Desierto - Border Sniper

Play trailer

1:06

Desierto - Border Sniper

R

Released Oct 14, 2016

1h 30m

Mystery & Thriller

Action

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

64%

Tomatometer

92 Reviews

46%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

When their truck suddenly breaks down, a migrant named Moises leads 13 others on a trek through the harsh terrain along the U.S.-Mexico border. Inconvenience soon turns into horror as the sounds of gunfire shatter the tranquil desert landscape. Desperate and on the run, the survivors find themselves in a fight for their lives against a psychotic sniper and his vicious hunting dog. Moises must now use his wits and instincts to kill the relentless predator before he claims more victims.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Desierto's thought-provoking themes and refreshing perspective are unfortunately offset by a predictable plot and thinly written characters.

Read Critics Reviews

Adam Nayman

Cinema Scope

Jonás Cuarón's Desierto has a certain abstract, conceptual power.

Sep 28, 2017

Full Review

Eric Kohn

IndieWire

Give "Desierto" credit for this: There has never been a more appropriate time for a tense thriller about Mexican immigrants avoiding the murderous advances of a gun-wielding American lunatic.

Rated: B-

Oct 15, 2016

Full Review

Katie Walsh

Los Angeles Times

A generic thriller that happens to be wrapped in political packaging. That packaging is sometimes more interesting than the thrills themselves.

Rated: 2.5/4

Oct 15, 2016

Full Review

Robin Holabird

Robin Holabird

Isolated terrain featuring looming rock formations and challenging stretches of desert contribute to the story's menacing elements.

Aug 10, 2021

Full Review

Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

Although the film is narrowly focused, it is a tense and loud protest against an egregious and pervasive social ill.

Feb 26, 2021

Full Review

Erin Blackwell

Bay Area Reporter

There's no story here, only a one-sided shoot-em-up as callous as a video game. Hollywood has always been cynical, but Desierto distinguishes itself by its indifference to the dilemma it depicts.

Jun 8, 2020

Full Review

Read all reviews

Richard N

Acting was OK but plot line was ridiculous and the entire movie was so far removed from reality that it was insulting to anyone with even an ounce of intelligence. A random guy that murders a bunch of illegals with no consequence? A semi-auto rifle that operates like a bolt-action except for when the 'victim' uses it against the perp? A flare that burns a dog alive and sets cactuses on fire? People that run through the desert for days with no food or water and are barely tired? A bad guy that only drinks whiskey in the desert but can make accurate shots on running people at over 100 yards? the whole thing was some sort of ridiculous hollywood fantasy.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

10/04/24

Full Review

Ramiro E

This movie is sad but truly focuses on what many immigrants can go through while crossing the border, definitely a must watch

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/30/24

Full Review

Dimitris T

As a rare example of a thriller touching upon a 100% real humanitarian issue, Desierto has you on the edge of your seat every single second.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/27/25

Full Review

Philip S

This Movie makes you think that this could happen, but I’m sure many unrecorded violent killings happens due to extremists preying on the helpless, on both sides of the border. One note, I enjoyed the directors narrative in the bonus feature. PJJS

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/05/24

Full Review

Erica D

In this day and age, this movie can not be glanced over as mere cinema, but as a window into the lives of outcasts and the trials endured for the sake of a better future, as well as a physical manifestation of the sickness that plagues the mind of those who believe they have a right to pass and exert judgement are the privileged few.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/20/24

Full Review

Mariela C

The dog part. For all sensitive animal lovers, nah. i dislike movies that show animal suffering.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/11/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Jonás Cuarón

Director

Gael García Bernal

Moises

Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Sam

Alondra Hidalgo

Adela

Diego Cataño

Mechas

Marco Pérez

Lobo

The Kingdom

51%

76%

The Kingdom

Watchlist

The American

64%

39%

The American

Watchlist

Naked Singularity

28%

30%

Naked Singularity

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Naked Singularity

The Good Neighbor

25%

72%

The Good Neighbor

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Good Neighbor

The Brave One

43%

64%

The Brave One

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Desierto: Trailer 2

1:06

Desierto: Trailer 1

2:31

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

When their truck suddenly breaks down, a migrant named Moises leads 13 others on a trek through the harsh terrain along the U.S.-Mexico border. Inconvenience soon turns into horror as the sounds of gunfire shatter the tranquil desert landscape. Desperate and on the run, the survivors find themselves in a fight for their lives against a psychotic sniper and his vicious hunting dog. Moises must now use his wits and instincts to kill the relentless predator before he claims more victims.

Director: Jonás Cuarón
Producer: Alfonso Cuarón, Carlos Cuarón, Alex Garcia, Charles Gillibert
Screenwriter: Jonás Cuarón, Mateo Garcia
Distributor: STX Entertainment
Production Co: CG Cinéma, Itaca Films
Rating: R (Strong Violence and Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Action, Drama
Original Language: Spanish
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 14, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 7, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.0M
Runtime: 1h 30m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Most Popular at Home Now