Sleeping Dogs Lie (2005 film) explained

Sleeping Dogs Lie
Director:Stuart Lessner
Producer:
  • Nicholas Delfino
  • Stuart Lessner
  • Deb Raguse
Screenplay:Chumahan Bowen
Starring:
Music:Jonny Polonsky
Cinematography:Robert Gantz
Editing:
  • Theodore Agathos
  • J.J. Jackson
Studio:Redrock Entertainment Development
Distributor:Avatar Productions
Runtime:29 minutes
Country:United States
Language:English

Sleeping Dogs Lie is a 2005 American drama film by writer Chumahan Bowen and director Stuart Lessner, starring Rage Against the Machine drummer Brad Wilk and Ed Asner.[1] The film also features Tool lead singer Maynard James Keenan as Deputy Lance.

Plot

After several weeks of haunting phone calls and strange happenings, Cincinnati, Ohio resident Jeff Hannon (Wilk) drives to Beuford, Texas to inform the local authorities-Sheriff Delaney (Asner) and Deputy Lance (Keenan)-that he has information on the 25-year-old unsolved murder of Priscilla Booth-a girl whose body was never found. At first, Delaney thinks Jeff is crazy, and doesn't take him seriously, but strange phone calls made to Hannon's cell phone, from "Priscilla," as well as it being apparent that Hannon is shaken up, convince Delaney to hear Jeff out. Delaney takes Hannon to lunch at Maggie's restaurant, where Jeff finishes his story, and the Sheriff agrees to put his mind at ease by taking him to where the phone calls told him the body would be, "The Tree in the Flats." They arrive at the scene, where Jeff starts digging, where he finds the remains. Sheriff Delaney then shoots Jeff and kills him, implying that Delaney is the one who killed Priscilla, and hid her body.

Cast

Production

Ed Asner and Maynard James Keenan joined the production after they read the script. Keenan was cast against type; originally, his role was minor, but it was expanded during filming. Shooting took place in Lancaster, California, in 2004.[2]

Release

Sleeping Dogs Lie premiered at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival.[2]

It was released on DVD on February 28, 2005.[2]

Reception

Dread Central gave the film 4.5 out of 5 stars, saying, "It isn't often that you find a short film with both a great script and such high production values. But Sleeping Dogs Lie is exactly that type of film."[3]

Awards

Festival Award
New York International Independent Film and Video Festival, 2005 Las Vegas event Best Director (short)[4]
New York International Independent Film and Video Festival, 2005 Miami event Grand Jury Prize (short)[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Moss. Corey. Tool, Audioslave Members Act Out Murder Mystery. https://archive.today/20140121060820/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1489638/tool-audioslave-spawn-actors.jhtml. dead. January 21, 2014. MTV. 21 January 2014.
  2. News: So What's Maynard Been up to Lately?. Jensen. Sarah. Ludington Daily News. 2005-02-15. 2014-01-27.
  3. Web site: Moore. Debi. Sleeping Dogs Lie (review). Dread Central. 21 January 2014.
  4. Web site: 2005 Las Vegas Awards. New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. 2014-01-27.
  5. Web site: 2005 Miami Awards. New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. 2014-01-27.