Scorpion Spring (1996)

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

One of those movie experiences that is so good it makes you realize you've been grading everything else on a curve.

The acting in this movie is really good.

"Scorpion Spring" is worth watching for an eclectic bunch of familiar faces, and some good bits, comic and dramatic. As written and directed by Brian Cox (not to be confused with the actor of the same name), it's basically a routine B road movie / criminal on the lam story. Patrick McGaw is Zac, travelling from NYC to LA who runs into trouble in the Southwest, starting with getting his wallet stolen. Fate soon throws him together with super smarmy French actor Denis Brabant (the always fantastic Alfred Molina, who walks away with the movie), and soon after that, lowlife bad guy Astor (Esai Morales), who has a woman, Nadia (Angel Aviles), in tow. It doesn't take too long for Zac to realize that Astor is bad news, but he's too concerned with Nadia's well being to want to take a powder. Meanwhile, there are other story threads involving characters being tracked down by a border patrol officer (Ruben Blades), a sheriff (Kevin Tighe), and a somewhat dubious lawman (Miguel Sandoval). This is the kind of thing where the twisty plot would require the viewer to pay attention, not that it would probably make much sense if people took the time to scrutinize the script. In any event, this is a very slick looking and well photographed film, that does, as mentioned previously, generate some laughs. McGaw and Molina make for an awfully unlikely comedy duo, but the flamboyant Molina and straight man McGaw do have chemistry. A word of warning to the unaware, though, that if they are watching this for Matthew McConaughey, he only appears towards the end (he *does* make the most of his brief screen time, though). Also popping up in enjoyable bits are John Doe of the group X as Tighes' deputy, the always amusing Richard Edson as a gregarious service station owner, Tony Genaro as McConaugheys' thuggish associate, and musician / actor Tito Larriva as a bartender. This moves along, and kills time, well enough, but nothing about is too remarkable. Five out of 10.

This film is directed by Brian Cox who is famous for directing ... well, it seems that the most important film of his career is "Scorpion Spring". Apart from Music Director Lalo Schifrin, there is no one of importance in the cast. It's one of those ultra low-cost films, most of the action happens in a ghost town around the USA-Mexico border. Anyhow, despite its limitations, or maybe because one's expectations are so low, there is some good suspense in the film. I wouldn't pay a movie ticket to watch this in a theater, but watching it from the beginning in the TV is certainly worthwhile. Considering the limitations, I would rate it 7 out of 10.

After some of the negative reviews i heard on this movie, i was doubtful of giving it a go, but i had £3.99 in my wallet & thought id gamble on buying a budget like movie & saw this and gave it ago & I'm glad i did, i enjoyed it. Directed by The star of films such as Chain Reaction, the Ring, Bourne Identity,(Brian Cox) i had to gamble with this even if it was rubbish but it weren't at all, i found some of the humour quite funny especially Alfred Molina the star of Spider-man 2 the Character Doc Ock. He was excellent the most enjoyable part of the film. Of course like many other people which bought this movie i saw Matthew's name, and that made me get it! and no his part isn't big at all, it's very short at the very end of the film, it's not a big part which makes me believe thats why people hate the film. I suggest you give it a go. Some parts are a pit poor that needed polishing, the acting, and a bit more action. But it's watchable.

Rented the movie to see McConaughey, instead sat through this entire movie, only to view the actor for the last 15 minutes of the movie.The content and acting leaves a little to be desired. Seems like something that you would see at a high school amateur video viewing.