User reviews

Saw this back at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival.

Director Julian Higgins creates a movie about a grieving college professor confronts two hunters she catches trespassing on her property, she's drawn into an escalating battle of wills with catastrophic consequences. Higgins starts off with a really strong beginning and introduction to the film but after 35 minutes into the film, the movie falls apart as the story becomes really basic, generic, and dull. There are many good aspects about this film. The cinematography, the score, atmosphere, production design, and sounding was really good. It helped to add flavor to the movie but the story and bland one sided characters really made the movie suffer. The pacing of the movie becomes really uneven as it dragged the movie from exciting to boring. Actress Thandiwe Newton gives a great performance throughout the movie as she does her best to keep this movie flowing well. But the other performances are just okay and some of them are quite bad.

Some of the dialogue is very clunky. The editing choices are bland. Lastly, the ending although is quite satisfying, because of the dull storyline, the ending doesn't really feel worth it by the end of the day. Higgins has talent but this movie was just meh and forgettable.

Rating: C+

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"God's Country features a remarkable lead performance from Thandiwe Newton, but the unfocused, predictable screenplay makes this film too dull to remember. Technically, it's one of the strongest movies of the festival. Gorgeous cinematography, sweet score, gripping atmosphere -- it holds the essential technical ingredients for a great film.

However, by attempting to tackle many different subject matters, Julian Higgins isn't able to properly concentrate and exceptionally develop a single one. In addition to this, the protagonist carries relatable motivations, but her consequent actions feel contradictory. The racism and sexism that she has to deal with are real, but her way of confronting these situations is far from exemplary.

Finally, the impactful ending beautifully works in theory, but since everything plot-wise is so unsurprising and slow-paced, the viewers will probably feel too tired to care by the end."

Rating: C.

I get it. You should stand for something rather than fall for anything. Still, this lady was really pushing the envelope by escalating everything. I mean she was really asking for it. She broke more laws than the aggressors. Ironically, her past job should have gave her insight and made her smarter about it. Honestly, I don't know what the moral of this story is. I feel she should have put up a fence or moved. Why would any single woman live in the most remote area knowing there are few law enforcement to provide protection.? She had to have known how risky this would be. I'm a guy and even I wouldn't feel comfortable living in the middle of nowhere alone. To top it off, she threw her only friend under the bus. This is like watching any vigilante movie where the bad guys were not as aggressive as the vigilante. I dunno....

A complex subject matter is carefully investigated and demonstrated in God's Country. How many of us had lashed out and acknowledged to ourselves of the misdirection of it. It's Sandra's view of herself unable to challenge the right place like many other men and women it bursts out, this is what's impressive of this tale it manages to give a perfect demonstration of unrests that has no roots. The snowy mountains and misty plains surrounded by gloomy forests is symbolic to the nothingness but conflicts are possible even in god's country. For the wonderful performance by Ms Newton's flawless this movie deserves credit.

I came in hoping for a good story, but left shaking my head at the many lost opportunities to make it one. If you like being preached at for an hour and 43 minutes, this may be the film for you.

Besides the incessant lecturing, the movie had the pacing of a 78 played on a 45 player, the villains were all caricatures of bad people, and the protagonist was a preachy, "I know better than you about everything because" kind of a person.

The most interesting part of this movie was when I dropped a Milk Dud between my legs and spent 10 minutes groping around trying to find it.

See this movie only if you hate yourself.

This movie is essentially an art house upsell of something like I Spit On Your Grave. About 30 or 40 minutes into it, when the professor meets one of the hunters in the little church and finds common ground with him (I won't spoil how) I thought the movie might turn into something redemptive for both of these characters. Nothing doing. Instead of such a turn, it devolves into stereotype and cliché, and exactly the end you could predict. You want Trump Country "deplorables" you got them. You want a clueless "woke" interloper, you got that. Yet in the end, all the issues are resolved with a shotgun, hardly any sort of politically correct finish. If the point of this movie is just an ironic play on the idea that God is nowhere to be found in that place, or in any of these people, the point is pretty overtly made. That doesn't mean it's bad or unwatchable. It's neither, but it's not gory enough to be a successful exploitation film, nor creative enough to be a true art film. It's nicely filmed and definitely conveys the damnation of its people and place through its cinematography, and while none of the main antagonist characters, as written, are deep, complex or unique, they are all well portrayed by the actors. A better example of something with a similar theme might be Wind River.

This movie is labeled as a thriller, let's not kid ourselves here it is most definately a drama and a slow one at that. The subject matter really is just a very small part of the movie and in reality this movie just becomes a slow drone about her feelings and her previous struggles and life. This may be some people's cup of tea but it cant be too many. I do not understand why people make movies this slow and think it is entertainment, the movie really does not know what direction it is heading in and quite frankly could be about 1 hour 30 minutes shorter, every scene drags on with nothing happening, it really was a bore. I will say it gets 3/10 because there is no cheese in it or plugged humour nor any far fetched plot or story so in that sense it feels real, real-ly boring... My advice avoid if you want any entertainment or interest.

IN A NUTSHELL: When a college professor confronts two hunters she catches trespassing on her property, she's drawn into an escalating battle of wills with catastrophic consequences.

The dramatic film was directed by Julian Higgins. She and Shaye Ogbonna wrote the story.

Based on a short story by acclaimed author James Lee Burke, God's Country is a character-driven thriller set in the snowy wilderness of the American West. Thandiwe Newton plays Sandra Guidry, a Black professor living and working in a rural college town. She's also grieving her recently-deceased mother, for whom she'd served as the primary caretaker. On the day of the burial, Sandra discovers a mysterious red truck parked in her driveway. She soon learns it belongs to a pair of local hunters seeking to enter the forest behind her house. Sandra turns them away politely but firmly - her experience tells her these are not the sort of men to welcome freely into her world. But they won't take no for an answer, and soon Sandra finds herself drawn into an escalating battle of wills that puts her most deeply-held values to the test.

The film has already received the Founder's Prize at the Traverse City Film Festival.

THINGS I LIKED: The movie premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to enthusiastic audiences.

Thandiwe Newton gives an excellent performance. Her subtle facial expressions and body twitches are powerful and insightful.

Other cast members include Kai Lennox, Jeremy Bobb, Joris Jarsky, Jefferson White, and Tanaya Beatty.

You could definitely call this movie a slow burn. That phrase is usually used as a negative description but in the case of this movie, it's a compliment. There are some incredible shots that allow you to linger in the moment such as when you see a small drop of water fall from a shoe that has been out in the snow or when the protagonist takes in the wonder of seeing a mother deer and her fawn in the middle of her mountain property.

I love movie titles that have multiple meanings. The location of the film invites us to see some beautiful landscapes out in the winter mountains, surely "God's country". Faith in God is one of the themes of the story that lends itself to another interpretation of the title. We also see title cards that divide the scenes into six days of the battle of wills. On the seventh day, there is rest.

Beautiful cinematography by Andrew Wheeler.

The sound production was noticeably good, as well as the music.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: Some viewers may be frustrated by the lack of resolution in the end. I think the director never intended to give us answers, but to provide fodder for conversations about the society we've created around us.

One of the problems with this kind of movie is that audiences might be led to believe that violence is okay and justified if someone is a jerk.

With all of the nuances provided to other characters, it seemed that the "bad guys" were super cliched and one-dimensional.

Thandiwe Newton's character seems delicate and easily frightened in the beginning, so the reveal of her backstory didn't seem believable.

TIPS FOR PARENTS: Kids will be bored waiting for something to "happen". So will some adults.

