'The Canyons' Review Roundup: Lindsay Lohan Praised, but Movie Called 'Worthless' and 'Pornographic'

On Aug. 2, Lindsay Lohan's latest film "The Canyons" will be released in theaters and video on demand.

The film, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Paul Schrader, tells the story of Christian, an L.A. trust-fund kid with casual ties to Hollywood. His life spirals out of control when he learns of a secret affair between actress Tara and the lead of his film project, Ryan. His cruel mind games escalate into an act of bloody violence.

The controversial film, which amassed publicity surrounding its rejections from film festivals such as Sundance and SXSW, recently premiered at the Film Society of Lincoln Center where it received negative reviews. "The banal script, from 'American Psycho' novelist Bret Easton Ellis, feels like a Schrader parody. One effort at 'Gigolo'-like neon-lit perversion looks more like an orgy in a laser-tag park," wrote Joe Neumaier in The New York Daily News.

Rodirgo Perez from the Playlist was similarly unimpressed, giving the film a D grade. "While not about pornography, The Canyons can't help but possess that same lurid whiff of XXX material, from the crotchy, skeevy sweatiness, right down to its poor acting, tossed-off dialogue and visibly low production values..." wrote Perez.

Brian Tallerico from HollywoodChicago gave the movie one star out five and wrote, "Lindsay Lohan is NOT the problem with 'The Canyons.' She's arguably the only interesting thing about this train wreck, a film so vapid and worthless that it's clear that, no matter what the troubled Ms. Lohan did on-set, there was no saving it."

With most outlets panning the project, the majority of positive reactions to the film praise Lohan for her performance as Tara in the film. Roger Moore from McClatchy-Tribune News Service said, "Lohan haters gonna hate, but she's impressive in this luridly retro erotic thriller."

Scott Fundas of Variety said, "Lindsay Lohan brings a raw conviction to Paul Schrader's ultra-low-budget but handsomely made study of hungry young things clawing at the good life."

"The Canyons" will make an appearance at the Venice Film Festival, where it will launch internationally. The film also stars James Deen and Gus Van Sant and is not rated.