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Desperation

  • TV Movie
  • 2006
  • R
  • 2h 11m
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
12K
YOUR RATING
Desperation (2006)
DramaFantasyHorrorMysteryThriller

When a sheriff arrests a writer, a family, a couple, and a hitchiker and throws them in a jail cell in the deserted town of Desperation, they must fight for their lives.When a sheriff arrests a writer, a family, a couple, and a hitchiker and throws them in a jail cell in the deserted town of Desperation, they must fight for their lives.When a sheriff arrests a writer, a family, a couple, and a hitchiker and throws them in a jail cell in the deserted town of Desperation, they must fight for their lives.

  • Director
    • Mick Garris
  • Writer
    • Stephen King
  • Stars
    • Tom Skerritt
    • Steven Weber
    • Annabeth Gish
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.3/10
    12K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Mick Garris
    • Writer
      • Stephen King
    • Stars
      • Tom Skerritt
      • Steven Weber
      • Annabeth Gish
    • 114User reviews
    • 35Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys
      • 1 win & 4 nominations total

    Videos1

    Desperation
    Trailer 1:26
    Desperation

    Photos49

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    Top cast19

    Edit
    Tom Skerritt
    Tom Skerritt
    • John Edward Marinville
    Steven Weber
    Steven Weber
    • Steve Ames
    Annabeth Gish
    Annabeth Gish
    • Mary Jackson
    Charles Durning
    Charles Durning
    • Tom Billingsley
    Matt Frewer
    Matt Frewer
    • Ralph Carver
    Henry Thomas
    Henry Thomas
    • Peter Jackson
    Shane Ashton Haboucha
    Shane Ashton Haboucha
    • David Carver
    • (as Shane Haboucha)
    Kelly Overton
    Kelly Overton
    • Cynthia Smith
    Sylva Kelegian
    Sylva Kelegian
    • Ellie Carver
    Ron Perlman
    Ron Perlman
    • Collie Entragian
    Samantha Hanratty
    Samantha Hanratty
    • Pie Carver
    • (as Sammi Hanratty)
    Ewan Chung
    Ewan Chung
    • Shih
    Alain Uy
    Alain Uy
    • Cha'an
    Trieu Tran
    Trieu Tran
    • Young Viet Cong
    Tom Parker
    Tom Parker
    • Young Johnny
    Darren Victoria
    • Brian Ross
    Glenn R. Wilder
    Glenn R. Wilder
    • Drunk Driver
    • (as Glenn Wilder)
    Chris Calilung
    • Vietnamese moped rider #2
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Mick Garris
    • Writer
      • Stephen King
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews114

    5.312K
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    Featured reviews

    7tytianacs

    Not Bad At All

    I just viewed the 'made for TV' movie and I thought that it was pretty good! I read both books over ten years ago and considering, it turned out to be better than I had expected, although I thought that the second book (The Regulators) was much better than the first (Desperation)! Ron Perlman was excellent (as usual!) along with Tom Skerritt. The supporting cast were pretty good also (Charles Durning and Matt Fewer were somewhat 'under used'). I was also quite impressed with how they stuck with the religious 'tone' of the story seeing how sensitive that people are nowadays. But all in all, it kept my 13 year old son 'glued' to the 'set after I explained the first and second book to him.

    It doesn't compare to "The Stand" which I found absolutely fantastic but for a three hour film, it holds it's ground! Like myself and my son, we are hoping that Mr. King already have the follow-up, "The Regulators" already in the works. And if you haven't read both books yet, now would be a good time to find these 'gems' and read them. Trust me, you will not be able to put them down! King at his finest!!!!
    6a_life_unnoticed

    sometimes worth it

    I bought this movie out of the bargain bin at wal-mart the other day. It isn't something that would normally catch my interest, but I remember reading the book many years ago, and although I didn't remember a lot of details of the book, I remember enjoying it, and figured if I got even a fraction of the entertainment out of the movie as I did the book I would be satisfied. There are a few plot holes, but nothing too dramatic. The movie was thoroughly creepy. Connie was a convincing villain, and it was well cast. I think the kid was a bit on the quiet side for what I had always pictured him to be, but He still did a decent job. I bought this movie for 5 bucks, and it was well worth that. I would recommend this for renting, but paying much more than say 10 bucks to purchase it would be foolish. All in all a good movie although would have been much better as a feature film.
    tghood15

