''The Coverup'', previously known as ''The Thacker Case'', is a 2008 crime-thriller film directed by

Brian Jun Brian Jun (born October 21, 1979) is an American film director, screenwriter, film editor and producer. Jun's feature film debut was the working-class drama, ''Steel City,'' which garnered a nomination for the Grand Jury Prize Award at the Sund ...

and starring

Gabriel Mann Gabriel Mann (born Gabriel Mick; May 14, 1972) is an American actor and model, known for his role as Nolan Ross on the ABC drama series '' Revenge''. He has co-starred in several films, including '' The Life of David Gale'', '' The Bourne Iden ...

and

Eliza Dushku Eliza Patricia Dushku (; born December 30, 1980) is an American actress. She is best known for starring as Faith in the supernatural drama series ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' (1998–2003) and its spin-off series ''Angel'' (2000–2003). She als ...

Plot

This movie, based on a true story, centers on the 1984 investigation of the death of Kevin Thacker. Kevin Thacker of Iowa is a repeat drunk driving offender, and when he is taken into the

Marshalltown, Iowa Marshalltown is a city in and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States, located along the Iowa River. It is the seat and most populous settlement of Marshall County and the 16th largest city in Iowa, with a population of 27,591 at ...

, police station and questioned for his latest DUI, he attempts to escape. When he is found deceased in an alley behind the station, the town police report he attempted to jump from the roof of the station to a nearby building, a gap too far for him to clear. He fell, and was killed on impact. However, the parents of Kevin Thacker disagree with this story. They suspect that he was murdered by Kendall Eldred, the police officer who questioned him. They seek the help of a personal injury attorney, Stuart M. Pepper, who works to find the evidence to prove that this was not an accidental death, but a deliberate murder and case of police brutality. Attorney Pepper takes Eldred to court and uses evidence of Thacker's injuries, the crime scene itself, and time constraints around the time of death to disprove the possibility of Kevin Thacker falling from the rooftop. Pepper's arguments prove successful, and the court eventually finds Kendall Eldred guilty of the murder. It was all a massive cover-up made by the Marshalltown police department to hide the guilt of an officer. The truth came to light, and it was discovered that an unarmed, defenseless Kevin Thacker was killed in cold blood due to a blow from Officer Eldred.

Cast

as Stu Pepper *

as Monica Wright * John Savage as Thomas Thacker * Michael Welch as Kevin Thacker

Release

The film wrapped production the middle of 2008 and made waves in the festival circuit having screenings in the

Austin Film Festival Austin Film Festival (AFF), founded in 1994, is an organization in Austin, Texas, that focuses on writers’ creative contributions to film. Initially, AFF was called the Austin Heart of Film Screenwriters Conference and functioned to launch the ...

, the

Hollywood Film Festival The Hollywood Film Festival is an annual film festival that takes place in Los Angeles, California, USA. History The Hollywood Film Festival was established in 1997 by author and producer Carlos de Abreu and his wife, model Janice Pennington.Pete ...

, the

St. Louis International Film Festival The St. Louis International Film Festival (also known as SLIFF or Cinema St. Louis) is an annual film festival in St. Louis, Missouri, which has been running since 1992. The coordinating organization changed its name to "Cinema St. Louis" in 200 ...

, and the Cedar Rapids Film Festival.

External links

Hollywood Reporter article
* 2008 films 2008 crime thriller films American crime thriller films Films set in Iowa 2000s English-language films 2000s American films {{crime-thriller-film-stub