Film Review – Horizon: An American Saga (Chapter 1)

The West was a place where legends were born, out of hardship and hope, where the freedom to forge your own destiny lay just beyond the next ridge. A mosaic of dreams, where every man with a rifle was a law unto himself. The West is the best thing that ever happened to America. We started out with nothing. Now we’ve got most of it… The West was a place of adventure and hope, where you could start over and make something of yourself. The West was always a great place for characters on the run. – Will Rogers

Kevin Costner has outdone himself and honestly made my week with his new ambitious multi-film series titled Horizon: An American Saga. Viewers get to explore the Old West from its roots. Spanning four years of the Civil War, from 1861 to 1865. These films will be divided into four separate parts. Chapter one is currently in theaters, and Chapter two will follow shortly in August. Today I will be posting a review of the first chapter and in case you can’t already tell… I really loved it!

I went this past Friday afternoon to go see the film in theater and had a really good time. Horizon takes us on an emotional journey across a country divided by an internal war within but also the indigenous natives who are fighting to protect their ancestral heritage and way of life. Their journeys intersect and diverge, weaving together a narrative that celebrates human triumphs and trials against the backdrop of history in motion. Capturing the essence of a nation’s relentless spirit.

Experience the growth of a nation through the lens of families, friends and foes all attempting to discover what it truly means to be the United States of America. The journey to go west is an undertaking that will test even the strongest. The first chapter introduces some very lofty ambitions that promise a rich exploration of American identity and frontier life.

Costner’s directorial vision shines brightly, capturing the natural raw beauty and rugged challenges of frontier life with a reverence that feels both nostalgic and fresh which is perfect for a western movie. The performances are believable, compelling, and breathes life into characters whose struggles and triumphs mirror the tumultuous era they inhabit.

In general, I am not a huge fan of wild west adventures, and as a genre, I don’t normally gravitate towards them; however, the historical authenticity was rather impressive on the whole. I really did wind up enjoying the film. The character driven narrative and frontier drama sucked me right in. Below is my full review of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter One.

“The farther one gets into the wilderness, the greater is the attraction of its lonely freedom. The West is a country of vast, varied, and fascinating physical beauty. It is a land of adventure, opportunity, and unending possibilities. The life of the West is a life that emphasizes more strongly than any other the great fundamental virtues of courage, endurance, and determination.” – Theodore Roosevelt

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My favorite part of this historical epic is how they handled the whole concept of Manifest Destiny. As charming as the idea of expanding out west is on paper. It was wrought with a ton of issues. The journey was filled with hardship for those who dared to take the chance; moreover, it really interfered and encroached on Native-American Culture. The film masterfully shows both sides. It doesn’t shy away from the ugly aspects of this time in our country’s history. I appreciated this so much.

The movie’s build-up was absolutely phenomenal in my opinion. As a first chapter, I got the impression that this episode was setting the scene to allow us viewers the chance to get to know the characters, their stories, and understand the very complicated era. A great introduction to what is going to amount to one of the most heartfelt film series I’ve ever seen.

I don’t know how many readers have seen the History Channel’s mini-series called The Hatfield and McCoys which aired back in 2012 but this reminded me of it in so many ways. The major feud between the two families took place around the same era and if you enjoyed the series, then Horizons will be right up your alley. The vibes are exactly the same.

From the moment the film opens in the first scene, the rugged beauty of the West comes alive with sprawling plains, towering mountains, and breathtaking wildlife that makes for the most gorgeous backdrop for the unfolding drama. The love for the land is palpable in every frame Costner directed. Viewers are swept in a world teeming with promise and peril.

The cinematography truly matched the emotional depth the film portrays by capturing the perfect the golden hues of dawn over the prairies, the stark beauty of a winter storm, and the quiet majesty of a sunset on the horizon. It was all too easy to find yourself immersed in the sights and sounds of another era that feels like a painting brought to life. I loved it!

While Horizons: An American Saga ambitiously sets the stage for what promises to be a sweeping saga, it does so with a sense of purpose and reverence for its subject matter. Yes, there are moments where the pacing may falter or scenes feel too brief, but these are minor quibbles in an otherwise remarkable cinematic experience.

“The cinematography is breathtaking! It’s heartbreaking, dramatic, brutal, funny, hopeful & inspiring. It shows the reality of what ALL people went through when the West was settled. It blends stories of American Indians, Mexicans, Chinese & Europeans. It shows the reality of the human spirit needed to survive this mass migration – the American Indians fighting for their lands & the settlers trying to make a new life in uncharted territory.” – Tracy Falite (google reviewer)

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Horizons is not a film for the faint at heart. The content is very rough and at times extremely graphic. Life on the pioneer frontier was quite harsh. This isn’t a lighthearted historical drama. It’s gory, crude, and has a lot of death! The West is a place of merciless violence. From brutal attacks, fights, and the relentless struggle against unforgiving elements.

The show never let’s you forget the countless lives lost. There is a lot of sadness that comes with the bravery we see in each character. all the blood-soaked battles, treacherous landscapes, and the raw struggle for survival captures their gritty stark truth. This unfiltered portrayal of their lives truly offers an authentic look into this period of history.

I really enjoyed all the characters quite a lot. The cast is diverse and large with varied backgrounds and personal struggles that rip out your heart. They also left me wondering and wanting to know more about their stories. Each character from Kevin Costner’s John Thornton to the resilient grace of Sienna Miller’s Frances Kittredge all bring a layer of complexity to the narrative. I do have one complaint about the characters but I will post all about that in a more appropriate place.

Viewers are taken back and forth between different narratives which at first can be a bit jarring; however, the clarity is always there. With each scene switch, you get the location and date right off the bat, so there is nothing confusing about the story moving around. I didn’t find one character to be a bit boring. Each of their stories sucked me right in.

Despite the rather large range of cast, there was not a single person who didn’t interest me in some way or another. They were all very interesting and I want to see what each of them do in the next chapters and where things go. I am rooting for most of them. Everybody is going through difficult times. Their fears, hopes, losses, and dreams have become mine!

Now with all that said, I am brought to my biggest and single complaint which does have to do with the characters. I’m not sure how to describe my disappointment but I shall do my very best. There is a very important contrast in these films. A very pointed two-sides of the story. You have white-pioneer settlers on one side, and on the other is the natives tribes who feel threatened. They have this need to chase off the interlopers. All this is justified on their part in my opinion.

The film tries hard to show both perspectives of a very emotional and ugly part of American History. We did in fact ruin the way of life for these tribes; however, the film doesn’t quite do it justice. The effort is there but its not quite enough. There is a slant that I could feel. We just don’t get enough of the tribes. I feel the settlers stories are at the forefront more than the tribes perspective which counters the balance this films aimed to achieve. They just didn’t quite hit that bullseye.

My hope for the next three chapters is that the films dive deeper into everyone’s story a whole lot more to provide us a well-rounded telling of this period in history. Perhaps, I am being unfair with my assessment because I’ve only seen chapter one. This first part did seem to go through everybody very fast and I think that was to ensure the setting, stories, and characters had a proper introduction. I am confident that the next parts can squash my complaint rather easily.

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