Forsaken (2015)

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.

Director:

Jon Cassar

Writer:

Brad Mirman

Stars:

Kiefer Sutherland, Donald Sutherland, Brian Cox

5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kiefer Sutherland	...	John Henry Clayton
Donald Sutherland	...	Reverend William Clayton
Brian Cox	...	James McCurdy
Michael Wincott	...	Gentleman Dave Turner
Aaron Poole	...	Frank Tillman
Demi Moore	...	Mary-Alice Watson
Jonny Rees	...	Tom Watson (as Greg Ellis)
Dylan Smith	...	Little Ned
Landon Liboiron	...	Will Pickard
Brock Morgan	...	James Cleary
Wesley Morgan	...	Sam Hatch
Graeme Black	...	Hank Plummer
Tom Carey	...	George
Chris Ippolito	...	Bob Waters
David McNally	...	Mr.Harper

Storyline

John Henry returns to his hometown in hopes of repairing his relationship with his estranged father, but a local gang is terrorizing the town. John Henry is the only one who can stop them, however he has abandoned both his gun and reputation as a fearless quick-draw killer.

---

Genres:

Drama | Western

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and some language

Details

Official Sites:

Minds Eye Entertainment [Canada] Official site

Country:

Canada France USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 February 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

Forsaken

Filming Locations:

CL Ranch, Springbank, Alberta, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Minds Eye Entertainment, Panacea Entertainment, Moving Pictures Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Jon Cassar, the most difficult thing about working with Michael Wincott was getting his character 's wardrobe right.

---

Goofs

When Frank Tillman is ambushing Mr. Chadwick, Frank is seen taking aim and shooting with his rifle, holding it as a right handed person would. After wounding Mr. Chadwick in the leg and firing another shot that misses, the next shot shows Frank holding the rifle as a left handed person would.

---

Quotes

Rev. Clayton: God is not responsible for the life you choose.
John Henry Clayton: I DID NOT CHOOSE IT!

---

Connections

Featured in Late Night with Seth Meyers: Kiefer Sutherland/Carice van Houten (2016)

User Reviews

Nicely done western from father and son Sutherland

It's a slow drive that ends with a sudden violent car crash, like a good western should.

Kiefer Sutherland plays a soldier who waited far too long after the war to put down his guns, but something tragic hits him hard, and he tries to change his ways, with the help of his father, played by Sutherland's real life father, Donald Sutherland who plays a small town preacher who disapproved of the life his son once lead, and is threaten to get back into when a banker tries to buy out the town by any means necessary.

It's a very typical western story made timeless by it's focus on being character driven. I don't know if this is the first time Kiefer and Donald have done a movie together, but it must have help with the relationship between their characters.

But my favorite interaction was between Kiefer's John Henry and Michael Wincott's Dave Turner, who plays a rival gunslinger hired to influence town people off their land. The mutual respect these men showed for each other despite being on different sides of the coin was masterful, something I never seen done so well in a western.

Brian Cox was also in the movie playing the banker that hired Dave Turner. His role as James McCurdy is what tells us that this timeless Western was made in 2015, because he's all about taking people's homes who don't want to leave, and his level of cold heartiness is done brilliantly, reflected this day and era.

Though I'm sure she was trying to due some respectable acting in this film, Demi More is still some impressive eye candy.

The story is nothing out of the ordinary, but it's strengthen by a great set of actors doing their thing, lead by father and son team Sutherland. Good western.