Blind Horizon Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
The enemy is within.
The enemy in me
He's lost his identity... next it may be his life
In this thriller, Val Kilmer plays Frank, a man who loses his memory after being shot in small desert town in New Mexico. As he tries to retrace his steps and figure out his true identity, Frank believes he may be part of a plot to assassinate the president. Sam Sheperd plays the town's shifty-eyed sheriff and Neve Campbell plays a woman claiming to be Frank's fiancee.
| Sam Shepard | Sheriff Jack Kolb |
| Neve Campbell | Chloe Richards |
| Val Kilmer | Frank Kavanaugh |
| Noble Willingham | Deputy Shirl Cash |
| Amy Smart | Liz Culpepper |
| Gil Bellows | Dr. Theodore Conway |
| Giancarlo Esposito | JC Reynolds |
| Charles Ortiz | Nico |
| Leo Fitzpatrick | Sterling |
| Trajan Cuevas | Dale Petmecky |
| Jesus Mayorga | Dwight Petmecky |
| Cole S. McKay | Burly Trucker |
| Guadalupe A. Garcia | Navaro |
| Faye Dunaway | Ms. K |
| Ellen Blake | Helsa |
| Michael Haussman |
5.60 out of 10 (1668 votes)
Visitor Reviews
I really think this is a marvelous film.
posted on 13 Jun 2009I'm surprised by the negative reviews here. It's the kind of film worth seeing many times. The fragmentation tactics and the music work really well. Nothing is ever perfectly clear and that's a plus as well. The mystery stays with you. You can't be sure you understand the motives of the people involved in the assassination plot. Like 'The Package' this film does use the JFK assassination as a reference point but it uses it in very small pieces so that you have to think about them as parts of a difficult puzzle. At the same time the mood of the film is strong enough so that you don't get the feel of just a set of puzzles. Looking forward to more good films by the talented people involved.
Smart and stylish thriller
posted on 20 Jan 2009BLIND HORIZON is a smart and stylish thriller that marks two Val Kilmer back-to-back triumphs. First off, it is his second powerful and twisted thriller rebound after SALTON SEA. And then again he hits the right notes in an Emmet/Furla production, right after WONDERLAND.Hausman`s stylish and crafty direction is accompained by a smart and intriguing script about the amnesiac who realizes that he is somehow involved in the assassination plot against US president. The writers fully integrate small town noir dynamics with the well-known concept of amnesiac hitman. This film is taking us down the familiar path but it`s very accomplished so it`s a joy being taken to places we already visited. The only shortcoming is the very end, those last couple of minutes that I won`t spoil but even that can`t deny the sheer fun you get with this playful neo-noir.
Yawn..
posted on 24 Jul 2008A man gets shot, wakes up from a coma suffering total memoryloss.He tries to figure out who he is and why he feels that the presidents life is in danger. Oh and trust me, after five minutes you already figured out the so-called twist, but you keep thinking to yourself that it cannot be that simple - well, it is...save yourself the time! The beginning of the film gives it all away.A couple of decent acting performances here, but nothing out of the ordinary - then again, with a script like this....you know...Just another time waster that prooves that the Hollywood money machine won the battle against decent scripts. I'm reluctant to drop Hollywood films entirely, they're more or less all the same - lots of sha-bang, nothing to wear it in..On a scale from yawn to wow: zzzzz....
Why illicit drugs are bad
posted on 10 Mar 2008A cold, greasy, scrambled egg. That's the gastronomic equivalent of this movie.The editing chops backwards and forwards, across time and space. The direction relied on meaningful looks and clichéd camera angles.Acting? Kilmer was more convincing when he was comatose. Faye Dunawaye gives the performance of her career - the WORST. As for the others, who knows and who cares.OK, the actors had to deal with a really bad script. But let's be fair, how does anyone make a decent script from a stupid hackneyed story? Even the "twists" are predictable Spoilers: Kilmer is shot and thrown off a 30 foot cliff. He's in hospital without any obvious injuries and is released two days later absolutely fine! Then he gets seriously beaten up a day or two later, and again, a visit to the hospital and he's 100%.All can be explained if they were all on drugs - and if this was the case this shows why illicit drugs are bad.
