Nat (Lucas Black) ist jung, pleite und etwas angeschlagen. Mit einem "geborgten" Auto unterwegs nach Wyoming, wo er sich den lang gehegten Traum von einer Straußenfarm erfüllen will, rettet er dem verschrobenen Finch (Peter Coyote) nach einem Unfall das Leben. Dankbar bietet der im Gegenzug an, sein entlegenes Motel zu renovieren und so die Reisekasse aufzufüllen. Beeindruckt von Finchs imposanter Persönlichkeit und überwältigt von der Schönheit seiner jungen Frau, willigt unser Held ohne langes Zögern ein. Doch ist Finch wirklich die joviale Vaterfigur, für die er sich ausgibt? Oder eher ein bösartiger Manipulator? Je mehr Nat die Strukturen der Gemeinschaft von Deepwater durchdringt, umso begründeter scheint sein Verdacht, dass hier ein mafiöser Kampf um Geld und Macht tobt, aus dem Finch mit jedem Mittel - Erpressung, Demütigung und sogar Mord - als Sieger hervorgehen will. Und bald ist auch klar, dass Nat ein Gefangener, kein Durchreisender ist...
Die amerikanische Kleinstadt als Keimzelle von Verrat, Korruption und Perversion - ein Thema, dass dieser gut gespielte (hier sei auch Lesley Ann Warren als laszive Kaffeeserviererin erwähnt) Mysterythriller mit großartiger Fotografie und beängstigendem Soundtrack stimmungsvoll inszeniert.
Flat broke and recovering from an accident, Nat Banyon (Black) sets out in pursuit of a farm job in Wyoming. On the way he saves the life of an eccentric older man named Finch (Coyote). Finch offers his new young friend a job painting his decrepit lakeside motel in the small town of Deepwater. From the moment he sees her, Nat is distracted by Finch’s alluring young wife, Iris (Maestro) and it is not long before the two have started a passionate affair. Finch continues to treat Nat like a son, but his motives become suspicious when he challenges Nat to a "friendly" boxing match.
With Finch’s manipulations coming to light and the unspoken fear and grip he holds over the town’s populace remaining a mystery, the dead body of one of his arch rivals turns up. While everyone is pointing the finger at Finch, Nat’s confusion becomes more apparent. This confusion is only exacerbated when Iris reveals her plan to steal the coming rewards of Finch’s "side business". As Nat finishes painting the motel, his whole world skews into a darker shade, lines blur between friend and foe, and the strange threat of the boxing match fuels Nat’s paranoia. Left with nothing but his diminishing sanity, Nat has decisions to make that will change the course of Deepwater forever.
Die amerikanische Kleinstadt als Keimzelle von Verrat, Korruption und Perversion - ein Thema, dass dieser gut gespielte (hier sei auch Lesley Ann Warren als laszive Kaffeeserviererin erwähnt) Mysterythriller mit großartiger Fotografie und beängstigendem Soundtrack stimmungsvoll inszeniert.
Flat broke and recovering from an accident, Nat Banyon (Black) sets out in pursuit of a farm job in Wyoming. On the way he saves the life of an eccentric older man named Finch (Coyote). Finch offers his new young friend a job painting his decrepit lakeside motel in the small town of Deepwater. From the moment he sees her, Nat is distracted by Finch’s alluring young wife, Iris (Maestro) and it is not long before the two have started a passionate affair. Finch continues to treat Nat like a son, but his motives become suspicious when he challenges Nat to a "friendly" boxing match.
With Finch’s manipulations coming to light and the unspoken fear and grip he holds over the town’s populace remaining a mystery, the dead body of one of his arch rivals turns up. While everyone is pointing the finger at Finch, Nat’s confusion becomes more apparent. This confusion is only exacerbated when Iris reveals her plan to steal the coming rewards of Finch’s "side business". As Nat finishes painting the motel, his whole world skews into a darker shade, lines blur between friend and foe, and the strange threat of the boxing match fuels Nat’s paranoia. Left with nothing but his diminishing sanity, Nat has decisions to make that will change the course of Deepwater forever.
A likeable young drifter, recently released from hospital, finds himself in a situation far beyond his control when a sleazy small town bigwig hires him on to do some work. What begins as a seemingly straightforward story in the TOUCH OF EVIL vein morphs into a twisted tale of delusion that holds a number of unanticipated plot twists for unsuspecting viewers.
Seattle International Film Festival
