The Canyon
(2009/Magnolia/MagNet DVD)
Picture:
B- Sound: B- Extras: C+ Feature: B
There are
a few movies out there that should be used as a guidebook for location
shooting, films like Fitzcarraldo, Lawrence of Arabia, and now The Canyon. This beautifully shot survival drama utilizes
the natural landscape of the Grand Canyon as
backdrop, antagonist, mirror, and figurative rabbit hole.
When
honeymooners Nick (Eion Bailey) and Lori (Yvonne Strahovski) find a last-minute
guide to take them down into the Grand Canyon,
they’re a bit wary about the mysterious but well-meaning stranger. Henry’s (Will Patton) been a wilderness guide
for decades, and he’s experienced the staggering beauty and peril of the Canyon
firsthand. But after a surprise encounter
with a rattlesnake, Nick and Lori are left on their own. They’re isolated, lost, and hungry, but
they’re not alone.
Director
Richard Harrah and screenwriter Steve Allrich do a tremendous job keeping the
audience engaged with excellent dialogue, pacing, and brilliant
cinematography. It’s the performances,
though, that really drive this film.
Yvonne Strahovski has been picking up notoriety lately as a beautiful
and talented actress, and Will Patton gives one of the most charismatic
performances of his career.
The Canyon is filmed in an unusually wide
2.4:1 aspect ratio, which is characteristic of films centered on the
landscape. The audio is presented in
your choice of Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround or 2.0 Stereo, and the audio mixing
shows a tremendous amount of skill and subtlety.
The extra
features include deleted scenes, actress Strahovski’s audition footage, a
behind-the-scenes photomontage, and the “Discovering
The Canyon” featurette with cast and crew interviews.
Though it
could be said that The Canyon is
perhaps a bit too reminiscent of the 2003 indie flick Open Water, The Canyon
is more visually and psychologically appealing, an excellent example of the
type of polished, stylish films that Magnet Releasing consistently seeks out.
- Matthew Carrick