Excellent mystery
posted on 08 Oct 2007I noticed a lot of people saying the plot in this movie is too complicated. Perhaps. If you go to see a movie for simplicity and lots of action. If that's the case, this movie isn't for you. However, if you like to work things out in your mind while you watch an enjoyable storyline and deep plot; then look no further. I'm surprised this movie didn't get higher marks -as surprised as I am that it wasn't showcased more with other mainstream movies. With names like Val Kilmer, Amy Smart, and Neve Campbell. I enjoyed every second of this film and I think it's well worth seeing at least once to see of you agree.Performances by the cast were right on the money. I read someone putting Amy Smart down for her hair being less that glamorous... OH BROTHER. Don't know many nurses that work the late shift, eh? Besides it was fine and she still looks cute. Neve, on the other hand WAS gorgeous with a cute bob. However, appearances don't matter in this film. They all did a great job. OK, maybe Sam Shepard phoned his role in... but he was highly believable and a small town sheriff.Val Kilmer was awesome in his quirky way. He made you believe he really did have amnesia. You could definitely tell where he put his own nuances to the role. He's quite a perfectionist... and a genius.The directing was well-placed. There were other stories to tell for such a small town and this movie showed them all without leaving the central theme. The mystery unravels bits and pieces at a time; like it should and you never REALLY know for sure what's going to happen next. Terrific! I voted 9/10 because I haven't seen such a tremendous film so well hidden before. You be your own judge, but definitely give this film in the shadows a try.
Not totally original, no, but Kilmer is excellent, and the direction makes it work
posted on 14 Sep 2007Yeah, we've seen it before... or have we? For all its apparent familiarity, "Blind Horizon" manages to offer a little something new to the thriller genre.The film opens with a man laying in the desert, having been shot in the head. When he regains consciousness, much of his memory is gone. As he tries to makes sense of it all, his dark past begins to come out. No, it's certainly not the most original of scripts - sort of "Bourne Identity" meets "24". It has a number of twists along the way, a couple of which may or may not be arbitrary. But director Michael Haussman knows how to execute it. Sure, he's a little flashy with his style, but often more understated than you might expect. He knows how to handle action.But it was really up to the actors to hold this film together anyhow. "Thunderheart" costars Val Kilmer and Sam Shepard reunite, and have a very interesting on-screen relationship (they would do so again in "Felon"). Shepard honestly doesn't have much to work with, but his performance is excellent, just the same. Much of the film lies in Kilmer's ability to make his character's memory loss and recovery believable. Besides that, he's very good. Also, some great supporting performances by Giancarlo Esposito, Neve Campbell, and Faye Dunaway.You may or may not find enough in the plot to keep you watching, especially if you've seen a lot of action/thriller movies. But it's all in the execution - and in this case, it's quite good.RATING: 7.1 out of 10
Val Kilmer is gorgeous, but that wasn't enough to save this movie
posted on 19 Aug 2007Three stars out of a possible ten.I adore Val Kilmer, one of the handsomest, most sensual men to ever grace a silver screen, even though he is getting a bit older. (But aren't we all.)I think I would have been better served to have just looked for some photos of Val on-line rather than wasted my time watching him in this film.Val IS the only reason really to watch this film, as it is yet another wretched Hollywood offering with such a murky, convoluted plot, you'll most likely be sitting staring at the screen as "the end" comes up, muttering: "What? But I thought...so were they CIA? Or were they double agents? Or some of them were and some of them weren't? Or maybe they were just some assassins who were doing this for God knows what reason? Well, my friend, you'll never have much of an answer for those questions.The best advice I can give you is--if you want to watch it because Val Kilmer IS eye candy and that's enough for you, then go ahead. If you want a movie that makes sense and eventually gives all the answers, this one isn't going to do it.I think this film was yet another one that was financed by a tobacco company considering all the smoking that went on, even inappropriate smoking - like a nurse in a hospital room where a patient has oxygen tubes in his nose!Nurse Liz is played by a rather homely Amy Smart, with thin, messy blond hair. Why Val's character, Frank, would be attracted to her when he's got luscious Neve Campbell as his fiancé, Chloe, is yet another thing that makes no particular sense. Val's character, Frank, apparently lost more than just his memory - he also lost his mind out there in the southwestern desert.
Great Rainy Day Movie
posted on 26 Jul 2007I don't think I would have enjoyed this film as much if I hadn't been sick after 2 days of hard work with my performance troupe (long story!).I love Amy Smart & Neve Campbell. I once loved Val Kilmer (until I heard his band), but as an actor - I definitely respect him. He seems to have an addiction to these types of movies (De Ja Vu, Conspiracy, etc. - aka, Wannabe Psychological Thrillers). He should stop trying to be Bruce Willis and stick to character acting.Pros: Great scoring. Some good artistic shots of cigarette smoke. Cons: The storyline was very easy to predict. Camera angles & pans can be a little cheesy.
