The Coverup (2008)

The story centers on around the mysterious death of repeat drunk driving offender Thacker and the discovery of his body in an alley behind the Marshalltown, Iowa, police department after his latest DUI arrest.

Director:

Brian Jun

Writers:

Brian Jun, Robert Dean Klein,

Stars:

Gabriel Mann, Eliza Dushku, John Savage

Cast

Credited cast:
Gabriel Mann	...	Stu Pepper
Eliza Dushku	...	Monica Wright
John Savage	...	Thomas Thacker
Mark Pellegrino	...	Ron Pebble
Lee Garlington	...	Beverly Thacker
Jennifer Finnigan	...	Nancy Pepper
Steve Eastin	...	Chief Wilson
Colby French	...	Officer Dodge
Michael Welch	...	Kevin Thacker
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Blackman	...	Jury Spokesperson
Alison Brie	...	Grace
Ivar Brogger	...	Judge Hallow
Matt Bromen	...	Kevin Thacker's brother
David Cohen	...	Marshalltown Policeman
Gregg Daniel	...	Judge

Storyline

Personal injury attorney Stuart Pepper faces the challenge of his young career when he takes on a controversial case of wrongful death in small town Iowa. Kevin Thacker's body was found in the alley outside the Marshalltown Police Department after the young man was arrested for drunk driving. The arresting officer's story is highly suspicious and everyone involved, from the investigating detective to the FBI, appear to be aiding in covering up what actually happened that fateful night. With a promise made to the Thacker family to expose the truth, Stu dives head first into an uphill battle against lies and corruption. What transpires will change this lawyer's life forever.

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Plot Keywords:

police | corruption | mysterious death | law | based on novel | 

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Taglines:

Wrongful death. Rightful justice. Based on a true lie.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some violent content and brief sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 January 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Thacker Case

Filming Locations:

Alton, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Roberts/David Films, Snappe' Production Company, Upload Films

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"I'm Lonely"
Written by Ashley Winters
Performed by Ashley Winters
Courtesy of Gramoscope Inc.

User Reviews

Dreary and biased

This is the first time I've been the first person to write a review, which is surprising, considering this film has been out for 5 years ... But then again, perhaps not, because there really isn't much to enthuse about.

Perhaps it comes from having a screenplay basically written by the main protagonist, but there's absolutely no attempt to explain the reasons for the decisions that went against our "hero" - and I believe there were several - they're simply dismissed as arbitrary and possibly corrupt. And the courtroom scenes have to rank as some of the dullest and most unedifying I've ever seen in a film which is essentially about a court case.

To be honest, the most interesting sequence is the first 5 minutes (the videotape of the interrogation), but after that things start to go downhill quickly. There's no tension, and no attempt to explain anyone's motives; and the movie meanders its way slowly to the courtroom where, after more tedium, the jury return a verdict that frankly feels like it comes out of nowhere. On the basis of this outing, I'm not sure I'd trust Gabriel Mann to argue the case for the Pope being Catholic.

About the only actors who show any spark are John Savage and Lee Garlington, as the parents of Kevin Thacker. Sadly, they're not on screen long enough to give this movie any impetus, and the whole thing fizzles out like a damp squib.

Lesson for the future chaps: ponderous dialogue and trite platitudes about justice and the misuse of power do NOT a courtroom drama make.