Valley raised filmmakers announce long awaited digital film releases

WASILLA — A long-awaited milestone finally arrived for Valley-raised filmmakers, Michael B. Dillon, Michael Burns, and Dean Q. Mitchell this month.

The Alaskan-made films, “Proper Binge” and “Peaks and Valleys” are now available to stream online, giving them the chance to show the world all the hard work put in by the various cast and crew members.

“The day has finally come,” Dillon stated in a recent press release regarding “Peaks and Valleys” debut to Amazon Prime Video. “It’s been a long road with nothing less than overwhelming support from any and everyone who has been touched by this project.”

Burns worked with Mitchell on “Proper Binge,” a dark comedy/drama following the story of an unemployed alcoholic looking back while looking forward as he starts to come to grips with the damage caused by his addiction.

Burns worked with Dillon on “Peaks and Valleys,” a raw, Alaskan thriller about a rural recluse who wants to be left alone and an afflicted young woman that literally dropped into his life.

“Proper Binge” is currently available on DVD and online platforms such as Amazon and Tubi, according to Burns. He said that “Peaks and Valleys” hasn’t made its DVD debut yet, but it is currently streaming on Amazon, with the prospect of more platforms for both films down the road.

“I’m actually happy in a way it’s released now versus like, two years ago, when everybody was like not just staying at home. This is absolutely the perfect time,” Burns said. “We’re just touching the surface.”

Burns said they plan to hold virtual watch parties with the cast and crew for both films, April 1 and April 2. He said it will be an interactive event, describing it as a “live directors commentary” type of experience.

“It took a little bit longer than we hoped, but it’s finally up and moving… Everyone that’s involved is super, super excited. Finally, they can share it with their family. They can share it with their friends, ‘this is the movie I talked to you a long time ago.’” Burns said. “The objective is to make sure we get as many eyes on it as possible… just sharing these stories.”

According to the press release, Dillon and Burns have received numerous glowing reviews from across the country about “Peaks and Valleys.” Dillon cited the following critical review provided by “The Independent Critic,” who screened the film prior to its limited theatrical release during the summer of 2020, as the most encouraging words they’ve heard so far, “... Following its world premiere at the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival where it served up the fest’s first ever sold-out screening (and did so three times!), this feature thriller continued to entertain festival audiences throughout 2019 and is now set to dazzle Alaska audiences with its thrilling story set in the hypnotically beautiful wilderness backdrop of the Matanuska-Susitna Valley of Alaska.

Jack (Kevin T. Bennett) is practically what you expect from a hard-nosed guy living in the Alaskan wilderness. He’s alone and obviously likes it that way, more grunts than grins fill his face and after a few minutes with him you can’t help but imagine that he’s been out here for years. When he encounters Bailey (Kitty Mahoney), she just sort of drops in.

Literally.

Wrapped in plastic and thrown from a plane into a rural Alaska lake, she rather horrifyingly wakes up naked and battered in Jack’s isolated cabin alongside a Jack who is obviously of the mind that he’d rather she not be there.

She’s there.

Traumatized and without much in the way of options, Bailey is going to have to tap into a strength she doesn’t know she has in order to overcome her trauma and survive long enough to get back to something resembling civilization before the winter sets in. Along the way, she may very well figure out that Jack’s own secrets may be secrets never meant to leave that isolated cabin.

Gritty and grizzled, Peaks and Valleys at first seems like it may be a cousin to an Eastwood flick, Bennett’s worn and torn appearance and sparsely spoken words at least a distant cousin to Eastwood but perhaps a bit less aggressively so. For my own money, Peaks & Valleys reminded me even more of True Grit, especially the Coen remake, with Bennett doing an even better Bridges and Kitty Mahoney’s Bailey somewhere between Hailee Steinfeld’s Mattie and Jennifer Lawrence’s breakout turn in Winter’s Bone.

In case you’re wondering, all of these things are compliments.

Michael B. Dillon’s dialogue is sparse, though everything he puts on the page means something and you can feel it in the way it’s delivered. Bennett makes the film a thriller long before you know it’s a thriller, his presence heavy and intentional with just a little sliver of light.

Mahoney’s Bailey is initially histrionic enough that I was irritated right alongside Jack, though it’s rather awesome to watch her transformation over the course of the film.

The lensing by Bryan Pentecostes captures both the absolute wonder of this Alaskan region along with the precariousness of the stark, thrilling story that unfolds. The original score by Evan Evans weaves itself gently yet effectively throughout the story’s, you guessed it, peaks and valleys.

Taking a familiar set-up and breathing new life into it, Michael Burns and Michael B. Dillon have created an engaging and captivating thriller with strong characters who linger in your mind long after the closing credits have rolled by.”

To stream “Proper Binge,” visit Amazon.com or Tubi. To stream “Peaks and Valleys,” visit Amazon.com. For more information, email moondogmbd@gmail.com.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com