Simple and predictable plot
posted on 15 Jan 2007I saw the movie one night without any high expectations and to cut the story short it was very average. In fact it could be as well one of the straight-to-video productions.A guy (Val Kilmer) recovers from coma caused by unsuccessful murder attempt on him. He suffers from memory loss. And from the flashes from the past he knows that something is going to happen to the president of the US. So far so good. But then the movie gets very slow and bit chaotic. The acting is OK, though one would expect bit more from Val Kilmer, all he does is walking around the town, and mumbling things he remembers. Neve Campbell proves again to be an average actress.The plot is very predictable, no real twists or surprises. Watch it if you have nothing else to see.
......amy smart line in hospital weird?
posted on 05 Jan 2007..... a few hours after watching , I was still wondering about Amy Smart (Nurse LIZ) telling 'Frank' that her BROTHER looked out for her ..... and then after the wire transfer, she asked him to go away with her ' just here and the person who looked after her ' .... when they did leave, it was just Frank & Liz ....EEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW...... I can't remember what she said her brother's name was, but I thought it began with an 'L' and noticed that the name on one of the hidden IDs Frank found started with an 'L' also....EEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW again (especially after all the tongue hockey in the parking lot
A decent film, overall.
posted on 28 Dec 2006True - most of the plot elements have been done before. I was entertained throughout the whole film. Though many parts of the film can be prediected, it should still keep your attention. I disagree with one of the previous user's comments; I belive Val Kilmer's acting was believable, and was a wise selection for the role.
Val Kilmer channels his inner Marlon Brando...
posted on 08 Dec 2006circa Missouri Breaks. I just love the work of Val Kilmer. Normally he is so great at elevating his material, to me his work in "Tombstone" was the number one case in point, but here he just seems to be messing with the role and probably confounding his costars and director. I'll bet you no one in this film from the talented Sam Shepard to the pretty good Neve Campbell to the deservedly up and coming Amy Smart ever want to work with the guy again. I'd love a chance to have a talk with the director and find out if my hunches are correct, but I will say that the director of this film should probably shoulder far less of the blame for the mess that it turned out to be than Mr. Kilmer. Granted the script was trying to go for a sort of "Memento" narrative and fails miserably, but I did watch the entire film. It kept me interested, but so darned weird. I would only recommend it for Val Kilmer's biggest fans. I hope the guy comes back to reality some day. He is so talented.
Impressive work from a newcomer
posted on 20 Nov 2006Very well made mystery-thriller. I had never heard of Michael Hausmann before, and believed the movie was directed by Tony Scott, because it resembles in pace and editing with 'Man on Fire' and/or 'Domino'. The overall atmosphere is dark, and Val Kilmer succeeds in portraying a man caught in a maze, on the verge of right and wrong and gradually finding out what is going on with him and the plot to assassinate the president, without falling on either side. As Frank's memory gradually returns, it reveals piece by piece, the plot to assassinate the president in a small town in the middle of nowhere, doesn't emphasize on mind-games in order to surprise the audience with a surprising twist (this I consider a plus, and a rarity lately), but instead keeps up the fast paced action to the very end. Despite his middle-aged rugged looks, Val Kilmer hasn't lost his charisma. Sam Sheppard is in top form as is Neve Campbell and Giancarlo Esposito, but the one that really surprised me was Amy Smart.
Deja Vu
posted on 27 Oct 2006A man gets shot, wakes up from a coma suffering from amnesia. He tries to figure out who he is and why he feels that the president's life is in danger. This not overly original plot is rather awkwardly handled by director Micheal Haussman, who makes sure that you figure out what is really happening pretty fast. This just proves that music video directors are not necessarily great story tellers. Decent performances by most of the cast, but Kilmer's is not very believable. Still, the movie is watchable, though it clearly has a 'direct to DVD' feel to it.
Lost Horizon - SPOILERS
posted on 23 Sep 2006I have to say that Val Kilmer is quite possibly the only person on the planet who still manages to looks mind-numbingly handsome while wearing one of those ridiculous green hospital gowns, and this is a good thing - it's not good enough, of course, to make this shamelessly heavy-handed piece of claptrap anything but mind-numbingly ridiculous, from beginning to end. The biggest problem is the script, which leaves nothing to the imagination; I had the entire plot figured out by the time -=- SPOILER ALERT -=- Neve Campbelll shows up trying to pass as Kilmer's fiancée; anyone with half a brain who has seen his/her share of movies knows instantly that she is not, and it's not too much of a jump to figure out that HE's the potential assassin. -=- END OF SPOILER. To give you an example of how heavy-handed this film is, there's actually a scene where Kilmer's stopped slugging down tequila like he's Doc Holliday and is finally putting the pieces together, while there's a delightfully subtle clock ticking in the background, just to remind us that time, indeed, is running out.Don't get me wrong, Kilmer's superb acting and dazzling charm do go a long way, of course, make no mistake, and that's worth something: a 4, which is my IMDb rating for this lost Horizon.
