Deep Gold is a 2011 Indie thriller adventure film directed by Michael Gleissner and produced by Bigfoot Entertainment. The movie concerns about a shipment of gold bars going missing aboard a Philippine Air Force transport plane that crashes within the archipelago. Amy Sanchez, who is the girlfriend of one of the missing pilots, must uncover what has actually happened accompanied by her sister Jess Sanchez (Jaymee Ong). She moves on her adventurous journey not knowing that she herself is going to get entangled in a trap of lies that will lead her to a much more complex conspiracy.
The film was shot around the islands of Cebu and Palawan and stars Bebe Pham, Jaymee Ong and Laury Prudent. Michael Gleissner appears as the Big Bad later on.
This film contains examples of:
- Action Film, Quiet Drama Scene: While we all see the action and thrill unfold, part of the scenes revolve around the troubled past of Amy and Jess, Amy's financial problems, and her search for missing boyfriend.
- Action Girl: Amy in the final act.
- All That Glitters: Naturally, since this is a movie about gold.
- Artistic License – Geography: The location of the plane crash was pegged somewhere near
Tagapul-an Island
which is in between the islands of Leyte and Masbate. However, in some scenes, the characters point the crash site at Imuruan Bay off the coast of Palawan, which is another 1,600 km away from Leyte! Made even worse when Lulu takes a boat from Leyte to reach Amy and Jess which would have taken at least three days from her location. See California Doubling on the Trivia section for complete explanation.- There are no libraries in the Philippines that look like the one in the film. Word of God later states that the director was fully aware of it so the interior scenes were actually shot in a large soundstage in Cebu. The interior of the library was constructed for this scene.
- Artistic License – Military: While the film got it right that the Philippine Air Force at this period uses the C-130 and the Huey helicopter, there are obvious mistakes such as having a large news conference in the air base of transferring gold wherein it was supposed to be top secret. This could count as Mildly Military.
- Bittersweet Ending: Amy manages to kill Benny and his mercenaries while recovering the lost gold to be returned to the Philippine government. However, her boyfriend Tony de la Cruz's death has been confirmed. Meanwhile, the Philippine government rewards Amy and Jess for retrieving the stolen property. They use it to pay their debts to Mr. Chang in the Cebu Marina. While everything seems to be alright for once, another bill arrives in front of the sisters' marina informing them of the high electricity bill that has yet to be paid. Mr. Chang is then seen running away with the suitcases full of money as Amy and Jess run after him.
- Broken Treasure: Not really broken but the gold has been waterlogged.
- The Cavalry: The Philippine Air Force deploys a Huey helicopter to rescue the protagonists from Mike.
- Cavalry Betrayal: The Philippine Coast Guard that approaches Benny's boat. It turns out they were under his payroll in order to have their fare share of gold.
- Children Are Innocent: Amy comes across two children outside the library as she tries to escape from Benny's henchmen. One of the henchmen comes across the same children too.
- Conspicuous CG: Especially during scenes involving the C-130, helicopters, and explosions.
- Contrived Coincidence: Lulu just so happens to witness the plane crash carrying full of gold right in-front of her lighthouse radio station.
- Cool Car: During the car chase scene in Cebu, Amy and Frank escape in one.
- Cool Boat: There are two yatch in the film.
- Creator Cameo: See description above.
- Demoted to Extra: Surprisingly, Filipino characters in this film serve as either Red Shirts or background characters.
- Dirty Cop: Some Philippine Coast Guard officers under one of the corrup officials.
- Doesn't Trust Those Guys: Amy and Jess have a hard time trusting anyone in their search for the missing gold which is justified as they have been on their own and the military views them with suspicion on foul play involved in the plane crash.
- Due to the Dead: The Philippine Air Force, Amy, and Jess honor the late Tony de la Cruz by visiting his grave and proclaiming him a hero. He is then posthumously absolved of all suspicion.
- Even Evil Has Standards: The henchman does not murder the two children he comes across during the chase for Amy.
- Evil vs. Evil: Benny Simpson vs the corrupt officials.
