The Salton Sea

Plot

After his wife is murdered, a man drifts into a world populated by thugs and speed junkies.

Release Year: 2002

Rating: 7.1/10 (19,618 voted)

Critic's Score: 41/100

Director:
D.J. Caruso

Stars: Val Kilmer, Vincent D'Onofrio, Adam Goldberg

Storyline
After the murder of his beloved wife, Danny Parker is set adrift in a world where nothing is as it seems. On his journey he befriends slacker Jimmy the Finn and becomes involved in rescuing his neighbor Colette from her own demons. Danny is antagonized by undercover narcotics agents and sadistic dealer Pooh-Bear.

Cast:

Val Kilmer
–

Danny Parker
/
Tom Van Allen

Vincent D'Onofrio
–

Pooh-Bear

Adam Goldberg
–

Kujo

Luis Guzmán
–

Quincy

Doug Hutchison
–

Gus Morgan

Anthony LaPaglia
–

Al Garcetti

Glenn Plummer
–

Bobby

Peter Sarsgaard
–

Jimmy the Finn

Deborah Kara Unger
–

Colette

Chandra West
–

Liz

BD Wong
–

Bubba

R. Lee Ermey
–

Verne Plummer

Shalom Harlow
–

Nancy

Shirley Knight
–

Nancy Plummer

Meat Loaf
–

Bo

Taglines:
If You're Looking For The Truth, You've Come To The Wrong Place.

Details

Official Website:
Warner Bros. [Canada] |
Warner Bros. [United States] |

Release Date: 21 June 2002

Filming Locations: Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $18,000,000

(estimated)

Opening Weekend: $166,309
(USA)
(28 April 2002)
(15 Screens)

Gross: $764,554
(USA)
(16 June 2002)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Did You Know?

Trivia:

Val Kilmer researched his role by spending time with drug abusers in Riverside and the greater Los Angeles area.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers):
When listing the ingredients needed to manufacture methamphetamine, Tom/Danny states that match heads are needed for the red phosphorus – in fact, the phosphorus is located in the striking surface of the matchbooks.

Quotes:

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

User Review

A Crystal Meth Film Noir

Rating:

I avoided watching this film for quite some time after its release. In part
this was because what little I knew about the story hit a little too close
to home in terms of substance abuse problems, and equally so because I'd
generally read negative reviews about how bleak, depressing and meandering
it was.

Boy was I wrong. As it turns out this is a stylishly photographed,
atmospheric little film noir set in the world of crystal meth junkies and
hoods. Val Kilmer registers a most impressive performance as a musician
turned junkie turned…. well, I won't give anything more
away.

The film's story line just seems to flow out toward the viewer in a
languishing, yet engrossing stream, sucking you along in its undertow.
Couple that with enough plot twists to catch your interest and this film
makes for a perfect evening of quiet movie watching over a bowl of
popcorn.

Give this little gem a chance. Odds are you won't be disappointed.