SERAPHIM FALLS (2006)

Directed By: David Von Ancken
Written By: David Von Ancken & Abby Everett Jaques
Cinematography By: John Toll
Editor: Conrad Buff IV

Cast: Pirece Brosnan, Liam Neeson, Anjelica Huston, Michael Wincott, Ed Lauter, Xander Berkeley, Tom Noonan, Kevin J. O’Connor, Angie Harmon, Wes Studi, Jimmi Simpson


In the 1860s, five men have been tracking a sixth across Nevada for more than two weeks. They shoot and wound him, but he gets away. They pursue, led by the dour Carver, who will pay them each $1 a day once he's captured. The hunted is Gideon, resourceful, skilled with a knife. Gideon's flight and Carver's hunt require horses, water, and bullets. The course takes them past lone settlers, a wagon train, a rail crew, settlements, and an Indian philosopher. What is the reason for the hunt; what connects Gideon and Carver? What happened at Seraphim Falls?

For the first hour of this film. IT totally grabs you by your throat and keeps your attention with it’s violence and grittiness. At first you wonder what’s going on. Then as it moves along The story is filled in.

The thing about the movie is at first you can’t tell who the villain is or supposed to be. Then as you get the back-story you get the reasons why each of these two characters are the way they are. There is very little dialogue which the movie tries to circumvent with action, Beautiful visuals and spine tingling suspense.

Shockingly to me this is more Pierce Brosnan’s film as he feels like a full rounded character. Who is haunted, Yet has a incredible knack for survival. Mr. Brosnan is a surprising actor seeing him as Remington Steele and James Bond. I had written him off as a one note actor who even though he tried in films like nomads and the lawnmower man could only play Waspy Europeans who are suave and mischievous white collar, But after this film and The Matador he shows he can deliver on different character types and I applaud him. He was a last minute replacement for Richard Gere. Brosnan and Liam neeson said this was their favorite film to work on as they both always dreamed of being in a western and finally got a chance with this film.

This film plays like an action packed episode of Deadwood, but the problems overcome the film. Like while the first hour is great. After that it peter’s out it goes off the rails. It becomes boring and repetitious. It would have been better if instead of a full flashback to the characters history. Instead we saw the history in bits and pieces letting us put it together. It would have been more moving and authentic looking. As it is now it looks like a bad cheap set in the middle of the old west role-playing town or a bad recreation of an old west farm.

The other major problem is the ending. This action epic all of a sudden becomes an acid trip hallucinatory metaphysical philosophical crossroads battle and conversation. That sounds more interesting then it is.

The film is an ok rental if you can’t find anything else. Also if you are really into westerns

GRADE: B-