A lone man sits amongst the flames of a fire, calmly playing a beautiful Miles Davis song. He tells of two identities, both his, and how he does not know which is the real one. It’s up to us, the audience, to decide. Thus begins the intriguing and cryptic The Salton Sea. Between that opening scene and the film’s end, there are several muddled and sometimes unnecessary scenes, but, overall, the cryptic feel of the film kept me interested.
Val Kilmer gives a subdued and subtle, yet powerful, performance as jazz musician Danny Parker. We get a glimpse of the different sides of his personality throughout the film but do not fully understand him until the end. It becomes apparent that his wife was murdered and he is a hardcore drug addict, but it is unclear if the first event is related to the second. Besides being a drug addict, he also works as a snitch, helping cops catch a big-time drug dealer. There is, however, no explanation as to why Parker is working as a snitch, as there seems to be little or no compensation for his actions. This is a big part of why the film keeps us interested – we are unsure of what to believe since the truth is hidden behind a web of deceit and half-truths.
The excitement of the film really starts about halfway through when Parker comes into contact with a menacing dealer known as Pooh. This creepy character, who has literally snorted his nose off – wearing a plastic nose to cover up the wound – is played wonderfully by Vincent D’Onofrio, who seems able to bring the same creepy, bizarre energy to any villain he plays. Once Pooh is introduced, the film begins to become more puzzling and confusing through the use of flashbacks and surreal imagery. The confusion is elevated by the final act, in which Parker works with two police officers to bring down Pooh. It seems obvious that he hates the two cops, while he has become somewhat close with Pooh. The flashbacks begin to hint at Parker’s attempted revenge at his wife’s killer, but there is no reason for us to think it is Pooh rather than anyone else.
It is the mystery of the film that makes it enjoyable and it’s important to note that this is not truly a “drug film” such as Trainspotting or Requiem for a Dream, but rather an exploration of a man’s identity and how tragedy forces him to extreme measures. The sharp script always keeps us on edge and makes it nearly impossible to predict what will happen next. While it’s not always original, this film holds its mystery until the very end – a feat not often accomplished by a Hollywood movie.
