In A DESERT, filmmaker Joshua Erkman presents a modern homage to Hitchcock’s Psycho, exploring themes of isolation, existential dread, and the fragility of identity through the journey of Alex (Kai Lennox), a fading photographer. Set against the stark and haunting landscapes of the American Southwest, Alex embarks on a seemingly aimless road trip in search of inspiration and a renewed sense of purpose. His encounters with a pair of charismatic yet increasingly menacing siblings (Zachary Ray Sherman and Ashley B. Smith) begin a descent into a nightmarish reality, where the boundaries of sanity begin to blur.

The cinematography in A DESERT, serves as a critical vehicle for thematic exploration, capturing the haunting beauty of liminal spaces that mask deeper, more sinister truths. Erkman’s visual language reflects a neo-noir aesthetic, where the desolate terrain amplifies the psychological tension and atmosphere of dread. The vastness of the landscape becomes a character in its own right, embodying the existential terror inherent in such isolation.

With its unexpected twists and a palpable sense of unease, A DESERT, offers a haunting viewing experience and Erkman’s distinctive vision positions him as an exhilarating new voice in the horror genre.