Film Review - Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1
Kevin Costner's epic western doesn't work as a standalone film, but as a serial opener, it proves more absorbing than some critics claim
If you go to Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1 with the understanding that it is the opening salvo in a four-part serial (Chapter 2 is out next month), then there is much to enjoy. Some critics have been sniffy — unfairly, in my view. Yes, this doesn’t work as a standalone film, but neither did The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), and no one thought any the less of that. If handsomely mounted, old-fashioned epic westerns are your thing, there’s little to dislike.
Kevin Costner directs at an unhurried pace, but that doesn’t mean the narrative is uninteresting. It involves three primary strands that don’t yet intersect (again, I emphasise this is part one of four). Ultimately, one expects these will converge in the titular settlement, in which white pioneers have purchased plots of land. However, the Apache are less than happy about this encroachment in their country.
This results in an opening massacre. The homesteader survivors, including Frances (Sienna Miller), are later assisted by a group of Yankee cavalry. These troops are led by the thoroughly decent First Lieutenant Trent Gephardt (Sam Worthington), who is attracted to the recently widowed Frances. He’s also appalled by bounty hunters taking advantage of settler grief by organising retaliation against the Apache — not necessarily those responsible for the attack. Any Native Americans will do.
As such, the film is fairly even-handed when it comes to depicting atrocities perpetuated by both sides, as well as showing deep divisions as to how the situation should be handled. For instance, on the Apache side, angry young warrior Pionsenay (Owen Crow Shoe) is frustrated by his father’s more pragmatic approach to the white settlers. As for Trent Gephardt, he’s angry that pioneers are coming to Horizon in the first place, as the location is Apache territory and essentially impossible to defend by their cavalry.
I haven’t even got to Kevin Costner’s character yet. Mind you, neither does the film, for at least an hour. He plays Hayes Ellison, a traditionally stoic, calm, taciturn horse trader who proves immensely capable with a firearm. He gets drawn into a violent vendetta involving former prostitute Ellen (Jena Malone) and the Sykes family, specifically Caleb (Jamie Campbell Bower), his brother Junior (Jon Beavers), and their father James (Charles Halford). Another prostitute, Marigold (Abbey Lee), winds up caught in the middle, along with Ellen’s young child. Events escalate, and Hayes flees with Marigold and the child in tow.
In yet another plot thread, a large wagon trail heads to Horizon. Various difficulties ensue including lack of water, broken axles, exhausted horses, potential threats from Indigenous tribes, dissensions from within, and a British couple who act with amusing entitlement. These cause headaches for the leader, Matthew Van Weyde (Luke Wilson). Of all the plot threads, this one has yet to really catch fire by the time this first chapter is over, but still proves modestly diverting.
Performances are solid, J Michael Muro contributes lovely cinematography, and John Debney’s score is suitably rousing. The only nit I’d pick is that the film ought to have the honesty to end on a “to be continued” title card rather than segueing into what amounts to a trailer for the next instalment, making for a confusing final couple of minutes. But this is a relatively minor gripe.
In summary, this isn’t going to change the course of cinema, but I found it an absorbing and enjoyable watch. There’s nothing remotely modern or challenging about Horizon. It’s old-school Hollywood through and through, and as such rather refreshing. Whatever else you may feel about him, Costner knows how to do westerns. He doesn’t give 19th Century characters 21st Century dialogue or attitudes, he knows how to show off the (gorgeous) landscapes, he’s smart enough to add humour, give us people to root for, and include genre tropes to good effect. As long as you don’t go expecting an ending, if that sounds like your cup of tea, I’d certainly recommend taking the time to go and see this.
(Originally published at Medium.)
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I believe ppl will be sorry they missed this one in the theaters when the 3 and 4th ones come out, completing the stories. Guessing those will be epic.
Checking out chapter 1 this weekend.
Good review, thanks.