- Forgot to Pay the Bill: Amy and Jess faced being evicted from Cebu Marina by Mr. Chang because they have not paid the rent for so long. In the end, even Mr. Chang has not paid the electricity for the said marina, prompting another problem for the girls to solve.
- Gold Fever: Due to the hyped media coverage of the gold being transported prior to the plane crash, a nationwide treasure hunt craze followed suit.
- Great Big Library of Everything: The library Amy visits complete with a kind old librarian that assists her.
- Gunship Rescue: While the Philippine Air Force's Huey isn't a gunship per se, its timely appearance along with a door gunner fits it for this trope.
- Hero Antagonist: Sgt. Gabriel and his companion are this to Amy and Jess, but only because they believe that her boyfriend Tony de la Cruz was involved in foul play due to financial problems the sisters were facing. Once this was disproven, Sgt. Gabriel and his companion promptly apologize to her.
- High-Speed Battle: The chase scene involving Frank and Amy against Benny's henchmen.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Benny likes to douse his enemies in fuel before burning them alive. In the final act, Amy sneaks up behind Benny and douses him with fuel. Amy gives him a chance to get out so he promptly dives off the ship though this would almost prove to be a mistake for Amy's part had she not hesitated to kill him earlier as Benny later comes back for a last-ditch effort to win.
- Hope Spot: Amy and Jess believed that Tony de la Cruz survived the plane crash. His death is later confirmed when Amy dives at the wreckage of the C-130 and finds Tony's remains.
- Improvised Weapon: Amy uses several in the library ranging from books, shelves, and fire extinguisher to fend-off Benny's Mooks.
- Jerkass: Mr. Chang, the landlord of the Cebu Marina who keeps on demanding Amy and Jess pay the rent ASAP. In the ending, he runs off with the girls' money while intentionally not disclosing that the payment they made was only for the rent and not for a separate electricity bill.
- Killed Off for Real: All hopes of Tony de la Cruz surviving the crash are extinguished once Amy finds his body still strapped to the pilot's seat of the plane wreckage at the bottom of the sea.
- Inside Job: There were traitors in the Philippine Air Force who wanted the gold and promptly sabotaged the whole operation of transporting the gold from Cebu to the Central Bank in Manila. Naturally, they were on the payroll of Benny Simpson.
- Interservice Rivalry: This was shown when responsibility to transport of the gold was transferred from the Philippine National Police to the Philippine Air Force.
- Ms. Fanservice: Amy, Jess, and Lulu.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: A young Amy indirectly causes her father's death as she accidentally knocks over his underwater camera, forcing him to retrieve it despite being low on SCUBA oxygen. He never resurfaces and is presumed dead. As an adult, Amy still has Survivor Guilt and has strained relations with Jess, who blames her for their father's death.
- Plot Hole: Why would a top secret gold transport mission be broadcasted by the media?
- Public Domain Artifact: While not stated or even referenced, YMMV has the gold bars being part of the legendary Yamashita treasure.
- Rule of Sexy: Since it is filmed in the Philippines that features beaches, expect to see beauty models in skimpy clothing.
- Scenery Porn: Cebu and Palawan, showing the blue waters and lush green islands.
- Tampering with Food and Drink: Benny invites one of the corrupt officials for a drink in his yatch. Said official accepts the offer while suspiciously Benny doesn't. A few minutes later, he collapses dead as his drink was obviously poisoned.
- Took a Level in Badass: Amy during her Roaring Rampage of Revenge to rescue a captured Jess and Lulu from Benny and his henchmen. It's important to note that Amy has no experience in firing a gun or even self-defense classes. So she uses improvised weapons or uses the environment to her advantage. In the end, she manages to strangle Benny using the anchor's chain while underwater.
- Tropical Island Adventure: Since it's set in the Philippines, we get to see beaches, blue waters, and green islands. Meanwhile, the film takes place mostly in Cebu and the waters off Leyte.
- Would Hit a Girl: Benny has no qualms in hurting women. He is even shown willing to burn Jess and Lulu alive.
