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A sweaty motel, a dangerous blonde, and Daniel Stern in way over his head — what could go wrong?
TMDB
50
IMDb
57
Rotten Tomatoes
55
Audience Score
55

Dead Simple (2001)

sleazy neo-noirdesperate small-timers90s direct-to-video energy

Overview

The life of motel owner is turned upside down by a femme-fatale lounge singer and her abusive manager.

Flag of USUS
Content warning
toxic desiremasculine inadequacythe performance of identityeconomic desperation

Standout Aspects

Acting

Daniel Stern's sweaty everyman desperation is genuinely compelling.

Cinematography

Motel neon and desert heat captured in all its grungy glory.

Best for:Streaming: Late night rabbit hole discovery, preferably with low expectations and high snacks.·Solo: When you want to feel better about your own life decisions.
Heads up:Violence: Domestic abuse and some brutal physical confrontations.·Sexual Content: Sleazy motel-room encounters and uncomfortable power dynamics.
J

Director

Jason Bloom

ReleasedAug 21, 2001
Runtime1h 37m
StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacesteady
Intensitymedium
Tonedark
Feelmedium

Top Cast

Daniel Stern

Daniel Stern

Frank Jacobs

James Caan

James Caan

Roy Baker

Sherry Stringfield

Sherry Stringfield

Marguerite

Lacey Kohl

Lacey Kohl

Julie Mitchell

Ask about Dead Simple

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Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Trivia

This was director Jason Bloom's follow-up to Bio-Dome, making this quite the tonal whiplash in his filmography.

Cultural

Released straight-to-video in 2001, it captures that specific post-Pulp Fiction wave of desperate criminals in cheap settings that flooded the late 90s.

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