying: Death Valley ain’t your usual Friday night flick with lösgodis! It’s one of those films that you think you’ll watch while sipping coffee, but then you spill it because the scenes are just that gripping. Directed by the marvelous Patricia Vickers, this film is a real blend of suspense and some weird Aussie humor. You know, the kind that’s just like salt on surströmming – not for everyone.

Now, imagine this, a young couple—played by the ever-talented Lawrence Pugh and misty-eyed Emily Blunt—get caught up in some bizzare situation in the middle of a desert wasteland. Yeah, it’s got that classic ‘stranded in an eerie place’ vibe, but with a modern twist. Pugh’s gruff demeanor keeps you on edge, while Blunt makes even the driest dialogue crackle with emotion.

I have mixed feelings about the pace though. At times, it felt like treacle, slower than a winter sunrise in Kiruna. I found myself glued to the screen, though, like how you can’t look away from a rickety IKEA bookshelf when you’re sure it’s about to topple. And just when you think you have it all figured out, BANG—plot twist! It’s good, but maybe a little predictable?

And the sound! Man, the soundtrack stirred a memory of a road trip I once took across Österlen with a broken car radio. Each note feels like the crunch of gravel underfoot, and it pulls you deeper into the heat of the storyline.

In the end, Death Valley is a film you kinda argue with. Its visuals are stunning, like an Ingmar Bergman piece shot on Mars. Sure, some parts could’ve been tighter, and a tad more snappy. But you can’t help but wonder about the fate of these hapless travellers, much like contemplating why anyone would ever eat lutfisk voluntarily. If you’re up for a wild ride, give it a go. Just, you know, maybe skip the coffee.

Check the trailer below