Some profanity, including F-bombs We see a bloody, dead bird Adult bullying Threatening behavior Hunters kill deer and a dog Gun use Arson

THEMES: Respect for others and their property Prejudice Racism and diversity Sexism Obsession Feeling safe Police protection Hurricane Katrina Grief "Identity politics" Revenge Fairness Taking action on injustices Broken systems Vulnerability

I actually came to like this movie; though slow, and perhaps deliberately so; both the direction and cinematogaphy play to the slow reaction of the protagonist through the countless second chances and warnings given to two intruders on a womans land. This is an interesting movie, because Netwons character does not behave like a woman, and maybe that is what makes this movie edgy too. In contrast you have her male neighbor, shown as being one of the guys with the tresspassers; which leads Newtons character to set about creating a long standing power play, against masculinity, society and its norms. Questioning what is right for who and why. This movie takes a woman, living alone, who seems to like living that way, and pits her against an entire community and society that will not leave alone, because she said that she though it best that people ask before parking on her land. It begs the question, had she been a man, would there have even been an issue. This movie cleverly, though sometimes in a uncomfortable way, shows the dichotomy that exists, between who is and who is not allowed to do what they want to do.

Personally, at times I did wonder if Newtons character has a backstory, and this is slowly revealed throughout the movie, there to explain perhaps why she is the way she is.

This movie is an open minded watch, it wont suit everyone, but its worth watching.

College professor Sandra (Thandiwe Newton) lives alone in the middle of nowhere Montana after losing her mother. Two local hunters keep trespassing on her property. The confrontations slowly build. She's struggling with an unevolved superior at work. The acting sheriff is limited help. The actual sheriff is on leave after shooting a local.

This movie is quiet. In a way, it's too quiet. Newton is doing good quiet with simmering rage. The tree farm confrontation is good tension. So is the invitation into the trailer home. There are moments and scenes with great tension. Mostly, the movie is way too quiet and the tension slips. It needs to build the tension, but Sandra doesn't change. It's a little flat.

After reading the premise and watching the trailer, I decided to give this film a shot. Bad idea! This film is complete garabage. I know a lot of people like to use the term "one of the worst movies ever" but I really mean it. That statement is totally acceptable when it comes to this film. It was a total waste of time. When it was all said and done I had no idea what I had just watched. I liked the idea of the film, but the way it played out was pointless. The events that took place could of been easily avoided. But most of all, there's a good 45 minutes where nothing happens. The lead character just kinda mopes around feeling sorry for herself. It was torture getting through that. The film starts to pick up a little in the last 15 minutes. But it doesn't save the film from being any good. Do yourself a favor and watch something else. 3 stars.

God's Country is a slow burn but quite an impressive debut feature from Julian Higgins, beautifully enhanced by cinematographer Andrew Wheeler. Thandiwe Newton is good in the lead role of college professor, Sandra, who faces not only the power of the Patriarchy in the workplace but the existential threat of violence living alone and isolated on her Montana property. When she pushes back against two brothers who feel they have the proprietary right to hunt on her property, she is set on a collision course with the local men. An ex-New Orleans police officer, she's no pushover but you will have to decide whether or not her final resort to violence is a justifiably measured response.

God's Country is disqualified from being considered "bad" by its performances and cinematography alone. The film is largely breathtaking to behold, even when it at times becomes dull from a storytelling standpoint.

And this is where the film falters: its storytelling.

The "plot" technically has an inciting incident, but is really just a meandering series of events that make up a 90-minute petty neighborhood feud between a grieving Karen and a group of spited pseudo-alpha-males.

Given what we come to know about Cassandra's character background, some of the plot's events do hit pretty hard emotionally, especially the film's final 5 minutes and it's EXCELLENT final one-take scene.

But the brilliant conclusion does feel like a bit too little too late, as a great chunk of the story feels largely inconsequential to the film's larger themes that it's going for.

Greetings again from the darkness. Do you ever have that feeling that if no one's going to do something then "I guess I will"? These days it seems our systems and institutions are failing us, and that's at the heart of what is eating at Sandra (Thandiwe Newton), a college professor living in a remote house in the mountains. When the film opens, she is at the crematorium for her recently deceased mother. Soon after, two hunters park on her land, and their reactions after she politely asks them not to, tells us where this story is headed.

Writer-director Julian Higgins and co-writer Shaye Ogbanna never give Sandra (or us) any reason to think everything is going to be just fine. It's a slow-burn towards disaster, and we can't help but watch to see how bad situations turn worse and how the conclusion plays out. Violence is expected ... especially after we see how ineffective the local acting Sheriff (Jeremy Bobb) is at his job.

