Directed by:
Potsy PonciroliScreenplay:
Potsy PonciroliCinematography:
John MatysiakComposer:
Jordan LehningCast:
Tim Blake Nelson, Scott Haze, Gavin Lewis, Trace Adkins, Stephen Dorff, Richard Speight Jr., Max Arciniega, Brad CarterVOD (3)
Plots(1)
Old Henry is an action western about a widowed farmer and his son who warily take in a mysterious, injured man with a satchel of cash. When a posse of men claiming to be the law come for the money, the farmer must decide who to trust. Defending a siege of his homestead, the farmer reveals a talent for gun-slinging that surprises everyone calling his true identity into question. (Venice International Film Festival)
(more)Videos (1)
Reviews (4)
A small, fast, down-to-earth western; decently made on a shoestring with a couple of actors, but also with a love of filmmaking, starring the great Blake Nelson. It's nothing groundbreaking or innovative, but all the fun aspects that a viewer wants to see in a good western are there.
()
Making a western these days truly requires a lot of courage! This genre doesn’t usually draw huge crowds to movie theaters...unfortunately, it’s not as popular anymore, which negatively impacts the profits. So, I’m extremely happy that these films are still being made! Old Henry relies on a gritty, hopeless atmosphere. There’s really not much optimism to be found here. I have no complaints about the acting; Tim Blake Nelson had already impressed me in one of the Coen brothers' stories (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs), so I knew the creators wouldn’t miss the mark here. Dorff is also excellent as the captivating villain. The beautiful locations and fantastic music (surprisingly high-quality for the genre) are a real treat. If the creators had included a bigger shootout somewhere in the film, I would rate it higher. But thanks to the surprising twist at the end followed by an impressive bloody scene, it still earns a solid four stars. Keep it up! 8/10
()
Apparently, you can make a decent movie with just a few characters, a simple plot, and a good atmosphere. Tim Blake Nelson was excellent in his role, and I wasn’t discouraged by the slow pace at all because I could feel that the story would pick up speed. I was going to give it four stars, but several serious insults to logic happened towards the end, so I decided that three stars would be enough. It's still worth watching, though.
()
Western of the year and quite possibly the indie surprise of the year. I ignored the film at first and I admit I wasn't too keen on it, but I'm pleasantly surprised. Yes it's no Godless, but I can't think of a more impressive western since Hostiles and The Salvation. Although it lacks the classic Western tropes, it is very adequate but for a minimalist effort. The first half is an intimate western drama with good craftsmanship, an Eastwood touch, a tense atmosphere and very good actors (Tim Blake Nelson is terrific as the farmer and Stephen Dorff's bad guy rips the spotlight on himself whenever he appears). The finale, however, breaks into a wonderfully action-packed and brutal western ride, with the main character going up against everyone alone in assassin mode, using shotgun, Colts, knives and axes to make a mess of things, and there two solid twists on top of that. I don't think anyone expected this from such an unassuming project. Nothing groundbreaking, but engaging enough to entertain on a dull guy's night out. Go for it and enjoy it! Story 4/5, Action 4/5, Humor 0/5, Violence 3/5, Fun 4/5 Music 4/5, Visuals 4/5, Atmosphere 4/5, Suspense 4/5, Emotion 4/5, Actors 5/5. 8/10.
()
Ads