Deep Dark Canyon

Deep Dark Canyon is a 2012 American independent dramatic thriller film by husband and wife writer/director team Abe Levy and Silver Tree. The film stars Ted Levine, Nick Eversman and Spencer Treat Clark. The film was originally called Lawless and was shot on location in the rural town of Guerneville, California.

Synopsis

Nate and Skylar, sons of sheriff Bloom Towne, are involved in the accidental death of Mayor Cavanaugh's son Dick in a hunting accident. Older brother Nate fired the deadly shot, but to protect him, younger Skylar, still a minor, takes the blame. Owning most of the town's businesses, the Cavanaugh family itself is wealthy and influential. In retaliation, the family uses their influence to have Skylar set to be tried as an adult, rather than as a minor. Desperate and filled with guilt, Nate breaks Skylar out of the county lock-up and, handcuffed together, the two escape into the local woods. Two deputies are killed in the escape and the Cavanaugh clan, deciding that the sheriff will be unable to act impartially, organize themselves into a search team with orders to shoot on sight. Sheriff Towne joins the search efforts in order to reach his sons before they are shot by others. He is forced to measure the major political debt he owes to the Mayor and the Cavanaugh family, against his oath to uphold the law and the love he has for his two sons.

Cast

Ted Levine as Sheriff Bloom Towne
Spencer Treat Clark as Nate Towne
Nick Eversman as Skylar Towne
Martin Starr as Lloyd Cavanaugh
Michael Bowen as Randy Cavanaugh
Matthew Lillard as Jack Cavanaugh
Justine Bateman as Cheryl Cavanaugh
Greg Cipes as Guthrie Cavanaugh
Abraham Benrubi as Michael Spencer
Nicolas Christenson as Tony Cavanaugh
Brandon Barrera as Eric Cavanaugh
Micha Borodaev as Larry Cavanaugh
Amaryllis Borrego as Roberta

Production

Originally titled Lawless, the project was shot in Sonoma County, California, primarily in locations in Guerneville and along the Russian River. The film was renamed to avoid confusions with other films of the same title and to better reflect " the atmospheric, rural setting in which it takes place, namely Guerneville".

Reception

Film Threat gave an overall positive review for the film, stating that all of the actors "turn in solid performances that keep the movie grounded in reality". The Village Voice gave a mixed review, criticizing that the film "depletes itself with inter-location crosscutting" but that "Levine commands every scene he's in with great support from a subtle and soulful Martin Starr as his conflicted deputy".