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The "Wild West" was indeed wild. The push of settlers into American territory came with lots of risks. You could be attacked by outlaws or have an accident and die alone in the wilderness. You could drown or die of exhaustion, or maybe even fever or dysentery. Some of these risks are tackled in the cleverly titled Organ Trail, an interesting mish-mash of Western horror, thriller, and drama.
The film is the second film from director Michael Patrick Jann, who gained some notoriety in 1999 after directing Drop Dead Gorgeous. That film didn't do that well, which might have prompted Jann to get lost in the shuffle, but eventually became a cult hit. After listening to a podcast interview on that film a couple of weeks ago, he brought up this project and when he mentioned the title, I just couldn't resist.
Set in the 1870s, Organ Trail follows Abigale Archer (Zoé de Grand Maison) and her family, as they travel the Oregon Trail. When tragedy hits at the hands of a group of outlaws led by Logan (Sam Trammell), Abigale is determined to do whatever it takes to retrieve her family's horse. She is joined in her journey by Erik (Clé Bennett), a married rancher that might be getting in too deep in this situation.
I'm a sucker for a good western, and I think this one delivered pretty much what I was asking from it. The first act as we meet the Archer family is traagic and brutal. It then hits a bit of a lull as we get to know the four outlaws, but the performances and characters are interesting enough to keep me engaged. Perhaps the most notable is Rhys (Nicholas Logan), who is a bit of a psychopath that can't feel pain. There's also Cassidy (Olivia Grace Applegate), a woman that is rescued by the Archers and whose allegiances pretty much shape the course of the film.
The film is indeed a slow burn, and the pace could've used some work. I also think the film could've used some trimming here and there. But overall, I enjoyed the characters, the setting, how it was shot, and the way it presents the underlying brutality of the "Wild West"; a "Wild West" where you could die of fever, exhaustion, or dysentery; or by stumbling into a group of ruthless outlaws.
Grade:
ORGAN TRAIL
(2023, Jann)
(2023, Jann)
"Suffering ain't noble. It's just suffering."
The "Wild West" was indeed wild. The push of settlers into American territory came with lots of risks. You could be attacked by outlaws or have an accident and die alone in the wilderness. You could drown or die of exhaustion, or maybe even fever or dysentery. Some of these risks are tackled in the cleverly titled Organ Trail, an interesting mish-mash of Western horror, thriller, and drama.
The film is the second film from director Michael Patrick Jann, who gained some notoriety in 1999 after directing Drop Dead Gorgeous. That film didn't do that well, which might have prompted Jann to get lost in the shuffle, but eventually became a cult hit. After listening to a podcast interview on that film a couple of weeks ago, he brought up this project and when he mentioned the title, I just couldn't resist.
Set in the 1870s, Organ Trail follows Abigale Archer (Zoé de Grand Maison) and her family, as they travel the Oregon Trail. When tragedy hits at the hands of a group of outlaws led by Logan (Sam Trammell), Abigale is determined to do whatever it takes to retrieve her family's horse. She is joined in her journey by Erik (Clé Bennett), a married rancher that might be getting in too deep in this situation.
I'm a sucker for a good western, and I think this one delivered pretty much what I was asking from it. The first act as we meet the Archer family is traagic and brutal. It then hits a bit of a lull as we get to know the four outlaws, but the performances and characters are interesting enough to keep me engaged. Perhaps the most notable is Rhys (Nicholas Logan), who is a bit of a psychopath that can't feel pain. There's also Cassidy (Olivia Grace Applegate), a woman that is rescued by the Archers and whose allegiances pretty much shape the course of the film.
The film is indeed a slow burn, and the pace could've used some work. I also think the film could've used some trimming here and there. But overall, I enjoyed the characters, the setting, how it was shot, and the way it presents the underlying brutality of the "Wild West"; a "Wild West" where you could die of fever, exhaustion, or dysentery; or by stumbling into a group of ruthless outlaws.
Grade: