Traded (2016) is an interesting movie but definitely not one for entertainment or families.
Like on old maps "there be monsters out there" in U.S. history. Having a little bit of a thick skin from all the movies I have seen I found Traded was unsettling at times. Because of the fast paced high concentrations of prostitution, female slavery, torture, violence, cruelty, murder, death, sex, truth, lies, sickness, "business" contracts, family values, and more I believe a lot of people are just overwhelmed thus leading to many of the bad reviews. Trying to pack this much misery into a movie is bound to feel forced with the overall pace of the movie plot seeming too contrived and the characters a little stereotypical (i.e. main anti-hero seemed too unstoppable). Yet, I forgive these minor bumps because the movie is almost like a stage play (clean white shirt, sets, and props), a moral play going out of the way to teach a lesson (i.e. monologues). I liked Traded but after reading the other reviews I went back and watched Traded twice to be sure and still do not see any major plot pot holes or blatant reasons why Traded is being ripped so harshly. Some minor personal dislikes was not using text for the prologue and the 4K resolution looking too crisp while most classic westerns seem softer by using film. Some things I would point out for notice is the most older folks (life span was in the 40s-50s) still seem to have bits of the old moral code of the west (i.e. your word is your bond) while the younger ones (20s-30s) seem more "urbane" in a bad hungry way. As other reviews have implied, it is not an epic 1950's John Ford western but I think it is worth a watch without the family to see the old west not at its best.
Like on old maps "there be monsters out there" in U.S. history. Having a little bit of a thick skin from all the movies I have seen I found Traded was unsettling at times. Because of the fast paced high concentrations of prostitution, female slavery, torture, violence, cruelty, murder, death, sex, truth, lies, sickness, "business" contracts, family values, and more I believe a lot of people are just overwhelmed thus leading to many of the bad reviews. Trying to pack this much misery into a movie is bound to feel forced with the overall pace of the movie plot seeming too contrived and the characters a little stereotypical (i.e. main anti-hero seemed too unstoppable). Yet, I forgive these minor bumps because the movie is almost like a stage play (clean white shirt, sets, and props), a moral play going out of the way to teach a lesson (i.e. monologues). I liked Traded but after reading the other reviews I went back and watched Traded twice to be sure and still do not see any major plot pot holes or blatant reasons why Traded is being ripped so harshly. Some minor personal dislikes was not using text for the prologue and the 4K resolution looking too crisp while most classic westerns seem softer by using film. Some things I would point out for notice is the most older folks (life span was in the 40s-50s) still seem to have bits of the old moral code of the west (i.e. your word is your bond) while the younger ones (20s-30s) seem more "urbane" in a bad hungry way. As other reviews have implied, it is not an epic 1950's John Ford western but I think it is worth a watch without the family to see the old west not at its best.