Film Review: ‘Deep in the Heart’: An Epic Nature Documentary the Size of Texas

Michael Clark
Updated:
PG | 1h 43min | DocumentaryNature | June 3, 2022 (USA)

Within seconds of the start of “Deep in the Heart” (also known as “Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story”), we become aware that this isn’t going to be the usual nature documentary feature. It opens with a wide panoramic aerial shot of Guadalupe Peak, the highest natural point in Texas, located in the far west region.

Caprock Canyons State Park from "Deep in the Heart." (Fin and Fur Films)
Caprock Canyons State Park from "Deep in the Heart." Fin and Fur Films

For those of us who have never been to the Lone Star State, it immediately dispels the assumptions that it’s just a vast desert spotted with the occasional oil rig and home to millions of roaming horned cattle.

This preamble also marks the first time we hear the voice of native son Matthew McConaughey, whose understated, honey-tinged narration is the ideal vessel for the words penned by his fellow Texan, writer and director Ben Masters.

Actor Matthew McConaughey, narrator of the documentary "Deep in the Heart." (Fin and Fur Films)
Actor Matthew McConaughey, narrator of the documentary "Deep in the Heart." Fin and Fur Films

Dark History

Before delving into the “nature” aspects of his film, Masters presents a brief, but thorough, history of Texas as it applies to wildlife and game, and to his credit, it’s not pretty.

Although not exclusive to Texas, the unchecked hunting and slaughter of various species in the state during the mid-to-late 19th century bordered on the catastrophic and resulted in the near-obliteration of some animals and the total extinction of others. On the upside, those in power reacted with new laws designed to right these many wrongs, and for the most part, they succeeded.

One of the first of these corrections, spearheaded by ranchers Charles and Molly Goodnight, involved the relocation of the endangered Plains bison to Caprock Canyons State Park, where they, along with white-tailed deer, continue to thrive and increase in numbers.

White-tailed deer featured in the documentary "Deep in the Heart." (Fin and Fur Films)
White-tailed deer featured in the documentary "Deep in the Heart." Fin and Fur Films

It’s also during this stretch that Masters reveals his funny bone with comical cameos turned in by prairie dogs and an owl with a disapproving scowl that leads into an exuberant exit-stage-left strut.

At one point inhabiting roughly 30 percent of the state, the 80 or so remaining and endangered ocelots can now only be found in the southernmost part of Texas, close to the marshes and barrier islands bordering the Gulf of Mexico. Bearing a strong resemblance to jaguars, the ocelot is relatively small (15 to 35 pounds), sports black spots atop a tawny or grey coat, sleeps in trees, and hunts at night.

Atypical Storytelling

In the space of a mere 10 minutes, Masters puts the audience through an emotional wringer after a mother ocelot becomes separated from her two cubs while foraging for food. In the woods bathed in moonlight, the mother cries out, hoping the cubs will hear her.

Almost in a whisper, McConaughey says, “The worst sound a mother can hear ...” followed by 20 seconds of still, motionless footage. The sentence is then punctuated with a final, ominous word. It’s gut-wrenchingly bittersweet and is just one example of Masters’ multiple uses of mystery, thriller, and nonverbal storytelling devices seen throughout.

Much of the same can be said for the multi-genre score by Noah Sorota, sound designer Lyman Hardy, and editor Sam Klatt, all of whom subscribe to the “less is more” school of thought.

The placid images in the film more often resemble barely moving oil paintings than the usual earsplitting, whiplash-inducing, millisecond length cut-and-slash flicks that tend to overwhelm and numb the senses of the viewer.

In bridging the gap between land and water, Masters, director of photography Skip Hobbie, and a few of the eight other cinematographers on the project include a time-dissolve shot of the Devils River, which is part of the Rio Grande drainage basin.

A West Texas storm featured in "Deep in the Heart." (Fin and Fur Films)
A West Texas storm featured in "Deep in the Heart." Fin and Fur Films
Pointing out that rainfall in Texas lies at the far ends of the extremes, drought and flood, this 10-second clip—which took weeks to film—depicts a stretch of the river going from bone dry to a deluge, and it will relieve you of your breath.

Going Underground

The first of two water-based segments takes place in a cavern located deep below the surface at the San Marcos Pool portion of the Edwards Aquifer. It’s the home of several endangered amphibians, including the blind Texas salamander and the blind catfish, a creature with such a low metabolism, that it can go four years without eating.
Big Bend National Park, the habitat of both black bears and mountain lions, from "Deep in the Heart." (Fin and Fur Films)
Big Bend National Park, the habitat of both black bears and mountain lions, from "Deep in the Heart." Fin and Fur Films

One of the more unique creatures to show up toward the end of the film is the alligator gar, a ray-finned euryhaline fish with origins that go back more than 70 million years.

Lying just below the ground on dry land is Bracken Cave just outside of San Antonio, which houses 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats, making it the largest concentration of mammals on the planet.

When flying in packs, their “safety in numbers” mentality keeps them alive, but if the bats stray, they become easy aerial prey for red-tailed hawks and peregrine falcons. In one scene, a wayward bat becomes the target of a coachwhip snake, which at 4 miles per hour, makes it one of the fastest of its kind in the world.

Located in the Chihuahuan Desert near the Mexico border is Big Bend National Park, the habitat of both black bears and mountain lions, which unfortunately are still not protected by hunting limits.

Masters’s visual inclusion of bear traps does come with a payoff, but not one we might be expecting. It’s yet another great example of nontraditional documentary filmmaking.

The Whole Package

Some documentaries look great, but are thin on content, while others are highly informative, but lack visual appeal; the bulk of them are exceedingly stuffy and arid.
Ben Masters, director of "Deep in the Heart." (Fin and Fur Films)
Ben Masters, director of "Deep in the Heart." Fin and Fur Films

“Deep in the Heart” comes deep from the heart and has it all and then some. Beneath its splendid veneer is soul, humor, intelligence, and warmth. It took three years to make at a budget of just over $1 million, yet it looks like something that cost 20 times as much.

It’s a glorious celebration of life that will put anyone who witnesses its wonders in a state of utter amazement and awe.

Masters and his creative team have created one of, if not the finest nature documentaries ever produced.

‘Deep in the Heart’ Director: Ben Masters Narration: Matthew McConaughey Running Time: 1 hour, 43 minutes MPAA Rating: PG Release Date: June 3, 2022 Rating: 5 out of 5
Michael Clark
Michael Clark
Author
Originally from the nation's capital, Michael Clark has provided film content to over 30 print and online media outlets. He co-founded the Atlanta Film Critics Circle in 2017 and is a weekly contributor to the Shannon Burke Show on FloridaManRadio.com. Since 1995, Clark has written over 5,000 movie reviews and film-related articles. He favors dark comedy, thrillers, and documentaries.
Related Topics