Sand Trap (1997) User Reviews

Slightly better than the average late-night suspense film

[brad-88 · 6/10 · 9 July 1999]

SAND TRAP has a predictable storyline, complete with a typical ending, but still remains to be quite entertaining. The interesting thing about this movie is that it makes choosing sides very difficult. Viewers don't know whether to favor the good guy, who is basically an inept, irritating nerd kept in the dark all his life, or the bad guys, a mean-spirited adulterous wife and her brain dead lover. The characters aren't very deep, and none of them are intelligent, but it's still entertaining watching all the criminal hijinks and seeing a bullied nerd getting his revenge as an adult, although his methods are rather juvenile. Elizabeth Morehead shines in her portrayal as the cheating, two-sided wife, as does her criminal lover. I would recommend this movie if you were looking for a laugh or two one night, but don't expect a thrilling movie.

Not bad at all

[Gravendal · 7/10 · 1 November 2023]

The plot, Nelson and his wife and best friend goes out to check out some land that his best friend had bought.

This one is a little bit slow but if you can manage that you got an excellent thriller about betrayal and revenge.

Characters are interesting, dialogs are great and scenes are good even though you seen desert scenes like hundreds times before. The plot/story even though you seen similar stuff before is an interesting one.

It's not a perfect movie, but it is a good one were you have good characters really making you to root for them or hate them. And like said, it's a bit slow but will pay back in tense moments.

Refreshing comedy that stands out from the ordinary imitators.

[willie-1 · 8/10 · 24 June 2004]

When I saw this movie on the cable (I don't believe that it ever made to the cinema), I wasn't expecting much, but to my surprise, with these hardly famed cast, the whole presentation stood out. Not only the acting and the story line were good, but also the photography and editing. Although it's obviously a low-budget film, something about it made it feel genuine (if not ingenious). Perhaps it's the new faces of the actors, or the comic feel over the resemblance of the sadder City Slickers. Overall, it's a very entertaining, simple-and-easy, and refreshing movie that gives you great taste while watching it, and also great after taste! The general plot is simple: Your wife and a good friend conspire to kill you for your fortune. He lures a city slicker like you to the desert to see a prime piece of property. He pushes you off the cliff and disguises the fall as a fatal accident. But you somehow survive the fall and later on the harsh desert. Overcoming the survival challenges you gradually transform yourself into an indigenous warrior for the ultimate revenge.. Well, you can guess the rest. However, you won't know the comic subtlety that it brings unless you're fortunate to find a copy to watch!

PM Entertainment does it again.

[movieguy-36 · 8/10 · 16 April 1999]

This is one of PM's finest, although they did not produce this (they only distributed, I believe). First of all, PM Entertainment is the company with about 50 huge car crashes in each of their films. Ah, now you know what company I'm talking about. Well, the action is toned down here and the suspense multiplied. What also helps is the four main characters: robber, guy, his evil wife, and the sheriff. All of these roles are very well developed and all seem like real people. Now if you were put in the same situation as this guy, you'd do the same thing, too. I rooted for him all along.

Formula and uneven, but overall not bad

[Wizard-8 · 19 August 2002]

The story of "Sandtrap" won't be very original to most viewers - it's kind of a cross between "Body Heat" and "The Most Dangerous Game". As well, each of the three characters has been written to come across in an embarrassing way a few times (especially David John James' character when he starts getting delirious), and the characters make some silly actions at times. Still, it looks slick and well-shot, it's never boring, and there are some really good moments - especially the ending, which is very satisfying.

Good entertainment

[walkerus · 9/10 · 1 November 2017]

This movie is great entertainment, unlike some of the other reviewers we did not find it a comedy, but a well paced thriller. The actors although not well known did a very good job and the location was terrific. The story plot of course is as old as Shakespeare, but like Shakespeare it is the love triangle that surmounts the nature of man and in this case woman. It is not the first time that a woman has used a man to help kill a husband, but what makes this film unique is the slow break-up of the plan as things go wrong. Reviewers call the husband a 'nerd', well believe me there are plenty of so called 'nerds' running countries and industries and being involved in most of the major dealings of man. Some people think that they would be really terrific if put in the same circumstances as the husband, injured, alone, hunted in a cruel environment such as this roasting/freezing desert. do not be too cocky people because if you were hunted in the desert just what would you do?

a devious wife and her lover try to commit the perfect murder

[halijo · 23 February 2007]

I found this film entertaining, mixture of comedy but mainly serious and violent undertones, the unfaithful and ultra devious wife plotting with her vicious lawyer lover. Jack as the lawyer/lover speaks in a very basic way, whereas I think a traditional lawyer would be more refined. I watched the film with my husband and we rated it quite highly. One question I have, how did the 'hillbilly' who was savagely attacked by Jack get to the hospital? Who took him there, or did he get there himself after such severe beatings? The change over from the city guy to a savage surviving the harsh desert conditions was well done, the old battered car was a useful refuge. A pity the sheriff got killed, he was a good and genuine guy.

A Gem in the Desert

[rbrb · 8/10 · 20 February 2021]

Found this gem of a movie on You Tube. Highly entertaining and enjoyable!

A rich man with a very attractive wife plus their lawyer visit a desert location to view real estate. But all is not what it seems as someone has murder in mind....

All the players give first rate performances which had me engrossed throughout. The lead David Markey more or less steals the show.

Beautifully directed and presented.

Now even though the story spirals slightly out of control almost into black comedy that does not detract from a super thrilling picture!

8/10.

Remember it's only a B movie, nothing else.

[searchanddestroy-1 · 8 November 2011]

Yes gentlemen, this is probably a film only made for DVD rental, never released in theatres, I guess. So don't ask too much from it. A good B movie, shot in locations with a tiny budget. Of course we have seen this kind of topic lots of times before: the wife, the husband and the couple's friend, and also the wife's lover, inappropriate lover. see what I mean? But, I repeat, for a TV film, or something like that, I find it adequate. The directing, acting and so on are forgettable, corny, everything you want, I agree. But I always watch for the story in first. And this one reminds me Roy Ward Baker's DANTE'S INFERNO, made in 1953, with nearly the very same story: the poor husband abandoned in the middle of the desert by the two lovers, the wife and her boy friend.

Yes gentlemen, show some gentleness for this kind of productions, please. There are not more than B movies for DVD releases, to be watched while eating a pizza with your wife and your friends - but beware, remember the lines above, be sure that those friends are not so closed to your dame !!!

big disappointment

[nilis-3 · 9 July 2000]

I was very disappointed when I saw this film. It was a big achievement of me to sit through this film and it shows that I have got a lot of perseverance.

The film was very predictable and not original at all. You know what is going to happen from the beginning till the end. The acting is terrible. The transfomation of Nelson (David John James) from a city man into a wild man in the desert is the laugh of the film. If this was a comedy it is OK, but it isn't. It is a serious film about a man that is betrayed by his wife and his best friend and who's trying to survive in the desert.

I would like to warn everyone to stay away from this film. It can ruin your evening!