Deterrence

Deterrence takes place in 2008, in a Colorado diner where the sitting US president, Walter Emerson, is stranded by an unusual snowstorm while campaigning in a primary election. With him are his chief of staff and his national security adviser, and as reports come in, they learn that Iraqi forces have moved into Kuwait and that American troops have been attacked abroad. Cut off from Washington and with communications limited, Emerson must weigh how to respond to a widening international crisis from the middle of a roadside restaurant, deciding what kind of military action the situation demands.

Rod Lurie wrote and directed the film, which came after his debut feature and before The Contender, his next picture in release order. Kevin Pollak leads the cast as the president, with Timothy Hutton and Sheryl Lee Ralph as his aides, and Clotilde Courau, Sean Astin and Mark Thompson also appearing among the 23 credited performers. Marc Frydman and James Spies produced the US-French production.

The film runs 101 minutes and mixes drama with thriller and mystery elements. On TMDB it holds a rating of 6.1 out of 10 from 38 votes, a small sample suggesting a modest audience response rather than a widely seen title.