Devil's Peak - Movie Review

In the depths of the Appalachian Mountains, Charlie (portrayed by Billy Bob Thornton) wields his power over both his family and the illegal meth business with brutal force. His son Jacob (played by Hopper Penn), yearning to break free from his expected life and desperate to escape his oppressive parents (Robin Wright), meets the love of his life. However, he must face his terrifying father, who will stop at nothing to maintain complete loyalty from those around him.

This gripping film falls within the genres of Mystery & Thriller and Drama, and is directed by Ben Young. The producers of this film are Griff Furst, Josh Kesselman, Robin Wright, Robert Knott, and Jamie Hilton, with Robert Knott serving as the writer. The film will be released in limited theaters on Feb 17, 2023, with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes, and distributed by Screen Media Films. The aspect ratio for this film is Scope (2.35:1)

In "Devil's Peak," director Ben Young explores the complex relationship between fathers and sons and whether the younger generation can break free from their family legacy. Hopper Penn, son of Sean Penn, plays Jacob, a young man who works as a runner for his father, Charlie, a powerful drug lord in the Appalachian Mountains played by Billy Bob Thornton. Charlie exerts complete control over Jacob's life and livelihood, withholding his wages and preventing him from pursuing his own dreams.

As the story unfolds, Jacob falls in love with a local woman, played by Katelyn Nacon, and considers leaving town to confront his father about his money. But Charlie has other plans, spinning a tale about their home and business being Jacob's unescapable legacy, a story that takes on shades of Greek tragedy. While the film has grandiose ideas about family legacy, it is unfortunately let down by Penn's lead perfor

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Director Ben Young's "Devil's Peak" explores the complex relationship between fathers and sons and the question of whether the younger generation can break free from the family's legacy. Hopper Penn plays Jacob, the son of drug lord Charlie, portrayed by Billy Bob Thornton, who dominates his son's life and work as a runner for his drug business in North Carolina's Appalachian Mountains. However, Jacob wants to escape his father's clutches and the criminal lifestyle he is expected to follow, and his love for a local woman leads him to consider confronting his father about the situation.

While the film's premise is intriguing, it's unfortunately let down by Penn's lackluster lead performance. Despite ample screen time and close-ups, Penn fails to bring much variety to Jacob's character, delivering all his lines with the same semi-fearful and semi-concerned expression, making it difficult for the audience to engage with him. In contrast, Thornton's portrayal of Charlie as a manipulative and eccentric patriarch is captivating, as he delivers long monologues with relish, using storytelling to intimidate, cajole, and seduce those around him.

Despite Penn's lackluster performance, the film features some good performances from other cast members, such as Robin Wright, who portrays Jacob's drug-addicted mother, and Jackie Earle Haley. The film's script, written by Robert Knott, has some funny moments, and the film's sense of place and gritty realism are vividly portrayed by the cast.

In conclusion, "Devil's Peak" has some grandiose ideas about family legacy that make it a peculiarly compelling drama, but its downfall is Penn's lackluster performance. The film is directed by Ben Young and produced by Griff Furst, Josh Kesselman, Robin Wright, Robert Knott, and Jamie Hilton. Screen Media Films is the distributor, and the film has a limited release on February 17, 2023, with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes and an aspect ratio of Scope (2.35:1). The film is categorized under Mystery & Thriller and Drama genres and is based on David Joy's novel "Where All Light Tends to Go.