Desert Killer

Name: Desert Killer
Released: 1953-06-27T00:00:00.000000Z
Rating: 5.3

1953 • 10 min • ★ 5.3 (9) • Released

Documentary

Desert Killer is a 1952 short film directed by Larry Lansburgh about a hunter tracking a sheep-killing mountain lion. The film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Short Subject, One-Reel.

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Original title: Desert Killer
Language: EN
Country: US
Budget: —
Revenue: —

Reviews & Ratings 1

CinemaSerf

Jul 7, 2025 · via TMDB

★ 6.0

When a marauding mountain lion helps himself to one of the sheep that are being tended by the five-year old Surefoot, the lad secures what is left of his flock and seeks out his accomplished tracker friend Marvin and his son Warren to help apprehend the beast. This requires a fireside overnight, but next day they manage to corner it. Will they just shoot it or have they a more cunning plan in mind? It’s a tough one to call, this. On the one hand there’s a young lad trying to keep his livelihood safe from a predator, on the other there is mankind using the advantages of guns and ropes to try and capture a creature doing just what nature intended it to do. Regardless, however, I didn’t much care for the ending - even if it is presented with a degree of light-heartedness and opportunity. The production camerawork is quite impressive at times and it’s quiet a little thought-provoker.

User reviews courtesy of TMDB.

Keywords 16

animal cruelty animal trap cowboy dead animals documentary short herd of sheep hunters hunting dog lasso puma rope sheep farm sheep ranch sheepdog shepherd shepherd boy

Cast 1