First time director John Maclean brings a fresh, interesting take on the western genre giving us an intriguing black comedy western which despite its slow burn (pun intended), delivers an exciting enjoyable journey that shows good things to come from Maclean in the future.
Set across the American frontier, 16 year-old Jay Cavendish (Kodi Smit-McPhee) journeys to find his sweetheart from Scotland and is joined by Silas (Michael Fassbender), a mysterious traveller, as they negotiate the rough American west. The film is a beautifully shot western epic, with a really small and personal story where the emphasis is on character development and emotion, rather than grand spectacle. It is a beautifully shot art house film, that when compared to commercial Hollywood film, makes you wish more filmmakers would employ Maclean's techniques as you feel fully immersed in this world, and truly emotionally connect with Cavendish's struggles and tribulations.
Without giving much away, the climax of the film is a wonderful pay off, with Maclean's direction really coming to the forefront with some truly exceptional cinematic payoffs which brings the film full circle and excellently wraps up an emotional film that may not be open to multiple viewings, but defiantly a film to remember.
A brilliantly shot and directed film, Maclean brings his fresh take on the western genre, and I personally cannot wait to see his next directorial effort, because if its anything like Slow West, then I'm sure to watch and enjoy it.
My Score: 7.5/10
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