Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- frantic
- paranoid
- tense
- 1990s thriller marathon
- action movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the thriller contrived, medically preposterous, and underpowered despite its high-concept premise.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Frank Connor chases Peter McCabe while also protecting him as the only compatible bone marrow donor for Connor's son.
McCabe's criminal identity conflicts with Connor's need to keep him alive for his son's leukemia treatment.
McCabe's escape turns the hospital into the central arena for pursuit, containment, and violence.
The son's urgent need for a marrow transplant makes the convicted murderer effectively indispensable.
Films like Desperate Measures, and why
The Fugitive
shared prison escape, pursuit thriller structure, and morally conflicted law enforcement protagonist
Face/Off
shared cat-and-mouse crime thriller tension, fugitive manipulation, and pressured police protagonist
Nick of Time
shared hospital-centered suspense, criminal threat, and high-stakes rescue mechanics
Movie Details
- Director
- Barbet Schroeder
- Release Date
- 1998-01-30
- Runtime
- 100 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (337)
Cast
- Michael Keaton
- Andy Garcia
- Brian Cox
- Marcia Gay Harden
- Erik King
- Efrain Figueroa
- Joseph Cross
- Janel Moloney
- Richard Riehle
- Tracey Walter
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Desperate Measures about?
- A desperate father must keep a murderous fugitive alive long enough to save his dying son.
- What is Desperate Measures like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Desperate Measures as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Desperate Measures violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Desperate Measures as moderate.
- What did critics think of Desperate Measures?
- Critics broadly found the thriller contrived, medically preposterous, and underpowered despite its high-concept premise.
- Which films are like Desperate Measures?
- Films with a similar feel include The Fugitive, Face/Off, and Nick of Time.
- How long is Desperate Measures?
- Desperate Measures runs 100 minutes.
- Where can I watch Desperate Measures?
- In United States, Desperate Measures streams on Howdy Amazon Channel.
