 KSL Movie Show Review:...
HAPPY VALLEY *** By Steve Salles Standard Examiner movie critic GO: if you’ve always wondered what really goes on in “Happy Valley.” DON’T GO: if you’d prefer to bury your head and eat your Jell-O. UTAH CONNECTION: Filmed entirely in Utah and features actual residents of same. Finally, someone has shown the guts to expose the rampant drug abuse along the Wasatch Front. It’s a story that’s long overdue and features some rather brave individuals that are coming clean about their years of addiction, most notably a recognizable local TV personality, Danny Allen, who speaks openly and honestly, as he says, in hopes of helping others. Frankly, it’s a pretty gutsy move and I was stunned to see how candid he was about obtaining and using prescription drugs. Similarly, one of his friends (I think his name was Greg) not only talked about losing his family over his struggle with his drug addiction, but actually decides to take some to relax himself during the filming of this quasi-documentary. The most heartfelt segments dealt with the tragic death of Amelia Sorich from a couple of years ago. You may recall her story as the body of this young woman was found discarded in the foothills after an apparent overdose. It was later revealed that she had spent the night with her best friend, Macall Petersen, who had injected Amelia earlier in the evening. The next morning, Macall and her boyfriend Jasen discovered Amelia on the floor apparently passed out, but Macall urged Jasen not to call 911 for fear of criminal liability. They went back to sleep only to realize later that Amelia had died. Jasen and Macall then took Amelia’s body and hid it among some brush in the mountains. You’ll hear from Amelia’s heartbroken parents. You’ll hear from Jasen and even Macall who is serving a five-year sentence in prison. Story after story unfolds and they all tell the same tale - good people caught up in this downward spiral of the misuse of drugs, but here’s the alarming thing (if the movie’s graphics are to be believed). Utah has TWICE the incidents of prescription drug abuse than the national average and TWICE the suicide rate. What’s going on here? And why do Utahns seem so susceptible to these problems? Hopefully, the film will get people talking and more victims of drug abuse will come forward and get the help they need. Yes, we do live in a pretty great state, but “Happy Valley” shows that below the surface, many in our midst are struggling with depression, anxiety and a need to escape reality. Hats off to the makers of this film for having the courage to sound the alarm. You should really check out this movie. THE FILM: “Happy Valley” OUR RATING: *** FEATURING: Danny Allen, Macall Peterson, Nancy Peterson, Ron Williams and Maron Williams BEHIND THE SCENES: Produced and directed by Ron Williams and Dan Barnett - filmed in Utah PLAYING: Running time: 90 minutes MPAA RATING: PG-13
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Steve