A psychopathic genius criminal (Mickey Rourke) escapes from custody and proceeds to hold a wealthy family hostage in their own home in order to secure money and safe passage. The nail-biting tension pulses in this hyper-stylish thriller, pitting a desperate criminal gang against family members going through their own crises. Rourke chews the scenery as the manipulative, unhinged gang leader. Anthony Hopkins gives a gravitating turn as the beleaguered patriarch trying to keep his family together and Kelly Lynch plays Rourke’s shark lawyer/lover who may or may not be working for the police.
“From its two opening scenes – scenic and sensational(ist) respectively – it’s pretty clear that Cimino’s film of Joseph Hayes’ thriller will be strong on visuals” – Time Out
Garret Mathany discusses Desperate Hours on the New Beverly blog.