The "chapters" in this story are actually the days numbered so that we can keep up with the tension. A red truck, an arrow in the door, a police report, a faculty meeting, a church organist, and the disclosure by a student (Tanaya Beatty) all lead us to the dreaded seventh day. The stress builds for Sandra, who manages to hold her tongue quite often, right up until she doesn't. It's clear to us that she's carrying a bitterness and a chip ... and seeking vengeance. It's easy for us to emphasize with Sandra in the first two acts, though it's likely many will join me in being a bit disappointed in the final act.

Of course, the acting is on-point, but otherwise there's no movie here. Just an episodic showcase of Newton's stoic, one-dimensional character making one bad decision after another. A liberal message movie that says so little -- and I too am a liberal! This film underscores the intersectionality of stupidity, self-righteousness, dismissiveness of any value that isn't considered progressive, of and throw in some ennui for good measure too. To think I had high hopes enough to go out of my way to see this heavy-handed piece of misguided propaganda. Just leave the men alone and let 'em park on your outer-property; they ain't bothering nobody! Oh, but then, there would, literally, be no premise for this silly film. Be a good, kind, considerate neighbor--that would've nipped all the film's conflicts in the bud. But no, she needed a cause. And ruins her life and others' in the process. I was so bored--and I'd snuck in alcohol into the theater. Apparently not enough!

My kind of film. Incredibly beautifully filmed and all the shots are so well thought out. There is not a single shot that feels out of place, rushed, or compromised. This may sound like a strange observation but those who have made films will know what I'm talking about. Julian Higgins directs the hell out of this slow burner.

God's Country tells a simple story about an escalating conflict but it can also be seen as a take on what is happening in the USA today. This dialogue from the film captures the essence perfectly:

• "I wonder sometimes, why do you choose to be the person you are."
• "Like you're just whatever happened before you? Maybe it takes some kind of sacrifice to break the cycle."

What happens when no one is willing to sacrifice to break the cycle? When everyone just reacts to what happened before them? Are they masters of their destiny or just puppets of history - controlled by their past and the past of those who came before them?

A profound and poetic masterpiece.

While I do not agree with all the political views held up here, that does not take away from good storytelling. I don't think killing animals for meat is bad, and I don't think there is anything wrong with choosing the best people for the job, although, sure, people from different backgrounds do sometimes think differently.

This is a story told in real time, which is such a good break from overedited crap, with unbelievable plots and fireworks. It's an underdog story really, except that we know she is capable of looking after herself.

Really enjoyed the church scene. Shows how we don't know what we think we do about each other and how a good distraction can elevate us from raw emotion.

Take a break from the franchises, superheroes and reboots - enjoy this movie.

An absolute mess, the acting was wooden, the actors looked as though they couldn't wait to go home. Thandie's part was what? She was angry, depressed, ungrateful, nosy, and seemingly awash in a sea of self-pity.

A boorish poorly written snooze fest that never got off the ground, then ends with what? Do we tune in to part two to see this rest of the movie?

The best part of the movie was the scenery, a beautiful place, though Thandie's character was out of place. She left New Orleans and moved to an A-frame in a remote mountain canyon with her elderly mom, how did that happen?

If you're looking for background noise or something to put you to sleep, this flick might do the trick.

As a huge fan of the "dramatic landscape slow burn" genre, this delivers. I was, however, disappointed in the shotgun finale.

Thandie Newton is terrific, as usual, as an ex cop that had to flee the city.

Based on a short story, originally with bow hunting rednecks and an escalating battle of wits over property access for hunting purposes.

The films delivers emotionally, too. In a tiny regional church where Cassandra (Newton) attends a service after stalking one of the rednecks taking his mother there, they come very close to bonding, incredibly.

Perhaps the stark finale was only suited to a shotgun ending, given everything the viewer knows at this point. And it is, of course, definitive. But given the natural beauty we see throughout the film, I would hope there could of been another way.