The Canyons
The Canyons

Movie spotlight

The Canyons

2013
Movie
99 min
English

The discovery of an illicit love affair leads two young Angelenos on a violent, sexually charged tour through the dark side of human nature.

Insights

IMDb4.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes32%
Metacritic47/100
Google Users38%
Director: Paul SchraderGenres: Drama, Thriller

Plot Summary

A look into the lives of young Angelenos involved in the superficial world of independent filmmaking and the often destructive relationships that result. When a young actress discovers her new boyfriend's dark secrets, her life spirals into a dangerous territory of obsession, betrayal, and manipulation. The film explores themes of greed, infidelity, and the consequences of unchecked ambition in the cutthroat film industry.

Critical Reception

The Canyons received largely negative reviews from critics, with many criticizing its screenplay, performances, and overall execution. While some acknowledged Schrader's attempt to capture a specific zeitgeist, the film was often deemed slow, predictable, and lacking in compelling character development. Audience reception was similarly lukewarm, with many finding the narrative and characters unengaging.

What Reviewers Say

  • Critically panned for its shallow exploration of a privileged, self-destructive milieu.

  • Performances, particularly from the lead actors, were frequently cited as unconvincing or underdeveloped.

  • The film's plot was often described as meandering and lacking a clear narrative drive.

Google audience: Google users largely expressed disappointment with 'The Canyons,' with many finding the storyline uninspired and the characters unsympathetic. Common complaints include a lack of engagement and a feeling that the film failed to deliver on its premise, leading to a generally negative audience experience.

Fun Fact

The film was famously shot on an iPhone, making it one of the earlier narrative features to experiment with mobile phone cinematography.

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