BLIND HORIZON

US, 2003, 97 minutes. Colour.
Val Kilmer, Neve Campbell, Sam Shepherd, Noble Willingham, Amy Smart, Jill Bellows, Giancarlo Esposito, Faye Dunaway.
Directed by Michael Haussman.

Blind Horizon is a political thriller, an amnesia thriller. Val Kilmer plays a mysterious man who has been shot in New Mexico and, on recovery, has lost his memory. However, there is a deadline for five days to a hit. The hit seems to be the American president. The man with amnesia gets flashes of memory, gradually putting together what has happened – and his role in the hit.

There is a strong cast led by Sam Shepherd as the local sheriff, Neve Campbell as a mysterious fiancée, Amy smart as a sympathetic nurse, Giancarlo Esposito as a journalist, Faye Dunaway as a mysterious connection.

Apparently, the film was very long and slow with the director’s cut, but the producers brought in another editor to speed the film up. It is very complex – and requires attention to know who is who and what is going on.

1. An interesting thriller, president, American, amnesia?

2. The New Mexico setting, the town, the desert, Black Point? The terrain? Hospitals, shops, the cinema, police offices? The plausibility of the plot?

3. The plot and its credibility, the collage during the opening credits? The jigsaw puzzle and the pieces? The president, five days to Rhombus, the flashbacks, the pieces, the connections? The plot becoming clearer?

4. Frank, his being found in the desert, driving, shot, over the cliff, his hat? In hospital, Liz and her talking to him while in coma? His recovery? The doctor, the supervision, his memories?

5. The sheriff, his being with the deputy sheriff? Their characters, the criticisms, the cash issues, illegal aliens? The antagonism between the two? Visiting the hospital? The deputy sheriff going into action? The sheriff and his job, concern, following leads? The arrival of Chloe? Frank and the information? Not believing him about the president? The plan, the president’s arrival, the sheriff’s bewilderment, Frank going into the cinema, disappearing? The process?

6. Chloe, turning up as the fiancée, how credible, the photos, the relationship, her control of him, the sexual relationship, the truth, her being shot?

7. Frank, his recovery, talking about the president, trying to reconstruct the plot? Meeting the man in the cinema? The message, the Swiss bank account? Seeing the driver in the town, his accident in the gasoline truck? Faye Dunaway and her constant appearance – the connection?

8. The plane, the change, Frank and his background with the IRS, his connections, the FBI? His cover? Real hitman or not?

9. The days counting down, the last day, the meeting again in the cinema, his finding his documents? Chloe, the gun, her being killed? Faye Dunaway and the change of plan?

10. The president, Frank and the rifle, having the president, the sheriff and the shooter in his sights? His decision? Shooting the shooter?

11. Liz, the money, transferring it, her decision to leave, waiting for Frank? Meeting him in the desert?

12. The journalist, his printing the story – and his helping Frank?

13. An entertaining and conspiracy thriller?