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.
12. The Last Victim (2021)
Naveen A. Chathapuram’s ‘The Last Victim’ showcases a two-phase cat-and-mouse chase. Sheriff Herman Hickey is after a group of outlaws led by Jake Samuels, who are after a woman named Susan, a witness to their latest crime. Starring Ron Perlman, Ralph Ineson, and Ali Larter, ‘The Last Victim’ plays much on symbolism to showcase the complexity of the narrative’s nature. However, it is the actors whose performances make the otherwise-regular neo-Western flick watch-worthy. Apt for bingewatch, the movie can be streamed right here.
11. The Last Son (2021)
Starring Sam Worthington, Colson Baker, and Thomas Jane, ‘The Last Son’ is directed by Tim Sutton. Set in 19th-century Sierra Nevada, the film follows Isaac LeMay, a notorious outlaw who is out to kill his potential children after a Native elder prophecies that one of his children will kill him. The reason he has been on a killing spree is that he has no idea who will be the one to kill him, thanks to his inclination towards prostitutes. We also meet Cal, a short-tempered bank robber, who is one of LeMay’s remaining offspring; Cal’s mother, Anna, a prostitute; Megan, a daughter of LeMay; and U.S. Marshal Solomon, who is on LeMay’s tail and has a past with Anna. How these people’s lives intersect is underscored by death, superstition, bloodline, and the wilderness of the West. You can watch ‘The Last Son’ here.
10. Hostile Territory (2022)
A well-executed Western drama by Brian Presley, ‘Hostile Territory’ follows a Union soldier named Jack (Presley) who returns home after the Civil War, only to find out that his home doesn’t exist anymore. His wife is dead, and his children, presumed to be orphans, have been put on a train that is making its way further deep into the West, which is completely hostile territory. With dangerous and angry tribes out there, Jack will have to hurry if he wants to see his children again. The war may be over, but his battle has just begun. To join him on his quest, you can watch the film here.
9. The Legend of Molly Johnson (2021)
Directed by Leah Purcell, this movie is based on a classic short story, ‘The Drover’s Wife’ written by Henry Lawson in 1892. While the story doesn’t reveal the name of the character, the movie makes sure that she not only has a name but one that we cinephiles remember for a long time. Molly Johnson lives with her children in the Australian Outback while her husband earns a living by moving livestock, which is why he is away from home for months at a stretch before returning. Her vigilance for her children, accompanied by her worry that her surrounding brings in the form of daily experiences, is what the movie explores. The cast includes Leah Purcell as the titular character, Rob Collins, Jessica De Gouw, and Sam Reid. You can watch the movie here.
Tombstone (1993)
Directed by George P. Cosmatos, ‘Tombstone’ is set in 1880s Arizona. It follows lawman Wyatt Earp and his brothers, who are past their prime as gun-slingers and have settled in the city of Tombstone. However, when they encounter an outlaw gang led by “Curly Bill” Brocius, they realize that only they can put an end to the gang’s “stunts,” for which they join forces with Earp’s old friend Doc Holliday. Based loosely on the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral that took place in Tombstone in 1881, the film’s ensemble cast, including Kurt Russell, Bill Paxton, Sam Elliott, Val Kilmer, and Powers Boothe, makes it a swoonworthy Western flick. You can watch it here.
7. Bitterbrush (2022)
Directed by Emelie Mahdavian, ‘Bitterbrush’ is a Western documentary film that follows Hollyn Patterson and Colie Moline, two skilled range riders as they hitch on an Idaho mountain range surrounded by cattle that they drive. They have known each other for around 5 years and have established a camaraderie that despite being underscored by a rancher lifestyle that in their own ways isn’t a long-lasting one, aids them in enjoying every moment. There are no highs and lows in the film and all that we get is an organic bite of the American West. It may sound uninteresting but ‘Bitterbrush’ is a rare film that is moving and powerful in a most humane way. You can watch it here.
6. 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.
5. 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.
4. God’s Country (2022)
Thandiwe Newton stars as a solitary woman, a former police officer, regularly targeted by hunters in Julian Higgins’ ‘God’s Country.’ Sandra (Newton) moved to Montana recently, but the dynamic between her and the rest of the townsfolk has been anything but calm. When hunters trespass on her property, making her feel threatened, and the cops prove useless, she realizes she must use her willpower and skills to take them on. ‘God’s Country’ offers a gripping take on the neo-Western genre, one that uses the landscape as a character in the plot as well. Based on James Lee Burke’s short story ‘Winter Light,’ the movie is a must-watch. It can be streamed here.
3. 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.
2. Jane Got a Gun (2015)
Gavin O’Connor’s ‘Jane Got a Gun’ centers on Jane (Natalie Portman), who is forced to reach out to her ex-fiancé Dan Frost (Joel Edgerton) after her husband’s life is threatened by a group of violent outlaws known as the Bishop Boys, led by John Bishop (Ewan McGregor). While Jane tries to protect her husband and daughter, past and present collide as we learn about Jane’s relationship with Dan, the origin of the Bishop Boys, and what led the latter to hunt Jane’s husband. Despite commendable performances by the cast, ‘Jane Got a Gun’ looks more like a tribute to the Western genre than a film belonging to the genre. However, it has its perks, and O’Connor offers a drama that is well-crafted nonetheless and can be watched right here.
1. The Revenant (2015)
Alejandro Iñárritu’s Oscar-winning drama ‘The Revenant’ is set in the Great Plains during the early 19th century. It follows frontiersman Hugh Glass, who is traveling with his company across the plains. Soon, his son is killed by a man named John Fitzgerald, another member of the group, after which Glass, too, is left for dead by the group after being convinced by Fitzgerald. Glass’s journey of survival in the cold and how he almost slouches his way back home to exact revenge on Fitzgerald make the premise of the captivating drama. His experiences and how they change him as a person have been showcased with utmost care and graphic detail, fueled by DiCaprio’s brilliant performance. Co-starring Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson, and Will Poulter, ‘The Revenant’ is a must-watch. It can be streamed here.
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