There are always some viewers, given a quiet indie film, who don't understand the pacing or subtlety and give it a bad review. I think this will happen, unfortunately, with this little gem of a film.
It's executive produced by Beau Bridges, who has a cameo role. The script is subtle, to-the-point, and sparse in language: like the best indie films, this one relies on a lot of stellar non-verbal acting to tell the story. The story is unique and asks the viewer to think about questions of loyalty and morality, about the meaning of "good" character in a person who does a very bad thing. Is a very bad act justified if the motive is very good?
No review of this film should be made without mention of four things:
1 - The nice little script. I say this as a pro writer and editor. This script is tight, honest, and well-structured.
2 - The beautiful camera work. Slightly arty, it adds to the dreamlike, contemplative quality of the story.
3 - The score. It has an unnerving, menacing quality that keeps the viewer subconsciously nervous.
4 - Patrick John Flueger's beautiful performance. I sat back after this film thinking how underrated this actor really is. He has to carry the film - he's in nearly every scene and the story is fully about his character, and he is never less than mesmerizing. He brings skill that raises the simple lines of the script to a multi-layer level, and a natural charm that invites the viewer into the experience of the character. The character of Sean is ultimately a heartbreaking character - a man trying hard to live a moral, good life in the amoral chaos created by a dysfunctional brother and parental history. Flueger truly brings Sean to life in a way few actors could have. I'd like to shake the hand of whatever casting director's decision this was - it could not have been better..
I wish this film wasn't marketed as a "modern western". What the heck does that even mean? It is simply a unique indie film - part family drama and part crime thriller - that takes place in rural Texas. People, not every film where someone pulls a calf or rides a horse is a "western"! I spend a lot of time searching indie films for the occasional gem (1 out of 50?) and this is one of those gems.
