Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- oppressive
- melodramatic
- late night thriller viewing
- crime movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the remake as an overwrought, poorly executed crime thriller lacking convincing suspense.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Michael Bosworth hides in the Cornell home and holds the family hostage while waiting for his lawyer.
Tim and Nora Cornell are separated when Bosworth exploits their household as a refuge.
Bosworth is presented as a psychotic but calculating escapee who manipulates his lawyer and the Cornell family.
The Cornell residence, selected because of its for-sale sign, becomes the criminals’ hiding place and the family’s prison.
Films like Desperate Hours, and why
Panic Room
shared home invasion premise, hostage tension, and crime-thriller structure
Funny Games
shared domestic hostage scenario, psychological intimidation, and contained suspense
The Last House on the Left
shared escaped criminal, family captivity, and confrontational thriller dynamics
Cape Fear
shared remade crime-thriller framework, criminal control, and suburban danger
Movie Details
- Director
- Michael Cimino
- Release Date
- 1990-10-05
- Runtime
- 105 min
- Rating
- 5.4 / 10 (233)
Cast
- Mickey Rourke
- Anthony Hopkins
- Mimi Rogers
- Lindsay Crouse
- Kelly Lynch
- Elias Koteas
- David Morse
- Shawnee Smith
- Danny Gerard
- Gerry Bamman
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus
- Rent
- Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Desperate Hours about?
- A psychotic escapee commandeers a troubled suburban family’s home, forcing domestic fractures and law-enforcement pressure into a volatile hostage thriller.
- What is Desperate Hours like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Desperate Hours as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Desperate Hours violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Desperate Hours as moderate.
- What did critics think of Desperate Hours?
- Critics broadly regarded the remake as an overwrought, poorly executed crime thriller lacking convincing suspense.
- Which films are like Desperate Hours?
- Films with a similar feel include Panic Room, Funny Games, The Last House on the Left, and Cape Fear.
- How long is Desperate Hours?
- Desperate Hours runs 105 minutes.
- Where can I watch Desperate Hours?
- In United States, Desperate Hours streams on fuboTV, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus.
