Westerns look like a dying breed. Only every now and then you get another western so it's waiting for a good one. Old Henry is one of those. Not very fast paced but certainly worth watching. No huge names either, although Tim Blake Nelson was perfect to play his character. The cinematography was good, the acting was more than good, and the story has a little twist that was clever. Definitely worth your time if you like westerns.
449 Reviews
Unique western with a twist
calicut11015 November 2021
Nelson shines in a low-budget Western with a killer final act
eddie_baggins23 February 2022
Much about new low budget western Old Henry feels familiar to anyone that has ever watched a grizzled and humorless take on the American west but that never stops director Potsy Pociroli's well-shot and acted drama from being an above average affair that gets extra points for allowing the always great Tim Blake Nelson a chance to take charge in a rare leading man role.
Seemingly heading towards an inevitable conclusion based around Nelson's quiet and solitary farmer Henry taking in Scott Haze's wounded Curry who is being pursued by Stephen Dorff's Ketchum and his determined posse, Old Henry has enough surprises and well developed character arcs within it to be become a genre crowd pleaser that kicks off big time with a memorable final act/reveal that is sure to get audiences talking.
Picturesquely shot around various United States locales, Ponciroli's visually appeasing outing never lingers too long on its various elements also, as we try and uncover the secret behind Henry's past, Curry's mysterious presence and Ketchum's motivations and end goals that is all played out well by its talented group of performers with Nelson in particular as good as his been in years as the gruff and no fuss Henry.
No stranger to the Western genre with key roles in the likes of The Ballad of Buster Scruggs and hugely underrated The Homesman, the rugged face of the supporting actor who stole scenes in such noteworthy films as O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Lincoln and Syriana has rarely been given the chance in feature films to do the bulk of the work in front of the camera but he relishes the role his been given here by Ponciroli.
Neatly playing things cool throughout Old Henry's opening half, once we begin to gain more understanding about Henry's past and what has driven him to his life as a lowly farmer removed from the eyes of the wider population Nelson's smart turn really begins to pay-off with his understated but effective work here making this bloody western outing more than the sum of its parts where it may become more workmanlike with both Haze and Dorff not getting a lot too do in their respective roles but Nelson more than makes up for it in his memorable turn.
Final Say -
Many components of Old Henry feel overly familiar and unsurprising but Potsy Ponciroli and his leading man do enough to make sure that this low-budget but effective western offering is going to be sure fire hit with longstanding fans of the genre with the films rip-roaring finale ensuring the film ends on a high note also.
3 1/2 newspaper clippings out of 5.
For more reviews check out Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys)
Seemingly heading towards an inevitable conclusion based around Nelson's quiet and solitary farmer Henry taking in Scott Haze's wounded Curry who is being pursued by Stephen Dorff's Ketchum and his determined posse, Old Henry has enough surprises and well developed character arcs within it to be become a genre crowd pleaser that kicks off big time with a memorable final act/reveal that is sure to get audiences talking.
Picturesquely shot around various United States locales, Ponciroli's visually appeasing outing never lingers too long on its various elements also, as we try and uncover the secret behind Henry's past, Curry's mysterious presence and Ketchum's motivations and end goals that is all played out well by its talented group of performers with Nelson in particular as good as his been in years as the gruff and no fuss Henry.
No stranger to the Western genre with key roles in the likes of The Ballad of Buster Scruggs and hugely underrated The Homesman, the rugged face of the supporting actor who stole scenes in such noteworthy films as O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Lincoln and Syriana has rarely been given the chance in feature films to do the bulk of the work in front of the camera but he relishes the role his been given here by Ponciroli.
Neatly playing things cool throughout Old Henry's opening half, once we begin to gain more understanding about Henry's past and what has driven him to his life as a lowly farmer removed from the eyes of the wider population Nelson's smart turn really begins to pay-off with his understated but effective work here making this bloody western outing more than the sum of its parts where it may become more workmanlike with both Haze and Dorff not getting a lot too do in their respective roles but Nelson more than makes up for it in his memorable turn.
