1922 (2017)

A simple yet proud farmer in the year 1922 conspires to murder his wife for financial gain, convincing his teenage son to assist. But their actions have unintended consequences.

Director:

Zak Hilditch

Writers:

Stephen King (novel), Zak Hilditch (screenplay)

Stars:

Thomas Jane, Molly Parker, Dylan Schmid

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Thomas Jane	...	Wilfred James
Molly Parker	...	Arlette James
Dylan Schmid	...	Henry James
Kaitlyn Bernard	...	Shannon Cotterie
Neal McDonough	...	Harlan Cotterie
Tanya Champoux	...	Sallie Cotterie
Brian d'Arcy James	...	Sheriff Jones
Bob Frazer	...	Andrew Lester
Eric Keenleyside	...	Lars
Patrick Keating	...	Mr. Stoppenhauser
Danielle Klaudt	...	Female Teller
Peter New	...	Counterman
Peter Hall	...	Farmer
Michael Bean	...	Funeral Operator
Mark Acheson	...	Pawn Shop Clerk

Storyline

Featuring shades of Edgar Allen Poe's ["A Tell-tale Heart" and] "The Black Cat", 1922, with a Bonny and Clyde sub-plot, based on the Stephen King novella of the same name, centers on simple but proud farmer, Wilfred James, who, with the reluctant help of his teenage son, murders his wife to gain ownership of her inherited land. Shortly after, however, strange and supernatural occurrences begin to plague both James and his farm. Is it just simple bad luck, or is it the work of something much more sinister?

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Plot Keywords:

based on short story | farmer | 1920s | murder | guilt | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 October 2017 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Campfire

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There is a Hemingford, Nebraska (in the northwest corner of the state) which some residents claim it to be the town mentioned in The Stand and 1922. Based on the description from the novella, Hemingford Home is likely somewhere on an arc between Norfolk and Weeping Water, in the southeast of the state.

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Goofs

The flag of the USA in 1922 was the 48 star one, in oeration from July 4, 1912 - July 3, 1959. This had 6 rows of 8 stars in a row, all in line with each other. The flags on the hotel in open sequence had flags that resemble later 49 or 50 star/state flags with offset stars.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Wilfred James: [writing] To whom it may concern. My name is Wilfred Leland James, and this is my confession. The issue that led to my crime and damnation was 100 acres of good land in Hemingford Home, Nebraska, willed to my wife, Arlette Christina Winters James, following the death of her father. It was much my intention to add her 100 to our 80-acre freehold farm, as it was to someday pass it all on to my boy, Henry Freeman James, and to his thereafter.

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Connections

Referenced in Half in the Bag: The Cloverfield Paradox and the Netflix Conundrum (2018)

User Reviews

1922 review.

1922 is a slow, methodical look at guilt and the consequences of moral compromise. Adapted from Stephen King's novella, 1922 is a film that will divide certain audiences. After a summer of successful, suspenseful King adaptations (IT, Gerald's Game), this is almost an anti-king film, it's a film that basks in its atmosphere. It's also a film that's solely focused on its characters rather than plot. Thomas Jane stars as Wilfred James a dedicated ranch owner who conspires with his son Henry (Dylan Schmid) to murder his wife Arlette (Molly Parker) when she starts the process of selling the ranch.

1922 is written and directed by Zak Hiditch. Hiditch and his cinematographer Ben Richardson do a wonderful job of nailing the time period. The film's setting is gorgeous to look at, and the homestead has an almost omnipresent feel to it. It becomes a character in and of itself as the corn fields glisten against the backdrop of beautiful sunsets, whilst hiding darker secrets in the cracks of its foundations. The technical aspects of the film are expertly crafted.

Thomas Jane is fantastic is his role as a somewhat unhinged man filled with rage and regret. Every time he's on-screen he pulls you in with his mesmerising presence. As the film increasingly focuses on him it becomes more of a character study than a thriller/horror film. Whilst I feel this may be divisive, I enjoyed the direction it took. The films eerie, nihilistic tone makes up for the lack of urgency in the script.

1922 is a film that's assured of itself, thankfully being on Netflix the creators don't have to worry about turning this film into a lowest common-denominator jump-fest. Instead it respects its audience and asks them to come along on a journey through the protagonists mind. The only downside with the film is with so much focus given to Jane, the rest of the cast aren't fully developed, and some of their plot threads felt under-developed. However the film does a fantastic job of developing Jane's character which makes up for the short-comings of others. The films attention to detail makes 1922 an effective psychological (horror) film.