The Horseman

Kastle Films Ltd

Umbrella Entertainment

Region B , C BLU RAY

This is one of the most violent films I have seen yet I can’t help sympathising with the one who is wreaking violence. I suppose that’s the sign of a good revenge film – you understand the feelings and motives of the lead character.

Christian’s daughter has died under suspicious circumstances in north Queensland. Her body contains traces of semen, cocaine and heroin. He is sent a porno video of his daughter in what could have been her last minutes and sets out to find out what happened. The first stop is the video wholesaler who is selling the film and from there he leaves a trail of dead people in his wake. Each person leads him to the next. Each person who took part in his daughter’s degradation dies - painfully. Along the road in Queensland he picks up a young runaway hitchhiker, Alice. She is heading north to tell her boyfriend she is pregnant. The two become, if not friends, at least traveling mates. Perhaps Christian can see a bit of his dead daughter in Alice – they would be about the same age. Perhaps in Christian Alice sees some sort of father figure.

Along the road Christian continues his campaign of violent retribution. He gradually hones in on Finn, apparently the leader of the gang that makes these films. Finn, however, is now well aware that someone is hunting him. Similarly the police are hunting for Christian on suspicion of the murders.

As he interrogates each victim Christian is discovering things about his daughter that he would rather not have known, but he suspects she is as much a victim of the pornographers as of her own stupidity.

Finally he comes face to face with Finn. Finn has the upper hand and will make Christian suffer, but not before he has had some fun with Alice.

There is not a bad actor in the whole film. The screenplay has been written to give each character time to develop, but the film doesn’t bog down. It was filmed in high definition and it’s nice to see a film that remains sharp even during the night scenes. A film as violent as this won’t be to everyone’s taste, but it really is a fine piece of drama.

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