Final Say -
Many components of Old Henry feel overly familiar and unsurprising but Potsy Ponciroli and his leading man do enough to make sure that this low-budget but effective western offering is going to be sure fire hit with longstanding fans of the genre with the films rip-roaring finale ensuring the film ends on a high note also.
3 1/2 newspaper clippings out of 5.
For more reviews check out Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys)
Thankfully not another cheap looking streaming western.
amesmonde16 October 2021
A farmer defending an injured man from a posse has his true identity called into question.
From the opening director Potsy Ponciroli's offering, you know your not having to sit through another glossy looking made for streaming looking western. It has a filmatic look with wonderful cinematography from John Matysiak. It's centred around the homestead and every inch of location used, giving a feel of solitude and hopelessness. This with some old school editing by Jamie Kirkpatrick and Ponciroli's visual flare and attention to detail echo Pale Rider and is reminiscent at times of modern great westerns, emulating The Unforgiven, with touch of the classics.
Complimented by Jordan Lehning music Stephen Dorff leaves an impression as Ketchum and showcase why he should be making more quality films. Old Henry is clearly Tim Blake Nelson's vehicle, he gives a solid, steely performance. Throwing in a few twist Ponciroli with his writing hat on leans on the tropes of the genre while not shying away from the harsh reality of the Wild West that all accumulates to a satisfactory conclusion. Recommend.
From the opening director Potsy Ponciroli's offering, you know your not having to sit through another glossy looking made for streaming looking western. It has a filmatic look with wonderful cinematography from John Matysiak. It's centred around the homestead and every inch of location used, giving a feel of solitude and hopelessness. This with some old school editing by Jamie Kirkpatrick and Ponciroli's visual flare and attention to detail echo Pale Rider and is reminiscent at times of modern great westerns, emulating The Unforgiven, with touch of the classics.
Complimented by Jordan Lehning music Stephen Dorff leaves an impression as Ketchum and showcase why he should be making more quality films. Old Henry is clearly Tim Blake Nelson's vehicle, he gives a solid, steely performance. Throwing in a few twist Ponciroli with his writing hat on leans on the tropes of the genre while not shying away from the harsh reality of the Wild West that all accumulates to a satisfactory conclusion. Recommend.
good REVEAL!
A_Different_Drummer8 October 2021
Irony abounds. Six decades ago you could not turn on the TV or go to a theatre without bumping into a western. Today they are few and far between. (Except for the fact that Clint Eastwood is still starring in them, which is just plain odd). So when this little gem shows up, with the guts to bet the farm (literally) on a tight script and a BIG REVEAL, you really have to take off your hat and salute it.
Instant Classic Western
celt0078 October 2021
Who is "Pa" ??! He got skills
Neptune16513 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
It was quite a good western movie I've seen recently. Good father for his son and excellent gunman for himself. This was a very good low budget movie! Simple. But good acting. And I like how the main hero is not some rugged handsome baby-faced actor.and I love it!! I really miss westerns. And seems like no one can make a good one these days? But tbh The kid (Gavin Lewis) he doesn't fit the role here, Found the sons character to be a bit annoying but overall pretty decent. This is good modern western. Deliberate pace, but not slow, holds the attention, and pays off well. This was a great if you haven't seen it don't read the comments to many spoilers.
Superb Western Showdown
zardoz-1317 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Accomplished character actor Tim Blake Nelson takes the lead in writer & director Potsy Ponciroli's horse opera "Old Henry," one of the best frontier fracases since Clint Eastwood's Oscar-winning "Unforgiven." "Unforgiven" and "Old Henry" share many similarities. In "Unforgiven" (1992), notorious gunslinger William Munny (Eastwood) had gone straight, bought a farm, and settled down. He'd gotten himself hitched, too. His wife Claudia and he had two kids. He eked out an honest living raising hogs. Tragically, Claudia succumbed to smallpox. Later, disease ravaged his pigs. Leaving his kids to fend for themselves, Munny took his shotgun and rode off to get enough cash to change his fate. Similarly, Nelson plays an equally nefarious frontiersman. Having forsaken his six-gun, he settled down, got hitched, and sired a son. Furthermore, like William Munny, Henry McCarthy (Tim Blake Nelson of "O, Brother, Where Art Thou") lost his wife to tuberculosis, a disease often called 'consumption.' As a single parent, McCarthy has struggled to raise his son on the farm. Interestingly, before he turned to farming, McCarthy was a legendary desperado, who had been shot to death reportedly in the Arizona Territory in 1881. Since cheating death, McCarthy has laid low as a farmer. Nobody knows Henry's true identity, except his brother-in-law, Al (Trace Adkins of "The Outsider"), his closest neighbor and his only surviving kin. Altogether, "Unforgiven" and "Old Henry" paint a bleak picture of frontier life. Nothing about the depiction of the Old West in either film could be described as glamorous. Farming lasted from before dawn until after dark. It was as back-breaking as it was soul-eroding. Diseases exacted a toll on both man and beast. "Unforgiven" and "Old Henry" look incredibly authentic. The violence erupts suddenly, often fatally, with neither the hero nor villain observing strict rules of fair play. Who wants to play fair when their life hangs in the balance?
