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IMDbPro

The Salton Sea

  • 20022002
  • RR
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
31K
YOUR RATING
The Salton Sea (2002)
Trailer
Play trailer0:31
2 Videos
34 Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Mystery
After a tragic incident, a man drifts into a world populated by thugs and speed junkies.After a tragic incident, a man drifts into a world populated by thugs and speed junkies.After a tragic incident, a man drifts into a world populated by thugs and speed junkies.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
31K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • D.J. Caruso
  • Writer
    • Tony Gayton
  • Stars
    • Val Kilmer
    • Vincent D'Onofrio
    • Adam Goldberg
Top credits
  • Director
    • D.J. Caruso
  • Writer
    • Tony Gayton
  • Stars
    • Val Kilmer
    • Vincent D'Onofrio
    • Adam Goldberg
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 190User reviews
    • 47Critic reviews
    • 41Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos2

    The Salton Sea
    Trailer 0:31
    The Salton Sea
    The Salton Sea
    Trailer 2:14
    The Salton Sea

    Photos34

    Val Kilmer and Chandra West in The Salton Sea (2002)
    Val Kilmer in The Salton Sea (2002)
    Val Kilmer, Adam Goldberg, Peter Sarsgaard, and Ricky Trammell in The Salton Sea (2002)
    Val Kilmer is Danny Parker.
    Val Kilmer is Danny Parker.
    Danny (Val Kilmer) meets cops Garcetti (Anthony LaPaglia) and Morgan (Doug Hutchison) in a church.
    Val Kilmer is Danny Parker.
    Danny (Val Kilmer) and Jimmy the Fin (Peter Sarsgaard) emerge from the party house in search of more drugs.
    (from left) Kujo (Adam Goldberg), Creeper (Ricky Trammell) and Danny (Val Kilmer) at the tweaker party.
    Danny Parker (Val Kilmer) at the tweaker party.
    Danny (Val Kilmer) and Jimmy the Fin (Peter Sarsgaard) meet at a bar to discuss Danny's plan.
    Peter Sarsgaard as Jimmy the Fin.

    Top cast

    Edit
    Val Kilmer
    Val Kilmer
    • Danny Parkeras Danny Parker…
    Vincent D'Onofrio
    Vincent D'Onofrio
    • Pooh-Bearas Pooh-Bear
    Adam Goldberg
    Adam Goldberg
    • Kujoas Kujo
    Luis Guzmán
    Luis Guzmán
    • Quincyas Quincy
    Doug Hutchison
    Doug Hutchison
    • Gus Morganas Gus Morgan
    Anthony LaPaglia
    Anthony LaPaglia
    • Al Garcettias Al Garcetti
    Glenn Plummer
    Glenn Plummer
    • Bobbyas Bobby
    Peter Sarsgaard
    Peter Sarsgaard
    • Jimmy the Finnas Jimmy the Finn
    Deborah Kara Unger
    Deborah Kara Unger
    • Coletteas Colette
    Chandra West
    Chandra West
    • Lizas Liz
    BD Wong
    BD Wong
    • Bubbaas Bubba
    R. Lee Ermey
    R. Lee Ermey
    • Verne Plummeras Verne Plummer
    Shalom Harlow
    Shalom Harlow
    • Nancyas Nancy
    Shirley Knight
    Shirley Knight
    • Nancy Plummeras Nancy Plummer
    Meat Loaf
    Meat Loaf
    • Boas Bo
    Azura Skye
    Azura Skye
    • Teresaas Teresa
    Josh Todd
    Josh Todd
    • Big Billas Big Bill
    Danny Trejo
    Danny Trejo
    • Little Billas Little Bill
    • Director
      • D.J. Caruso
    • Writer
      • Tony Gayton
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Vincent D'Onofrio purposefully mouth breathed during the entire production to create a unique timber and respective speech patterns. He then added a "nose squeak" after finding that some persons who lost their nose secondary to trauma or cancer produce a high pitch sound after completing certain sounds.
    • Goofs
      When the 357 Mag revolver is taped under the table, some shots reveal that it does not have any ammo in it.
    • Quotes

      Bobby: Excuse me. I don't mean to impose, but I am the Ocean.

    • Crazy credits
      The Producers wish to gratefully thank the Salton Sea Sector of the California State Parks for its cooperation. We encourage the support of this unique natural resource.
    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Most Badass Movie Tattoos - Part 2 (2017)
    • Soundtracks
      Saeta
      Written by Gil Evans

      Performed by Terence Blanchard

    User reviews190

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Stylish neo-noir.
    The Salton Sea is a hypersaline artificial body of water accidentally created when engineers lost control of the Colorado River flow with which they were replenishing irrigation canals in California's Imperial Valley. For two years (1905-1907), the Colorado River was uncontrollably diverted from its natural course, filling the Salton Trough (part of the San Andreas Fault) before finally being set back on course. Since then, the Salton Sea continues to be replenished by irrigation runoff with no means of outflow except evaporation. It lies approximately 130 miles northeast of San Diego at the lowest point of the Sonoran Desert (278 feet below sea level). In that part of the world, the temperatures in summer, effectively April through November, can reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit, or even higher. In recent years, it has experienced massive fish and bird kills. In short, the Salton Sea is an apt metaphor for Hell ... which is just where Danny Parker/Tom Van Allen (Val Kilmer) finds himself at the beginning of this film, surrounded by flames. "The Salton Sea" is a highly stylized movie in which nearly all elements are executed well. The acting is generally excellent. Kilmer in the lead role does his best work since "Tombstone", and Vincent D'Onofrio, an actor for whom I don't ordinarily care, is utterly convincing as the demented crank dealer Pooh Bear. He was so good I forgot I was watching D'Onofrio. Excellent supporting performances are contributed by Peter Sarsgaard as Danny/Tom's best friend, Doug Hutchison and Anthony LaPaglia as the two L.A. County Sheriff's deputies for whom Danny snitches, and Adam Goldberg as tweaker-in-residence Kujo. Even the minor characters of Creeper (Ricky Trammell), Big Bill (Josh Todd), and the gun seller (Mpho Koaho) are portrayed to perfection. My only complaint is that Deborah Kara Unger simply wasn't able to pull off her part as the strung-out lowlife Colette, perhaps because she's just too beautiful to be convincing in such a role. As an anti-parallel, imagine Danny Trejo cast as James Bond.

    Cinematography and editing were top notch, and the production design for this film was fantastic, from the diseased walls of Danny/Tom's apartment to the Level 4 biohazard lab in the 'Kujo's Big Heist' segment, with technicians wearing space suits that look like they came directly from Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey". Even the smallest details were done with style, such as the flames cascading down Danny/Tom's arm from the sunburst tattoo centered on the scar of his shoulder wound. The intricate plot of Tony Gayton's script requires the viewer's suspension of disbelief at some points, but not enough to detract significantly from the overall merit of the movie. This is a very strong feature film debut for director D.J. Caruso, and I look forward to his future work. One of the best films I've seen in the last three years, "The Salton Sea" is definitely worth watching. Rating: 8/10
    helpful•34
    2
    • Latheman-9
    • Jun 4, 2003

    FAQ1

    • What is the dialogue played in slow speed while Danny Parker takes a shower after meeting Colette Vaughn for the first time?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 21, 2002 (Ireland)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 萬里追兇
    • Filming locations
      • Salton Sea, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Castle Rock Entertainment
      • Darkwoods Productions
      • Humble Journey Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $18,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $764,554
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $166,309
      • Apr 28, 2002
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,073,198
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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