Devil's Peak

Devil's Peak is a crime drama about a young man who faces a dilemma between staying loyal to his meth-dealing father or escaping with his girlfriend. The film is based on a novel by David Joy and stars Billy Bob Thornton, Robin Wright, Jackie Earle Haley, Katelyn Nacon, and Finn Wolfhard. The film depicts the harsh realities of life in the Appalachian Mountains, where poverty, violence, and addiction are rampant. The film is directed by Ben Young, who previously made the acclaimed horror films Hounds of Love and Extinction.

I thought this film was decent but not remarkable. I liked the performances of the actors, especially Thornton and Wright, who gave some depth to their flawed characters. I also liked the cinematography and the soundtrack, which captured the mood and atmosphere of the setting. However, I felt that the film was too predictable and clichéd. The plot was nothing new or original, and the characters were mostly stereotypes. The film lacked any real suspense or emotion. The film tried to be gritty and realistic but ended up being dull and forgettable.

This is severely underrated. An absolute acting class from all involved. Slow, simmering, deep, sad, intense. Couldn't take my eyes off Thornton, Wright, and her real son. Every choice in mood, attitude, etc., was amazing to watch. The musical score was also a huge factor in the overall effectiveness. So heart-wrenching. This was an immersive experience for anyone who loves watching great actors at the height of their craft. Haley always a standout, too. The geographic setting, the cinematography, all the little nuanced production details, really everything came together perfectly for this viewer. Highly recommend.

I didn't know what to expect, but I found the film exceptionally well made and beautifully performed. It's a slow burn, but kept me engaged the entire time. I felt a Billy Bob Thornton, Robin Wright and Hopper Penn truly inhabited their characters and gave believable and moving performances.

I think this movie has been unjustly judged because perhaps politically it doesn't speak to the current trends, but that shouldn't discount the merit of the story.

While slow in the beginning, by the time it ended I truly felt the story had gone together to leave me satisfied. While not a perfect film I enjoyed it, loved the mood and I'm not sure why this movie has received the hate it has.

Devil's Peak is based on the 2015 book Where All Light Tends To Go by David Joy. It explores a complex father/son relationship set against a backdrop of crime and corruption in small town America. Thornton and Wright are at the very top of their game, inhabiting their characters in a way that is at times haunting and heartbreaking. Thornton is mostly terrifying as Charlie McNeely, the drug king pin of the Appalachian mountains, but has moments of levity and humour that give his character an interesting depth. This slow burn of a film brilliantly wraps up with some very unexpected twists, turns and changing allegiances that leave the audience on the edge of their seat. The film takes you on a journey and is a very satisfying watch.

Don't trust the low rating. Billy Bob gives another captivating performance and the rest of the cast holds up as well. Hopper Penn especially did a nice job.

This is not a blockbuster though. It's a small cast in a small town setting but it still works. It's probably a 7 rating but I gave it an 8 to offset the negative ratings trying to take it down.

I watched this on a Saturday afternoon and just took my time with it. It does move slow but just stick with it and enjoy the performances. The scenes are well done and the actors really mesh. Hopefully, more Billy Bob fans will give it a watch and back up this review. It's a good film.