Review of The Canyons (2013) by David G — 19 Aug 2013

Screened this erotic thriller a couple of weeks ago and I must admit, tough to review.

It's not a particularly entertaining film, but there is something about it that got under my skin. The acting by the supporting cast comes off as line readings by amateurs, but (surprise to say this), Lindsay Lohan and porn-star James Deen are terrific in this twisty, who-done it and who will-do it. They are bored swingers in the movie business; enter a fresh, young couple working on the film who discover associating with them lead them down a dirty path. Deen is particularly effective here as a spoiled rich boy producing the film. He wants ownership of things and even treat women as possessions to hold. When things do not go his way, he reacts. Written by Brent Easton Ellis of American Psycho fame, the comparisons are easy to see. But Deen is really good. Maybe I didn't have high expectations for either lead considering their pop culture status, but the cruel mind games kept me interested. Several explicit sex scenes add to the enjoyment - including one that goes way off the deep end. The scenes of decaying movie theaters was an interesting tip to the hat on how the film business is just like Deen's character - obsessed with money & little substance. Director Paul Schrader likes rough & tumble characters and here he creates 2 I will not likely forget. *** out of 4-stars.