casper van dien . what can i say . i enjoy the guy . his movie bring a certain flair to them that be actually not bring on by the director or producer and but by him . recycle plot . check . rip offs of good movie . check . wooden acting . check . it not that van dien be a bad actor ( he have be effective in hollywood gloss a starship trooper and sleepy hollow ) he just really have not be offer a script worthy of his talent while and yes and he do have act talent other than be eye candy . this movie offer a slight hint of what van dien can offer but be bogged down by the production of it all . the script can be good develop ( see oliver stone u turn ) . the directing can be good utilized ( see robert rodriguez from dusk til dawn ) . the dp could have make the desert more exotic ( see russ meyer faster pussycat faster kill . ) . this script be weak because this be something we have see before many other time so the double or triple cross be expect . the direction be weak because it be not offer anything new and telegraphs many of the weak script moment . the cinematography at time paint a lovely autumn desert flavor to it and but at other time it doesn not take advantage of the scorching light and the beginning sequence be horrible in cornflower blue . now to the acting . van dien show some grace and charisma to his jake . he neither get too methodical nor too campy in his role . a nice balance especially since the rest of the cast seem too distract a to how they should be act in this film ( bad script or bad direction . you make your opinion ) . the only other person worth mention be bryan brown villain a it provide the only real credit for act in this film . aspire actor forget try to learn how to act in green screen and try learn how to act in a horrendous script and take note on bryan brown in this film . he add extra depth to his role and be a nice counter part to van dien character . jake always seem to either be one step ahead or control of any situation whether if it be out of his control . the femme fatale be weak ( this be a desert noir after all ) and be another nail in this film coffin ( you decide . script or direction ) . the rosalita character should have be thrust forward in the movie instead of be push into the back ground later on to make room for the real femme fatale . so watch the film for van dien and brown while and for fun and try to skip a rock across the plot hole lace within the film .