Eagle Rock

It won't be erroneous to say that the film is highly likely to catch the fancy of an admirer of the likes of Twin Peaks or Donna Tartt's The Secret History. Set in the rocky terrain of Montana, USA, the film is complete with its cool palettes of browns and greys, of autumn leaves and misty mountains. The inverted detective story of Eagle Rock opens with the scene of a prison where a girl recounts the events that eventually led to three murders. It is the late 60s-early 70s that forms the historical location of the story which moves back and forth in time in its non-linear fashion.

The audience is introduced to Alex who works at a bookstore. Her path soon crosses with that of Jay, a man who is her senior in years and experience, someone she also finds irresistible in his charm and lure. A romantic rendezvous ensures that the course of her life is changed forever. Alex's rapidly growing devotion to Jay continues to develop while more young and visibly gullible women are drawn to him, eventually resulting in a cult-like group of as many as sixteen members.

The film exhibits vision and powerful storytelling. However, the execution of the plot misses a few marks, keeping it from being all that it could be. It would have been appreciated had the second half maintained the same pace as the first half which takes its time coming into its own, the various elements of the plot would have seemed more consistent and congruent in this scenario. However, this critique is only intended to shine light on the potential the film already exhibits. It is an involving, entertaining watch, making the viewer sit up and pay attention to the skill and expertise of Eleanor Wells.