Recently, I attended a screening of The Room for its 20th anniversary. Greg Sestero was there giving live commentary (he was very funny). If you’ve never seen The Room in theaters with a crowd, I highly recommend it. By the sound of it, everyone had a blast and it is definitely a different experience from watching at home. But, there’s already plenty to read out there about The Room. Instead, I’d like to recommend a movie I learned about during that screening: Greg Sestero’s directorial debut, Miracle Valley.
With a 90-minute runtime, Miracle Valley is a jam-packed, genre-jumping film that showcases Sestero’s abilities in front of - and behind - the camera. This movie is not easy to define; there are elements of horror, action, romance, and revenge. There’s also a subplot that elevates this movie to something truly unique and special (I’ll get to that later).
We open with the revenge story. The opening scene relies on familiar horror tropes, but it works here. Erika Torres - played by Louisa Torres - is lost in the bad part of town while a shadowy figure is watching her. I won’t spoil the details, but this opening scene pulls you in right away. When we revisit Erika’s revenge story, I can’t help but compare her to John Wick. Torres sells this role with everything she’s got.
In the next scene, Sestero’s David is driving with his girlfriend, Sarah - played by Angela Mariano - to a remote area in the desert. He wants to photograph a rare bird called the Silver Hawk. Initially, I thought the dialogue between David and Sarah was a little stiff and unnatural, especially in this scene. But, it all makes sense eventually. The dialogue and delivery choices pay off as the film progresses and you see the cracks in their relationship. Sestero plays David’s indifference toward Sarah really well and it leads to a lot of laughs.
In the same scene, we meet a biker gang with a collective case of road rage. I thought this scene was shot really well. The shots of the bikes encircling the car reminded me of Kurt Russell’s Breakdown from the 90s. We eventually get a proper introduction to the biker gang. Led by Father Jake, played by Rick Edwards (check out his IMDb for an ab-tastic profile pic - or just keep reading), the biker gang is actually a group of cultists with an obsession for blood. From this point forward, the movie branches out into three different plots. This is also when the movie goes off the rails … but in the best of ways. The three subplots intertwine and connect seamlessly, and it never feels rushed. Honestly, it’s hard to believe that this movie was only 90 minutes. Sestero did a great job with the pacing.
For a horror film, this movie has it all. Creepy twin girls? Check. Blood worship? Check. Fun practical effects? Check. Seriously, the practical effects are great and plentiful. I especially enjoyed the scene where David is reunited with his camera.
Sestero’s work behind the camera is impressive from a technical standpoint. He does not play it safe. Most movies with this many subplots and genre jumps end up unwatchable. But where others failed, Sestero succeeded. It’s a fast, crazy, and fun ride. The camerawork reflects that. One example is David’s trek up a rocky incline. The shot focused on David’s footwork looking upward, which looked really fresh and cool.
I really liked Miracle Valley. At times, it feels like a fast-paced fever dream. The genre-clashing plotlines somehow fit together well. But inside all the craziness and chaos is my favorite part of the movie - a sweet indie film about a guy trying to find a bird. None of the chaos surrounding David phases him as he searches for the Silver Hawk. His girlfriend and the cult are just distractions. This subplot was very funny - it felt like a special little Easter egg hidden away in a gruesome horror film.
In summary, you should watch Miracle Valley. I even made it easy for you - you just need to click on the button below to watch for free on Tubi!