Sepharim Falls (2006)

I felt sure I’d reviewed this one in the distant past - however it turns out I hadn’t.

The vast majority of this is a well-made, exciting chase film, with Pierce Brosnan as the chased and Liam Neeson as the chaser (together with a bunch of lackies that meet grisly ends as the film progresses). It’s tense, quite brutal (see for example, a memorable scene with a bear-trap), and shows off beautiful landscapes.

There’s aspects of the second half that begins to feel a bit like a series of Western theme vignettes (the religious wagon train, meeting some bank robbers, a railroad camp) more than a single coherent story, but I enjoyed all of that, so no real complaint there.

My primary issue with the film (and I suspect most people’s too) is the ending where it somewhat disappears up it’s own arse. This only really takes up the last 10 or 15 minutes or so—and I honestly enjoyed the rest of the film enough that I recommend it anyway—but it all becomes slightly “mystical” with a mysterious Indian selling water, followed by a each character having meeting and “meaningful” conversation with the unsubtly named Lucy C. Fair.

My second (much smaller) issue was with the revenge storyline, featuring a civil war ranch burning that in some ways reminded me of The Outlaw Josey Wales. It’s a frequently used and simple story (so no problems there) but they seemed to have gone out of their way to ensure that neither character was in the wrong, which honestly seemed slightly forced and possibly unnecessary.

All in all though, highly recommended and one of the better westerns of its time, slightly let down by an out of place ending.