Suspense and Neve Campbell - Hooyah!
posted on 26 Aug 2006There isn't much that Neve Campbell (Scream, Wild Things) can do that isn't worth watching, even a straight-to-video thriller like this.Val Kilmer (Heat, batman Forever) plays an amnesiac that has brief glimpses of a Presidential Assignation. Except for the fact that the President isn't anywhere near where they are, it could be believable. It is another case of everything not being what it seems, and that is what makes it fascinating.It also stars Sam Shepard (The Right Stuff, Paris Texas), as the Sheriff. Shepard is always worth watching and gives a very good performance here.
A Mess
posted on 27 Jul 2006I could go on about the plot holes and inexplicable missing elements (like main character motivations!), the thin characters with no real opportunity to develop, a musical score that is off base it is almost funny, and finally a director who clearly is out of his element when not doing music videos.Note to the director: Scenes, camera movement, and music are supposed to serve the story not become the story.From reading the comments it looks like the original script had promise (I would say the ideas are interesting and might explain how they were able to attract some name actors) but the leadership of the film obviously did not have any real vision on how to bring all the elements together.An example of a real bad choice would be the constant use of Middle Eastern influenced vocalizations in a movie that is supposed to be set in Southern New Mexico. Now that is not to put down the actual music, as it is really pretty good own it's on. It just seems to me nobody was questioning the direction of the musical choices.For me this is a failure by the director. In every major element of the film; from editing, the character choices made by the actors, the score, and the cinematography it is like they all were trying to do there own thing. No one seemed to be insuring that all the oars were rowing in the same direction.
Could have been good
posted on 29 Jun 2006This could have been a good movie. I dutifully expected a weak and predictable plot and an average Hollywood thriller. That's what the reviews said, and that's what they usually say about some of the best thrillers every year. Often a bad movie has a point where it will loose it's audience. For me, the point came gradually, as the always present and insisting soundtrack of noises, ambient sounds and Indian chanting drowned the dialogue and didn't add a single bit of the intended tension. The mtv-cutting of split second long memory flashes also became unbearable, because of their sheer amount and insistence all through the movie. The dialogue and plot also has a curve against wooden feel, starting acceptable and ending with you groaning in pain over the corny lines. Still, it might be worth watching once if on TV, if you liked Erazerhead.
Boring...flat...predictable
posted on 21 Jun 2006Most of the other reviewers have said it all, I just want to make sure that there are enough comments on here to warn you away from wasting your time with this movie. You won't get the time back! The story is derivative, predictable and silly. The acting is totally flat - which only Val can get away with as he has a head injury, but it does nothing to hold my interest. The direction and screenplay are trying too hard to be arty in the manner that a lot of independent film makers seem to do these days in order to differentiate themselves from "Hollywood", but which only results in giving me a headache. I feel insulted by this technique of skipping around and not providing any interesting dialogue or time sequence. The camera work is good quality, though I don't agree with all of the shots. The characters are unbelievable and you just can't relate to them as real people. The Barbie I played with as a kid had more character and animation. As a side note, Neve's hair is distracting - I can't figure out if it's a bad wig or just a bad idea. 5 of 10...being generous because Val is a hottie.
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" What would happen, if you woke up and you weren't You? "
posted on 22 Aug 2009As human beings, one of the greatest abilities we have is to continuously store information in your brain. According to science, we even store information, like smell and taste, even as we sleep. The only time the collection process stops is when the main mechanism (The Brain) is or becomes damaged. That's when Amnesia sets in. Then like a stubborn employee, the brain begins a single, but constant 24 hour task of re-routing or re-connecting neurons to standard questions, like, 'who am I?' In this movie, " Blind Horizon " we have a character named Frank Kavanaugh (Val Kilmer) who is near dead in a hospital answering questions to town Sheriff Jack Kolb (Sam Shepard) and his Deputy Shirl Cash (Noble Willingham). They claimed someone tried to kill Kavaneugh and left him for dead. Despite their interrogation, not even basic answers are forthcoming. The victim does not know why anyone would want to kill him as he doesn't even know who he is. The only memory repeating inside his head is, he is somehow connected to the White House and he has an urgent message to give to the President. Trying to jog his memory, the police tell him, several dead bodies have turned up around town and he is somehow tied to them. This film is a 'who done it', but is like a broken puzzle. Pieces are found, but the images are distorted and don't match the box. Kilmer is excellent and the message is clear. If you have something important to do, finish it before it finishes you. Two local extras make their film debut here. Writer and TV actor, Lou Cuevas, plays a transporter of illegal Mexicans and his son Trajan Cuevas plays Dale Petmecky, one of two boys who originally discovered Kavaneugh. A good film, but you have to really like mystery films to enjoy it. ***