That was an excellent one.

Just perfect...

Good movie, but best of all time? Hardly . . .

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

"Death Valley" is the film that introduced the world to little Peter "Ralphie" Billingsley of "A Christmas Story" fame. "Death Valley" centers on a young boy named Billy who accidentally stumbles upon a murder scene while taking a road trip with his mother and her new boyfriend. He unknowingly picks up the only thing that can tie the killer to the location of the crime - a necklace dropped during the struggle with the victim. Billy's mother and her boyfriend attempt to bring the psychopath to justice before the murderer tracks the child down.This is one of those forgotten films of the 1980s. It's not bad by any means. It just didn't make enough of an impact on moviegoers to grant it cult classic status. Many would consider it a slasher film and they have every right to. There are graphic scenes of blood and violence, but not enough to place it in a category with "Friday the 13th" or "Halloween."The cast of "Death Valley" is relatively impressive in hindsight. Many of them hadn't hit their successful strides yet and were still on their journey to stardom. Catherine Hicks ("7th Heaven," "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home") plays Billy's mother. Veteran actor Edward Herrmann ("Gilmore Girls," "The Lost Boys") has a bit role as Billy's father. Wilfred Brimley ("The Firm," "Cocoon") plays the town sheriff."Death Valley" will provide genre fans and ordinary movie viewers some thrills and entertainment. It's interesting to see Peter Billingsley perform in this type of atmosphere after spending so many years seeing him as baby-faced Ralphie in the safety of "A Christmas Story." I might have to have a "Three Degrees of 'A Christmas Story'" party this year and screen "Death Valley," "A Christmas Story" and "Black Christmas," which were both directed by Bob Clark.

Coming out during the influx of the slasher craze, "Death Valley" could be seen as one of those unlucky films that got lost in the crowd and was pushed aside with those lesser imitations. Unfortunately if that's the case it's undeserved (sadly no DVD release either), as it's a lot more accomplished than its rancid shockers. One thing though, it was one of those video cases that always drew me to its strikingly cool artwork.Billy and his recently divorced mother leave New York for a vacation to California to meet up with her new boyfriend. For Billy it's hard seeing his mum with another man, but it's the less of his worries. As on their vacation to "Death Valley", Billy stumbles across an empty RV and picks up a necklace. Later they come across this RV again, but it was in an accident or so it seems. Unknowingly to them, there have been brutal murders in "Death Valley" and killer now has Billy in his sights."Death Valley" is like a second-rate Hitchcock-like thriller that decently grows on bone-rattling suspense, taking time to let the characters and circumstances unfold that when the threatening tic-tack-toe nature breaks out we're put in an act of alarm and desperation. It really puts the characters on the spot and breathing down an ominous air, the material doesn't do much to hide the killer's identity and the surprise twist is easy to figure out. The rural California locations do it wonders, as the secluded landscapes are harsh and vast with it being truly alienating --- nowhere to hide and help is a long way. Dick Richards directs with panache and vision, orchestrating the unhinged sounds (a suspenseful music score) and observatory imagery (moody camera angles and slow-motion) with the foreseeable one-track story. While slow-winding, as it's slowed up by passages involving family issues --- Billy accepting his mother's new boyfriend, but this does give it a grounded sincerity to the character's relationships and dynamics. These moments are broken up by the heighten tension and an odd nasty jolt that's well-timed by throwing you off with false bumps.Performances are agreeable. Peter Billingsley (whose massive glasses are somewhat distracting) is likable as the know-all Billy and Catherine Hicks is simply delightful (although she does some questionable actions in the film's climax) as Billy's mother. Paul Le Mat is sturdy, but does look quite bemused more often. Wilford Brimley is hardy as the suspicious sheriff and Stephen McHattie is suitably random and menacing. There's also a minor part for Edward Herrmann at the beginning as Billy's father.Nothing special, but a diverting, fine old-fashion thriller with the modern unpleasantness.

I've been on the lookout for this obscure early 80's slasher since many moons, for the same old reason why I often track down films I don't know anything about … Because the poster/cover image here on the IMDb, showing a killer with a knife in the reflection of a little kid's glasses, looks tremendously cool. That's all. So, of course, in too many of these cases the films turn out to be big disappointments, but luckily "Death Valley" is a worthwhile little hidden gem. It's a modest and reasonably stylish slasher/thriller with a marvelous setting (why there aren't any more horror flicks taking place in Death Valley, California is beyond me), an admirably creepy atmosphere, likable characters (no hormone driven teenagers out camping this time), a handful of unexpected brutal killings and a surprisingly well-written screenplay (sometimes). The film begins with a father in New York explaining to his intelligent and eloquent young son Billy – that Ralphie kid from "A Christmas Story" with the big glasses – that he has to spend his vacation with his mother and her new lover down in a touristy cowboy village near Death Valley, California. Once there, and in between the difficult acceptance of new parent process of little Billy, he spots a vicious looking old car following them around. There's a serial killer on the loose in Death Valley and he/she just butchered three people in a motor home. Billy wanders around the area and finds the killer's necklace. From then onwards he's the killer's prime target. "Death Valley" distinguishes itself from the other contemporary slasher flicks because of its dramatic and identifiable sub plot of parental divorce and the children's slow process of accepting mummy/daddy's new life partner. Many (too many even?) sequences revolve on conversations between Billy and his mother, begging him to give the new boyfriend a proper chance. The identity of the killer isn't exactly kept secret and the "twist" near the end is very predictable as well, still director Dick Richards attempts to bring more depth and tension-building than we are used to see in early 80's horror movies. The handful of murders are, as said, fairly gruesome with some slit throats and a lovely axe in the chest moment. There's also a hilarious comical interlude when Billy has to remain at home with the babysitter. She's a corpulent eating machine who munches all of the kid's chocolate, crisps and ice cream.

Death Valley is a perfect thriller containing all the suspense and terror without entering in the gore area. Maybe is a little old fashion and the story have some holes in it, but that goes to a second plane. The photography and the score are top notch. Also we have a very frightening performance by the great and only Stephen McHattie. The film also shows scenes and situations rarely seen on today features (like the one in the bathroom, the pool and car sequence, the dancing on the roof, the last revelation about the killer(s), and a few more). It's a very well crafted movie. The plot, for me, was just average. It doesn't matter. The movie has an unique style and that's what I love about it. Hoping a DVD release soon. Bye.