Shubhabrata Dutta
The old American West is a place that harbors many stories. Hollywood has shown a particular interest in this scenario and has given the audience some truly great films. Cowboys, gunslingers, Native Americans, outlaws — there is a lot of scope for concocting interesting stories and creating iconic characters. The texture, the music, and the whole aura of these films are completely different, and when a Western film is on, you know it’ll surely be an adventurous ride full of action. Considering the growing demand for Westerns, streaming platforms like Hulu maintain a collection of some great movies in the genre.
7. Montana Story (2021)
Directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, ‘Montana Story’ explores the complex relationship between estranged half-siblings Cal (Owen Teague) and Erin (Haley Lu Richardson). The two people return to their childhood Montana ranch, where their father is on life support. Sharing a traumatic past that is connected to their father, the duo traces their steps backward, having conversations about their childhood while traversing the Montana landscape. Profound and emotionally moving, ‘Montana Story’ is a rare Western drama that you can watch nay experience right here.
6. How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2023)
Set in West Texas, ‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’ is directed by Daniel Goldhaber. The movie revolves around a plan by a group of individuals in their twenties to blow up an oil pipeline as a response to climate activism and climate change that has claimed the life of the mother of one of the individuals as well. The plot is set in Long Beach, California, and addresses climate change and environmental terrorism. The cast of the movie includes Lukas Gage, Ariela Barer, Sasha Lane, and Jake Weary. You may watch it here.
5. The Unholy Trinity (2024)
Starring Pierce Brosnan, Samuel L. Jackson, and Brandon Lessard, ‘The Unholy Trinity’ revolves around a young man named Henry Broadway. He arrives in the Western town of Trinity to seek the man who wrongfully convicted his father, Isaac, leading to his execution. He speaks to Sheriff Gabriel Dove and also meets St. Christopher, a priest who rode with Isaac. When the truth about a hidden treasure comes to light, Henry finds himself caught in a war where various parties seeking the treasure have their own stories to tell about it, which, to Henry’s surprise, Isaac had hidden. Directed by Richard Gray, the movie is more about the performances than the story, which itself isn’t new, but nevertheless keeps us waiting for the drama to unfold and for Henry to discover who was responsible for his father’s death. You can watch ‘The Unholy Trinity’ right here.
4. Butcher’s Crossing (2022)
Directed by Gabe Polsky, ‘Butcher’s Crossing’ is based on the 1960 novel by John Edward Williams. The film follows Harvard drop-out Will Andrews, who arrives at Butcher’s Crossing, a small Kansas town, and joins Miller, a mysterious frontiersman/buffalo hunter, on a buffalo hunting expedition funded by Will. Will wants to explore the Wild West and is influenced by Miller’s tales. However, the expedition, as enchanting as it is owing to the terrain, brings a lot of hardships. The natural elements start affecting Will’s sanity, made even worse by Miller’s maniacal lust for the slaughter and skinning of buffalos. The expedition ultimately becomes a fight for survival underscored by greed. The film stars Fred Hechinger as Will Andrews and Nicolas Cage, who is perfect as an unhinged Miller. You can watch ‘Butcher’s Crossing’ here.
3. True History of the Kelly Gang (2019)
Based on Peter Carey’s novel, ‘True History of the Kelly Gang’ is set in the 1870s and offers a dramatized retelling of the antics of notorious Australian bushranger and outlaw Edward Kelly, AKA Ned Kelly, and his gang, the Kelly Gang. The Justin Kurzel directorial shows how Edward became an outlaw and formed his gang, only to be hunted down by authorities at a young age. The movie transports the viewers to a different universe altogether as they are provided with a gripping depiction of the Australian bush of the above-mentioned time period. Starring George MacKay as Ned Kelly, along with Russell Crowe, Nicholas Hoult, and Charlie Hunnam, ‘True History of the Kelly Gang’ is custom-made for lovers of the Western genre. It can be streamed here.
2. Bone Tomahawk (2015)
Set during the late 19th century, ‘Bone Tomahawk’ follows four people, namely Sheriff Franklin Hunt (Kurt Russel), Deputy Chicory (Richard Jenkins), gunslinger John Brooder (Matthew Fox), and cowboy Arthur O’Dwyer (Patrick Wilson), who join forces to save a group of people from the town of Bright Hope. From? A cannibalistic tribe, and God knows what they will do with them unless they are rescued soon. While the four men execute a plan to save the people and kill as many of the tribe as possible, they must also be careful, as the “Troglodytes” seemingly have a lot of tricks up their sleeve, too. Entertaining, engrossing, and carrying the perfect Western flavor, the S. Craig Zahler directorial is a must-watch. It can be streamed here.
1. Django Unchained (2012)
Quentin Tarantino’s Western blaxploitation film ‘Django Unchained’ follows Django (Jamie Foxx), a slave who is liberated by bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz), who takes him along on his journey to hunt down racist criminals and slave owners. Using this new lease of life and the help of Schultz, who becomes his mentor of sorts, Django tracks down a plantation owner named Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), who is the captor of his wife, Broomhilda (Kerry Washington). Faced with Candie’s ruthlessness, his cunning housekeeper, Stephen (Samuel Jackson), and the dangerous situation his wife is in, whether Django is able to succeed in his mammoth plans forms the premise of the film. Explicit, provocative, and gory, ‘Django Unchained’ authentically brings out the horror of racism in 19th-century America. You can stream the movie right here.
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