User Reviews

As the original writer of this film, and also speaking for film-makers Ryan Hathaway and Summer Ferguson---'Allegheny Sunset' was created during possibly the worst period of the bloody Iraq-war. The budget was low but hopes were high. 'Allegheny Sunset' is the story of a homeless Iraq-war veteran (film-maker Hathaway as 'Benny Day'), recovering from illness and PTSD and living 'homeless' in the woods near a small Virginia town in a tent---and his relationship with two young women (Summer Ferguson as 'Beth-Ann' and Sarah Beth Robinette as 'Mikala'), from the town. Beth-Ann does controversial 'sex-therapy' Tupperware-style 'toy'-sales parties for the older, conservative women in this rustic town, and befriends Mikala, a victim of sexual abuse in her past. Later, Benny Day lays down his life to save Beth-Ann from an assault by Mikala's angry and sexually-frustrated step-brother, Jonovan (Matt Wright). But there's much more here---comforting Mikala, Beth-Ann finds herself drawn into intimacy and both young women are confused about their feelings. Mikala explains that she feels very painful towards men, from her abusive past---that would be Jonovan, her misogynist, woman-hating, drunk, self-destructive, angry step-brother from a failed marriage--and also her abuser, from the past, but still in her life as Mikala attends drama classes at a local community college. Benny Day, on the other hand, is like Viet Nam War veterans of another era: dazed-and-confused, suffering from shell-shock, and worse---we later learn he is actually terminally ill from exposure to Uranium-tipped phosphorus shells during Iraq-battlefield conflicts. He is philosophical, almost wistful---or is he crazy?? And also very lonely. When Beth-Ann makes friends with Benny while habitually feeding some stray, or feral cats, that she finds while hiking in the delightful wooded areas near the town---she has no idea who he is, or what's happened to him. But it's soon clear---and for a time, happiness seems easy---Benny chats with the two young-adult women about sexuality, the war, Henry David Thoreau's book 'On Walden Pond', and more. Later, Jonovan's lust for Beth-Ann explodes in violence---with predictable results. Perhaps the keystone story-note for this film, is the notion that life, war, love, lust and the exploration of feelings and emotions, are the human heritage of almost anyone---something given and granted, but during times of hellish violence, or social taboos that have been relaxed, for whatever reason---people can be thrown together in the most unusual circumstances. For Iraq-War veterans, 'Allegheny Sunset' looks at the only healing balm Mankind has ever been satisfied with---love---that of two beautiful young woman, and that of a warrior who lays down his life at last, maybe with a smile to think himself yet lovable. Film-makers on 'Allegheny Sunset' have wanted to express the hope that our film would be 'some kind of something' to touch those hearts the Iraq-war has broken so badly. And it does so, but not without blood.