relentless

Rating: 7/10 (19 September 2016)

A group of trappers are attacked by a native tribe. Their bedraggled numbers make their way home to the nearest fort, their group fractious and brittle all the way. One badly wounded man becomes the catalyst for a cycle of vengeance taking that consumes the group. There is much to admire here: spectacular cinematography achieved in natural light, a stunning landscape, gritty performances, and an epic tale of revenge. There are jaw-dropping moments, most notably when the camera follows horse and rider off a cliff. Writing in 2016 the film comes information-soaked, about harsh conditions, about award potential, about crew walk-offs. In years to come all that paraphernalia will fall away and audiences will be able to visit the film once more purely as a film. At that point, its limitation will become all too clear - the one-note narrative. A man survives hellish odds in order to avenge a murder. His survival tips over from incredible into highly implausible. It also means the film poses no questions. You know when you buy your ticket that there is only one outcome. Unfortunately, all the joy of the journey comes from appreciating the effort it took to make this film, rather than the narrative itself gripping you. Lots for cinephiles to admire here, but it is all done to support a story that is, in the end, a little dull.