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Even small towns have their secrets—the little things that people tend to gossip about without any real proof. But in the crime thriller Desert Dawn, a newly-appointed sheriff moves back to his small hometown and soon discovers that the town’s secrets aren’t so small.
Desert Dawn stars Kellan Lutz as Sheriff Luke Easton, who returns home to New Mexico after spending years away. He lands his first case soon after arriving in town, when some kids discover a dead man in his truck in the desert. Though the man’s death appears to be a suicide, the case turns into something much bigger when Luke discovers a bag full of cash stashed in the trunk—and a picture of a murdered woman on his phone. And as Luke and his team dig for more information, the case becomes more and more complicated.
As Luke settles into his new life in his old hometown and has uncomfortable reunions with the people he left behind, he doesn’t get much time to ease into his new job. What seems to be a pretty simple case involving a desperate stranger quickly turns into something that’s so much deeper and more complex than he first expected. Each new clue only makes everything darker and more twisted—the people involved more powerful and dangerous.
Of course, it’s no big surprise that the new sheriff in town has a history of being a loose cannon—which means that nothing here is done by the book. In fact, viewers may sometimes wonder why the character needed to be a sheriff at all—instead of some Liam Neeson kind of tough guy with a heart of gold—because none of his actions seem to line up with standard law enforcement procedures. He goes off on his own, gets too emotionally attached, negotiates with criminals, and often uses unnecessary force. The writing, meanwhile, is often cheesy and overdone—with awkward performances to match. And when it all comes to an end, there are some major plot holes that will leave viewers scratching their heads.
With its cliched characters in unlikely situations, Desert Dawn feels like it was written—and maybe even acted—by AI. So many aspects feel all too familiar, while some parts of the story seem completely unnecessary. If you’re just looking for some brainless action, it’s mildly, predictably entertaining—but it’s not worth racing out to see it in theaters.
Take the case with Sheriff Easton when Desert Dawn arrives in select theaters and on demand on May 16, 2025.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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