    Disappointed

    I just wanted to say after finishing Desperation I felt like I had wasted three hours of my life. I have been an avid King fan for years but all I can say is I hope the book was better than the movie. Someone tell me it is please !!! I wont give anything away for those that were lucky enough not have seen it. Now lets see what did this movie lack ? For starters plot. The plot was thinner than Kate Moss and there was no character development, which King normally in his worst novels still does well. This movie had zero. This was the biggest mess of a battle between good and evil I have ever seen. In closing to any one who did not watch it on ABC last night I beg of you don't waste your money even renting this if it ever comes out on DVD. Again if the book was better great!
    4aghosh69

    It was going so well...

    So I am a big fan of Stephen King novels and movies alike and there is rarely a time i argue about a movie that deviates from a book. I haven't read the book before I watched the movie and still there was something very off about it. I should have been aware that Stephen King movies like to keep a low profile on the movie synopsis and it was a treat to see how well this movie started off. It was good... till the lead up to the conclusion. I couldn't help but comment on Ron Pearlman's character (and obviously the actors acting that brought the character to life. Had a good suspense and definitely an attention grabbing flow to the movie. But the ending... it seemed rushed.. there was too many questions and there was never a proper explanation (hell there was no explanation) for this... this... weird phenomena. Of course considering its something like another portal and supernatural but there was never really a very good connection between the questioning of faith in God and this bizarre incident. The ending was waay too rushed and the cool setup of "Tack" by Pearlman suddenly became a big time wuss... this movie would have made it to a 5 had it not disappointed me so much with the conclusion... Still its a movie anyone can enjoy and of course not all would find it as disappointing as I did.
    5albaugh_neil

    Made- for- TV Horror Flick

    "Desperation" was premiered in Tucson at the newly- restored Fox Theater, a great Art Deco movie house. After the showing, the cast and director held an interesting question- and- answer session, somewhat marred by a few long- winded local politicos.

    The movie was filmed in Bisbee, in the now- closed Lavender Pit copper mine, an imposing location. Other open- highway scenes were filmed on Sierrita Mountain Road and Sasabe Road. The filming shut down the highways for periods of time but it was interesting watching what was going on. The film crew also accidentally set the Tucson Community Center on fire.

    As far as rating the movie, it's simply a "made for TV" production and you get pretty much what you might expect. It's no "Sunset Boulevard" but it's watchable.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Stephen King was reportedly annoyed that the ABC Network decided to show the film on the same evening that the popular TV series American Idol (2002) aired. King blamed the network's poor scheduling decision for the disappointing ratings that Desperation received.
    • Goofs
      At the scene in the jail when Mary fights with the cop and David picks up a shotgun bullet, he puts it into his right pocket of his jeans. Yet, at the end of the film when the "Collie Entragian Survivors" climb up to the mine's entrance, Johnny Marinville steals the bullet from David's left pocket.
    • Quotes

      Cynthia Smith: Are you a nice person?

      Steve Ames: Well, uh, I like to think so. But then again, if I was Ted Bundy, do you think I'd tell you?

    • Connections
      Referenced in Minty Comedic Arts: 10 Things You Didn't Know About batteries not included (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      Good Lovin
      (uncredited)

      Written by Rudy Clark and Arthur Resnick

      Performed by The Rascals

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    FAQ9

    • Is "Desperation" based on a novel?
    • What is this movie about?
    • Why does the sheriff keep saying, "Tak"?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 9, 2006 (Japan)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Stephen King's Desperation
    • Filming locations
      • Bisbee, Arizona, USA
    • Production companies
      • Touchstone Television
      • Buena Vista Television
      • Sennet-Gernstein Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $12,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 11 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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