Greetings again from the darkness. Ben Masters’ follow-up to his outstanding documentary, DEEP IN THE HEART: A TEXAS WILDLIFE STORY (2022) is even more stunning, more remarkable, and more important. Narrated by environmentalist, model, and actress Quannah Chasinghorse, the breathtaking photography is complemented by a history lesson and cautionary warnings about where things are headed.
The film traces the mighty Colorado River and is highlighted by rare clips of animals in their habitat … scenes we infrequently, if ever, have the opportunity to see. Some of the videos include bull elk, beaver, fish, the California condor, and the area’s apex predator – the gorgeous jaguar. These videos are spectacular and show the beauty of the animals and the area. There is even a segment featuring desert-adapted rattlesnakes in their den, followed by 13 newborns.
Ben Masters’ documentary is so much more than beautiful images of this stunning setting. It’s also a lesson in cultural history and a reminder of the crucial role the Colorado River plays in modern day society. The river spans nearly 1500 miles in length and 25% of the water goes to California farmland – crops that feed millions of people. It’s described as the blood that pumps life into much of the United States. We see the humble pond which starts the river, as well as the dried-out delta wasteland at the end. In between, we see the mountains, eleven national parks, the Mojave Desert (temperatures as high as 134 degrees), Lake Powell and Lake Mead, and the border wall, the latter which now deters the north-south migration of many species. The river runs through seven states.
The Colorado River is responsible for carving through 277 miles of the Grand Canyon, and now its fragile ecosystem is a call to action for us to save this stunning natural habitat of various animals, as well as the lifeline for so many people. It’s mentioned that the river’s health mirrors that of our own health … in other words, healing is crucial to sustain life. That should be enough to get folks to listen and act.
THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST is set for a theatrical release on September 5, 2025 across seven states: Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, California, Texas, and Colorado
Posted by David Ferguson 
Greetings again from the darkness. It’s easy to see why this film was selected for opening night at this year’s EARTHX Film Festival. Ben Masters’ feature length documentary is filled with historical information, geographic differentiations, a timeline of human impact, and some of the most stunning wildlife photography we have ever seen … and that includes any productions from Disney Nature and National Geographic. And if that weren’t enough, the film leaves us with a lesson on the importance of wildlife and nature conservation.
Movie Reviews from the Dark 