Forsaken (2016)

That was an excellent one.

Better Late Then Never

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

John Henry Clayton (Kiefer Sutherland) returns home after 10 years of fighting in the Civil War and then roaming the land as a gunfighter. His mother had recently died. His troubled relationship with his father Reverend William Clayton (Donald Sutherland) deteriorates further with John's disbelief and violence. John intends to clear the land for his mother. His sweetheart Mary-Alice (Demi Moore) had married Tom Watson. Land baron James McCurdy (Brian Cox) has been harassing the local farmers with his henchmen led by Frank Tillman and buying their land on the cheap. As the murdering continues, McCurdy hires another civil war gunfighter Gentleman Dave Turner (Michael Wincott).I don't know if father and son had ever been father and son on screen. They certain have it in their scenes together. The problem is that the script is mostly unoriginal and TV director Jon Cassar does not have that cinematic visual flourish. Along with the Sutherlands, the bad guys are excellent actors. I would like more Brian Cox especially in the first half. There is a twist with Michael Wincott at the end that feels fresh. Aaron Poole is good. There are some great actors here who elevate this movie from time to time. Even Demi Moore is functional here. Her worn out appearance helps. Overall, this assembly of acting talent deserves better behind the camera.

Kiefer and Donald Sutherland share the screen in this brooding western about an embittered gunslinger who attempts to make amends with his estranged father whilst their community is besieged by ruthless land- grabbers. Father and Son for the first time ever star in a film that truly shines thanks to their performances and a supporting cast of Brian Cox and Demi Moore. Although the film could easily have a better gun fight in the end i still thought that it worked cause of how great the 2 main actors were and the dramatic moments were really really good and the ending was really moving as son and father share the screen one last time Forsaken is a really great movie that won't leave you disappointed.

This movie had some wonderful shots of a small town but lacked reality in a few areas. The movie is set in 1872 and John Henry Clayton (Kiefer Sutherland) is an adult but I had to laugh watching him use an ax and hook a chain on some fallen trees. Looked the first he ever swung an ax. I would think actors would be give some basic training with they don't know these basic skills. At least they would look like they know what they were doing. When a gun is fired, it recoils or jumps back and up. In this movie they pretty much stay still. And guns are LOUD. But here, even when shot in a building no one ever flinches or even reacts to the noise. And did I hear correctly? Did the store clerk say the revolver held nine shots of 10 gauge? That would make the cylinder a big as a grapefruit and kick like a mule. Why would anyone wear gloves when they are handling a revolver, particularly if they need to draw the gun from their holster? Millions of dollars spent on making a movie the director misses this stuff.

overall the movie was good the relationship between father and son was good. The story line though well worn was OK. GGood actors but farmers they are not. a couple of nit pics Once you fell a tree with an axe -- cut the branches up with a saw whacking a small branch with a axe for no apparent reason seemed staged.while you are digging out the stump there is no need to chop at it with the axe -- you already cut the tree down. after you plow the field you harrow it or at least rake it to smooth the ground but you do not seed the furrows.Overall the movie was really OK. they really should have consulted a farmer though.