Angel’s Crest (EIFF)
A young boy wakes up one morning and wants his father to take him for a drive, but when they get to their destination he falls asleep and so; his father decides to take a step outside, locks the truck and momentarily goes for a walk before coming back to find the truck abandoned. After an entire town is pulled into search-mode every parent’s worst nightmare is realized when the three year old child is found frozen near a river.
Thomas Dekker gives a very effecting performance as Ethan, the heart-broken father whilst grieving and punishing himself for his son’s death is put to scrutiny by those around him and even then on to the legal nature as he is charged for neglect. Lynn Collins gives an equally rivaling portrayal of a parent as Cindy who has a problem with alcoholism which, suffice to say, doesn’t get any better when she finds out her child is dead and as she blames Ethan for the death she reflects as to why she was not the one looking after their child in the first place. Anchored around the two parents are the local townspeople who are all their friends, the death affects them as well dividing them into people that see the death as an a tragic accident or those who see it as negligence, in such a small community everyone has to have an opinion which is promptly shared when a prosecutor (Jeremy Piven) comes to town to assess the situation.
Angel’s Crest is an effective accomplishment in that it is heartbreaking, intriguing and an addictive watch. Get around to it.