Director Paul Schrader (writer of Raging Bull and Taxi Driver) and screenwriter Bret Easton Ellis (author of American Psycho) team up for THE CANYONS, a searing indictment of Hollywood culture and the year’s most controversial film. Young trust-fund baby Christian (James Deen) is working on financing a horror film simply to keep his dad off his back. His girlfriend-turned-plaything Tara (Lindsay Lohan) is helping him with casting, and his producer, Gina, is trying to get her boyfriend Ryan the lead role. But unbeknownst to Christian and Gina, Ryan and Tara were once a couple, and as soon as the two meet again at an audition, their romance is rekindled. When Christian discovers that Tara has been having an affair, he begins to play a series of cruelly escalating mind games with both Ryan and Tara, leading to an act of violence from which there can be no redemption. Featuring fearless and unprecedented performances from it’s young cast, THE CANYONS is a thought-provoking examination of privilege run amok. Presented in its unrated director’s cut.
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Video Quality
The Canyons arrives on Blu-Ray with a 1080p presentation that represents the digital source as well as possible. The film was previously released on Blu-Ray by IFC Films in 2013, but we do not have the release to compare. The processed digital look is a product of the source and not the transfer as it pulls forth the most detail out of every scene. The frame provides notable depth to the somewhat surreal locale. The production design and clothing fabrics provide clear textural details. Black levels are fairly deep and detailed with no unacceptable digital noise and only subtly raised blacks. The image is free of damage with the bold color palette permeating the screen. The flesh tones are natural with a stellar amount of detail in close-ups. This Blu-Ray is a fine representation of the movie.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray comes with a consistent DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that projects the narrative through balanced sound design. Dialogue is one of the primary facets of the film, and it always comes through clearly in terms of accuracy to the source. None of the exchanges are overwhelmed by any competing sounds. There is not much in the way of exceptionally kinetic moments, but a few violent turns infect the surround speakers in a haunting way. Ambient details flesh out the setting during various key moments. The hypnotic and haunting score emanates with ideal fidelity on this disc. Sound effects engage the low end of the track in a way that provides vital texture to the proceedings. The audio track brings this to life very well. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Film historian Adrian Martin provides a commentary track that analyzes the film through its place in Paul Schrader’s filmography, the stylistic conventions of the cinematography, the personas of the performers, and more that is worth a listen.
- Interview with Director Paul Schrader: A new 19-minute interview with the legendary filmmaker in which he discusses the motivations behind making the film, the ideas behind certain cast members, the concerns Lindsay Lohan had about working with an adult film star, confrontations he had with critics who wrote bad reviews, the legacy of the film, and more.
- Haunted by The Canyons Video Essay: A new nearly 12-minute video essay by film critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas that explores the haunting locations the Schrader captures in The Canyons, the lingering specter of past controversies, and more.
- Featurettes: A collection of archival featurettes is provided that lightly explore the creation of the film from various aspects.
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- Creating The Canyons (8:44)
- Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring the essay “Woman On The Verge” by Mitchell Beaupre is provided that offers a deeper analysis and cultural history behind the film that is very valuable.
See also
Final Thoughts
The Canyons is an intriguing entry into the career of Paul Schrader, a filmmaker who has made both near masterpieces and films we would rather never see again. This outing is closer to the latter option, but there are distinct elements that keep us locked into the screen. Lindsay Lohan is great as she lets the chaos of her personal life seep into her role in exhilarating ways. The ensemble surrounding her on the other hand is…not good. A general lack of charisma from most of the supporting players and the obnoxious voice of Bret Easton Ellis in the script drags this down quite a bit. It is a transfixing mess that shows glimmers of potential and numerous obstacles that keep the film from reaching it. It is a confounding viewing experience in many ways, but we still recommend checking it out if you are at all curious. IFC Films has released a great Blu-Ray featuring a solid A/V presentation and a stellar selection of supplemental features.
The Canyons is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: IFC Films and OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.