Vera Miles

The Searchers (1956) - 2/5

This movie is one of the all-time classic westerns, but unfortunately it does not live up to the hype. It’s aggressively tone-deaf, transitioning back and forth between scenes of gut-wrenching tragedy and lighthearted western antics like whiplash. There’s no emotional payoff for the injustices perpetrated in the first act, and multiple times main characters will suddenly do things they’ve said they wouldn’t with no warning or explanation given. Except for the score, cinematography, and acting, which are all excellent, this movie is an absolute mess.

Closest comparison: It’s like Man on Fire (2004) by way of Once Upon A Time in the West.

Setting: Western
Plot: Road Trip
Tone: Rescue Thriller