''Slow Burn'' is a 1986 American

film noir Film noir (; ) is a style of Cinema of the United States, Hollywood Crime film, crime dramas that emphasizes cynicism (contemporary), cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of Ameri ...

television movie for

Showtime Showtime or Show Time may refer to: Film * ''Showtime'' (film), a 2002 American action/comedy film * ''Showtime'' (video), a 1995 live concert video by Blur Television Networks and channels * Showtime Networks, a division of Paramount Global w ...

presented by

Joel Schumacher Joel T. Schumacher (; August 29, 1939 – June 22, 2020) was an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Raised in New York City by his mother, Schumacher graduated from Parsons School of Design and originally became a fashion designe ...

(as executive producer) and directed by Matthew Chapman, who adapted the screenplay from the novel ''Castles Burning'' by Arthur Lyons. The cast includes

Eric Roberts Eric Anthony Roberts (born April 18, 1956) is an American actor. He has amassed more than 700 film and television credits since his debut in 1978, making him one of the most prolific English-speaking screen actors of all time. Roberts' career ...

Beverly D'Angelo Beverly Heather D'Angelo (born November 15, 1951) is an American actress who starred as Ellen Griswold in the '' National Lampoon's Vacation'' films (1983–2015). She has appeared in over 60 films and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for ...

Dennis Lipscomb Dennis Lipscomb (March 1, 1942 – July 30, 2014) was an American actor. Lipscomb earned an engineering degree from Clarkson University. Lipscomb's first feature film was '' Union City'' (1980). From the early 1980s to the 1990s, Lipscomb appe ...

Raymond J. Barry Raymond John Barry (born March 14, 1939) is an American film, television, and stage actor. He was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his performance in the film '' Steel City''. Personal life Raymond John Ba ...

Johnny Depp John Christopher Depp II (born June 9, 1963) is an American actor and musician. He is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Johnny Depp, multiple accolades, including a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for ...

Anne Schedeen Luanne Ruth Schedeen (born January 8, 1949), known professionally as Anne Schedeen, is an American actor who worked primarily in television. She appeared in numerous guest-starring television roles in the 1970s before portraying the lead role o ...

Henry Gibson James Bateman (September 21, 1935 – September 14, 2009), known professionally as Henry Gibson, was an American actor, comedian and poet. He played roles in the television sketch-comedy series ''Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In'' from 1968 to 1971, w ...

Victoria Catlin Victoria Catlin (née Shechter, September 23, 1952 – February 28, 2024) was an American actress best known for her roles as Blackie O'Reilly in the television series ''Twin Peaks,'' and in films as Anastasia in '' Ghoulies'' (1985), Ellen For ...

, and

Dan Hedaya Daniel G. Dan Hedaya (born July 24, 1940) is an American actor best known for his supporting roles in films such as '' The Hunger'' (1983), '' Blood Simple'' (1984), ''Commando'' (1985), '' The Addams Family'' (1991), ''Benny & Joon'' (1993), '' ...

Plot

Jacob Asch (Roberts) is hired by Gerald McMurty (Barry) to find his ex-wife Laine and their son in

Palm Springs Palm Springs (Cahuilla language, Cahuilla: ''Séc-he'') is a desert resort city in Riverside County, California, United States, within the Colorado Desert's Coachella Valley. The city covers approximately , making it the largest city in Rivers ...

. Jacob finds Laine and a teenager named Donnie who may or may not be Gerald's son. He also finds an intricate web of deceit and betrayal that lead to death. He takes it upon himself to unravel the mystery and find out who is killing people and why.

Production

appeared as Donnie Fleischer, the missing, insightful, rich son of McMurty who only wants to be loved. The film was set and shot in

Palm Springs, California Palm Springs (Cahuilla language, Cahuilla: ''Séc-he'') is a desert resort city in Riverside County, California, United States, within the Colorado Desert's Coachella Valley. The city covers approximately , making it the largest city in Rivers ...

.Palm Springs Desert Cities Virtual Film Office: Filmed in the Desert Cities
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References

External links

* 1986 television films 1986 films 1986 crime drama films 1980s mystery drama films American crime drama films American detective films American crime television films Films about murder Films based on American novels Films based on crime novels Films directed by Matthew Chapman Films scored by Loek Dikker Films set in Palm Springs, California Films shot in California American neo-noir films 1980s English-language films 1980s American films American mystery television films English-language crime drama films English-language mystery drama films {{US-tv-film-stub