Desert Blue (R)

synopsis

DESERT BLUE is set in the off-beat California town of Baxter, pop.89. Baxter's only traffic consists of tourists who stop to gawk at its landmark - a giant pink ice cream cone - on their way to more "exciting" destinations. The town is also home to Baxter Beach, an unfinished desert ocean park complete with water slide, boats and canoes. Seemingly stuck for good in Baxter are Blue and his innocently rebellious teenage friends, who constantly try to relieve their boredom and find a sense of purpose in a place devoid of opportunities. Pete has his eye on defending his All Terrain Vehicle extreme racing championship, while his girlfriend, Ely hones her art of explosives. Blue's best buddy, Cale dreams of becoming the town deputy, while Sandy sells soft-serve ice cream cones from the roadside attraction. But all changes when a truck carrying a secret ingredient to the local soda factory crashes, spilling its contents, and resulting in the mysterious death of the truck's driver. The FBI quarantines the town until it can determine the exact contents of the tanker. A toxic chemical scare is in full effect. Enter Skye, a beautiful young television star passing through on a road trip with her father. Trapped in Baxter due to the spill, Skye is troubled more by the huge audition she will miss in LA than by the actual prospect of fatal contamination. With nothing better to do, she finds herself hanging out with Blue and his posse. Discussions of doom, mutual disinterest and skepticism turn into a budding romance as Blue and Skye discover that they have more in common than either originally suspected.