Deep Dark Surprise

                 Deep Dark Canyon, a new movie on Redbox, turned out to be a deep dark surprise, filled with dark comedy, social critique and exciting action. The story revolves around two families, one on top of the world, and the other just under their boot heels. Ted Levine stars as Bloom Towne, the local sheriff of an All-American, truck-driving, gun-toting small town. He and his two sons live in Guerneville, a town run by the Cavanaugh family. The tale begins when Bloom’s two sons, Skylar and Nate accidentally shoot the town’s mayor, Dick Cavanaugh. Bloom and the other members are torn between the rules of the law, their feelings of grief and the Cavanaughs’ need for revenge. The Cavanaughs declare open season on the Towne boys and the movie unfolds as an action pact chase adventure.


               Writers Abe Levy and Silver Tree craft a social critique on the culture of small town America. All the characters in Deep Dark Canyon have at least one gun and the motto of their small town seems to be “shoot first ask questions later.” The heavy presence of guns, and the lacking IQ’s of some of the Cavanaugh clan make for a surprising social commentary as well as some very entertaining dark comedy. Whether you are pro second amendment or not you can certainly appreciate that many of these characters needed to take at least one more minute before making the decision to shoot.
               One of the big themes of the movie is, of course, family. Levine’s character wrestles with a very difficult decision, to fight for the law or for his boys. The Cavanaughs on the other hand find it sickeningly easy to fight for revenge and family and ignore the value of human life. Each character wrestles with many different issues dealing with the three big themes (law, family, loyalty) in very different ways. In one brilliant little scene the filmmakers lay out the biggest dilemma for Bloom. A local waitress, who has heard all the rumors around town that the Towne boys killed the mayor, tells Bloom, “When there’s only one game in town, sometimes it’s best just not to play.” After that scene I kept thinking about that line and how it so beautifully echoed what each character was struggling with. Bloom, who struggles to take action for his boys, Nate (the eldest) who fights against the game, to make his own rules, Skylar (the youngest) who tries to follow in his brothers footsteps, and learns the price of playing, and Lloyd, Bloom's friend and a Cavanaugh, who struggles with his duty to uphold the law, and his loyalty to "the only game in town."

             The two Towne boys played by Spencer Treat Clark and Nick Eversman spend the majority of the movie hand cuffed together and on the run from crazy gun-weilding mad men. This chase, which could have easily run dull, is definitely a thrill ride.  I found myself unable to look away. The artful cinematography of Dan Stoloff creates an almost idyllic world of lush forests and a quaint town.
             This movie is hard to focus into one genre, it was so surprising how many different elements worked so seamlessly together. The performances are gritty and real, the filmmaking artistic, giving the full effect of an independent movie with the action and adventure of a traditional thriller. Many of the other reviews I read about Deep Dark Canyon were mixed, a few great a few not so great. There are three reasons I liked it so much, the performances, the action, and the overall filmmaking choices. The comedy is dark, and moments of this movie are very much unsuited for young children. My recommendation is that you give this movie a watch, it definitely keeps you thinking, whether you love it or hate it, there is so much to be discussed about Deep Dark Canyon that it is worth the conversation.

  

Oldies But Goodies

Since I couldn't really place this weeks film review into a category, this weeks Oldies But Goodies are three films which star the actors from Deep Dark Canyon.

And the Oldies But Goodies this week are....

1. The Silence of the Lambs starring Ted Levine
2. Unbreakable starring Spencer Treat Clark
3. Knocked Up starring Martin Starr

Ask A Film Student!

Your ask a film student question for this week comes from Will. Will asked What is a Best Boy?

Traditionally in filmmaking a Best Boy acts as a foreman for their respective departments. Mainly grip and electric to read more about the function of a Best Boy click here. 

Name That Movie

Last weeks name that movie winner is Katie for guessing Cherrybomb

CONGRATULATIONS KATIE!

Who will be next weeks winner, can you name the movie below?