Seraphim Falls (2006)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

David Von Ancken

Writers:

David Von Ancken (written by) &
Abby Everett Jaques (written by)

Release Date:

13 April 2007 (Taiwan)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller | War | Western

Tagline:

Never turn your back on the past.

Plot:

At the end of the Civil War, a colonel hunts down a man with whom he has a grudge.

Plot Keywords:

Knife | Spit In The Face | Shot In The Arm | Burning House | Knife Throwing

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Liam Neeson	...	Carver
Pierce Brosnan	...	Gideon
Michael Wincott	...	Hayes
Xander Berkeley	...	Railroad Foreman
Ed Lauter	...	Parsons
Tom Noonan	...	Minister Abraham
Kevin J. O'Connor	...	Henry
John Robinson	...	Kid
Anjelica Huston	...	Madame Louise
Angie Harmon	...	Rose
Robert Baker	...	Pope
Wes Studi	...	Charon (as Wes Studie)
Jimmi Simpson	...	Big Brother
James Jordan	...	Little Brother
Nate Mooney	...	Cousin Bill

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and brief language.

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Ireland:15A | USA:R (certificate #40880) | UK:15 | Germany:16 | Finland:K-15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Argentina:13 | Brazil:14 | New Zealand:R16 | Australia:MA | Greece:K

Filming Locations:

Death Valley National Park, California, USA

Company:

Icon Productions

Trivia:

The key to Anjelica Huston's role can be found on the back of her wagon. It isn't on screen very long, but the name of her character--as painted on the back of her wagon--explains who she is and what she's doing there.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Gideon rides past the wagon train of (possibly) Mormons, the sunlight in his closeups is coming from a different direction than the shots of the immigrants. This is especially noticeable when the woman calls out, "God sees your sin!"

Quotes:

Hayes: Reckon we ought to camp somewheres else?
Carver: Afraid the word of God will spoil your digestion?
Hayes: I never was much for scripture.
Carver: Nothing to fear, Mr. Hayes. Them's just words. Ain't no God out here.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Family Guy: Prick Up Your Ears (#5.6)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Stacked Them Up in Piles

the best western in a decade or so

Liam Neeson as Carver is hunting Gideon (Pierce Brosnan) through the wilderness of the old west, in this minimalistic western that takes place a little after the Civil War. Very well acted by all involved, and I found myself enjoying it quite a lot. At 2 hours, the film hardly feels it and is seems like a fast watch, never wearing out it's welcome (although coming close to it around the end due to the cameos of Angela Huston and Wes Studi, both parts felt forced and didn't jibe with the film in any way) Aside from that, if you're a fan of the Western genre, you'll find much to enjoy in this one. It's probably the best we've had in a good decade or so. To say Writer/ Director Ancken hit his stride here wouldn't be the right word (I've yet to see his short "Bullet in the Brain", but hear it's excellent), but it IS the film that really made me take notice of his talent and I strongly await whatever he has up his sleeve next.

My Grade: A