Deepwater (2005)

A drifter comes to the town of Deepwater and is seduced into a twisted game of deceit and murder.

Director:

David S. Marfield

Writers:

Matthew F. Jones (novel), David S. Marfield (screenplay)

Stars:

Lucas Black, Peter Coyote, Mía Maestro

Cast

Credited cast:
Lucas Black	...	Nat Banyon
Peter Coyote	...	Herman Finch
Mía Maestro	...	Iris
Lesley Ann Warren	...	Pam
Xander Berkeley	...	Gus
Michael Ironside	...	Walnut
Kristen Bell	...	Nurse Laurie
Jason Cerbone	...	Sal
Ben Cardinal	...	Petersen
Dee Snider	...	Bartender
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Boncore	...	Joe Littlefeet
Valerie Murphy	...	Stripper
Pete Sepenuk	...	Boxing Announcer

Storyline

After recovering from a twisted ankle, the drifter Nat Banyon hitchhikes on the road, trying to reach Wyoming, where he dreams of owning an ostrich farm. However, an incident in a bar results in him stealing a car from the guy that was beating him up. He heads to Wyoming, but on the way he sees a car accident and saves the driver Herman Finch, who owns the Deepwater Hotel. While spending the night in the hotel, Nat is arrested by the police, but Finch releases him from jail and proposes to Nat to paint his hotel. In return, he gives an old blue Chrysler Newport to Nat, and lodges and feeds him in the hotel. While painting the hotel, Nat becomes obsessed with Finch's wife, Iris, and discovers that Finch is a loan shark and corrupt. Furthermore, he hatches a scheme involving a car dealer (Walnut) and his partner, the Indian Joe Littlefeet in the local casino. After the mysterious death of a local and a policeman that had issues with Finch, Nat decides to leave Deepwater; but Iris ...

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Plot Keywords:

older man younger woman relationship | motel | based on novel | surprise ending

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Taglines:

Beneath the surface, the truth lies...

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Genres:

Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, violent images and some sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Halcyon Entertainment

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 June 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Deepwater - A Cidade do Medo

Filming Locations:

Clearwater, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Deepwater Productions, Halcyon Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Nat leaves the bar just before stealing the Red Thunderbird, he doesn't have his crutch. Then at the motel the next day, the crutch is somehow behind the seats of the car.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Nurse Laurie: Wow, ostriches.
Nat Banyon: You ever tasted one?
Nurse Laurie: No.
Nat Banyon: They're awfully good. Like beef, but more better.
Nurse Laurie: That's disgusting.
Nat Banyon: Could be. All I know is they pretty much raise themselves. Livestock of the 21st century, they say.

User Reviews

Very good film noir.

I saw the world premier of Deepwater at the Seattle International Film Festival. It's the director's first film, shot on a limited budget, and an excellent film.

In the first scene, Nat, the main character, gets out of a hospital and tells the nurse he wants to go to Wyoming to take up ostrich farming. On his way, he stops at a car accident and picks up Herman Finch (Peter Coyote), and ends up going to a small town called Deepwater.

Finch is involved with the local casino, apparently run by the mob. He offers Nat a job restoring his dilapidated motel, where the maid is his beautiful, and much younger, wife Iris (Mia Maestro, who attended the premiere).

As Nat begins to work on the restoration, he starts getting to know the characters of this Twin Peaks-ish small town. Michael Ironside, who is creepy on a good day, is great in a supporting role as a local used-car dealer and Finch's poker buddy.

That lays out the basic elements of the film noir, I don't want to say much about the plot for fear of spoiling the film for a viewer.

The film is well edited and visually very nice. Other than the lack of marquee names, it does not appear to be a low budget film. Directing and acting are excellent, the movie is well-paced, and I would recommend it to anyone.