When Christian, an LA trust-fund kid with casual ties to Hollywood, learns of a secret affair between Tara and the lead of his film project, Ryan, he spirals out of control, and his cruel mind games escalate into an act of bloody violence.
With its rancid atmosphere and scabrous eye on the movies, Paul Schrader's Kickstarter-funded project isn't as bad as reported.
All you get is cardboard characters and dialogue flimsier than balsa wood. Avoid.
You expect so much better from director Paul Schrader and writer Bret Easton Ellis.
The Canyons isn’t quite as worthless or unwatchable as many critics have made out, but it’s quite poor nonetheless.
Imperfect on a superficial level, but positively brimming with juicy subtext.
Lacking the wit and insight of Auto Focus, this finds Schrader still obsessing about sex, lies and videotape in glamorous glassy houses at which you will want to throw bricks.
The Canyons: panned by critics, is that because it dares to show our future?
Bret Easton Ellis
General release. Check local listings for show times.