China Lake (1983)
Directed by Robert Harmon
Written by Robert Harmon & Beth Tate
Charles Napier stars as Donnelly-a twisted motorcycle cop who dispenses his own brand of justice in the desert.
Made by Harmon as an industry calling card, this accomplished short led to his hiring as the director of the rural terror classic The Hitcher (1986).
China Lake’s story was later developed into the successful TV movie The China Lake Murders (1990), starring Tom Skerritt with Michael Parks taking the Donnelly role.