Watch Reaper

Reaper, a gritty indie film from 2014, is a thriller that tells the story of a group of criminals who find themselves stranded in the desert after their bank heist goes wrong. These criminals, led by a ruthless mastermind named Bill, are on the run from the cops and must navigate the scorching hot wasteland in order to make it to safety.

The movie opens with a tense bank robbery scene that quickly goes awry when the alarm is tripped and the police show up. The criminals, in a panicked state, rush out of the bank and into their getaway vehicle, only to find that it won't start. As the cops close in, the group splits up and flees into the desert.

From there, the movie becomes a tense and action-packed survival story as the criminals struggle to make it out of the desert alive. Along the way, they encounter a number of obstacles, including a pair of vicious drug dealers, a mysterious hermit, and a deadly assassin who is hot on their trail.

As the group journeys deeper into the desert, tensions begin to rise and secrets are revealed. We learn that Bill, the group's leader, has a personal vendetta against one of his fellow criminals and will stop at nothing to eliminate him. Meanwhile, the other members of the group must decide whether to stick together or go their own separate ways in order to increase their chances of survival.

The movie is anchored by intense performances from its cast, particularly star Shayla Beesley, who plays Tess, one of the criminals caught up in the heist-gone-wrong. Beesley imbues her character with a quiet intensity and vulnerability that makes her stand out in a film full of tough guys.

James Jurdi, who also wrote the screenplay, delivers a strong turn as Bill, the group's ruthless leader. He's a charismatic but ultimately cold character who will do whatever it takes to get what he wants, even if it means betraying those closest to him.

Justin Henry, who plays one of the other criminals in the group, provides some much-needed comic relief in an otherwise bleak movie. His character, a slacker named Bobby, is constantly making quips and jokes even in the most dire of situations.

Despite its low budget and limited scope, Reaper manages to pack a lot of thrills and surprises into its runtime. The desert setting provides a unique and stark backdrop for the action, with cinematographer Mike Gioulakis making great use of the natural light and sweeping vistas to create a sense of scale and grandeur.

While the movie is undeniably violent and brutal at times, it's not just a mindless shoot-em-up. The script, also written by Jurdi, is surprisingly smart and nuanced, with themes of trust, loyalty, and revenge woven throughout.

In the end, Reaper is a tightly-paced and well-executed thriller that should appeal to fans of gritty, realistic action movies. With a talented cast and a compelling story, it's well worth seeking out if you're in the mood for something a little different.

Reaper is a 2015 science fiction movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.4.