Desierto - Border Sniper

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1:06

Desierto - Border Sniper

R

2016

1h 30m

Mystery & Thriller

Action

Drama

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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.

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Critics Consensus

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

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Adam Nayman

Cinema Scope

Sep 28, 2017

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

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Eric Kohn

IndieWire

Oct 15, 2016

B-

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.

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Katie Walsh

Los Angeles Times

Oct 15, 2016

2.5/4

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

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Robin Holabird

Robin Holabird

Aug 10, 2021

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

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Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

Feb 26, 2021

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

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Erin Blackwell

Bay Area Reporter

Jun 8, 2020

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.

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Trevor S

@PopcornPopper Feb 5, 2026

The main character plays a MAGA supporter very well.

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Madam D

@Madam1948 Oct 24, 2025

This drama is so realistic that every minute brings a new thrill. Guessing what will happen next is impossible. All the acting was quite well done.

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Richard N

@RT63505166 Oct 4, 2024

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.

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Dimitris T

@RT36270210 Jul 25, 2024

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.

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Philip S

@Philip818 Jul 5, 2024

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

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Eduardo V

@RT18618640 Aug 28, 2023

dios mío that was great and suspenful

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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)

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