"Old Henry" takes place in the Oklahoma Territory in 1906. Our protagonist learns that no man is safe from scrutiny, even on an isolated frontier farm. Shrewdly, before we actually meet Henry McCarthy, writer & director Ponciroli introduces the villains. Sheriff Ketchum (Stephen Dorff of "Blade") and his deputies are tracking down thieves who made off with a substantial amount of paper money. Living up to his last name, Ketchum captures one of the thieves. They beat this unfortunate fellow mercilessly for information and then trim a tree with his corpse. Before they strung him up, Ketchum strangled him personally, using the noose with which they would dangle him. You'll abhor Ketchum because he is a full-blown, bad-to-the-bone, dastard. Ironically, he can be terribly conversational when he meets somebody. While he palavers, he whittles away on a piece of wood. Adding to this irony, Ketchum is carving a dove! Ketchum and company wounded Curry (Scott Haze of "Midnight Special"), but then they lost his trail. As it turns out, Henry McCarthy discovered Curry while he was out riding. Reluctantly, our hero takes this stranger and his satchel full of cash back home. Afterward, he lashes him down to a bed to keep him from falling off it and reopening his wound. Curry breaks loose and attacks McCarthy's son Wyatt (Gavin Lewis of "Maximum Ride"), but our hero surprises Curry and knocks him unconscious. Later, he digs the bullet out of the outlaw's chest. No sooner has he dealt decisively with Curry than McCarthy watches with suspicion as Ketchum and company ride onto his property. Armed with a six-gun, McCarthy emerges on his porch and denies seeing a wounded desperado. Before Ketchum and his deputies withdraw, you can feel the ominous tension simmering between these two headstrong adversaries. Ketchum and McCarthy are destined to tangle, and only the savvy will survive. Primarily, Ketchum withdrew out of initial caution because he didn't like the way McCarthy held a revolver. Later, he explains to his deputies that McCarthy didn't hold the gun like any sodbuster he'd ever seen.
"Old Henry" drums up considerable suspense and tension before the inevitable showdown and then metes out its blistering violence with a bang. Basically, what unfolds is a home invasion situation, with our hero defending his property, shielding the stranger, and keeping his son Wyatt alive. Predictably, just as McCarthy is clearly no ordinary farmer, we learn Ketchum may not be the bona fide lawman as he claims. Nobody cuts anybody any slack when the shooting starts. "Old Henry" qualifies as an atmospheric, white-knuckled, clash of titans, with neither opponent backing down. For example, when one of Ketchum's deputies crawls under the house to shoot up through the floor, McCarthy flushes the varmint out with repeated blasts from his double-barreled shotgun. Of course, some surprises will be more apparent than others, but nobody emerges from this mêlée unscathed as swarms of flying lead fill the air. Tim Blake Nelson asserts a commanding presence throughout this no-nonsense shoot'em up, while Stephen Dorff is unforgettable as McCarthy's vile, sadistic enemy. Lensed on a low budget in Tennessee, "Old Henry" manages to look both as memorable and authentic as some of Hollywood's finest, twentieth century horse operas, like "Unforgiven."
"Old Henry" takes place in the Oklahoma Territory in 1906. Our protagonist learns that no man is safe from scrutiny, even on an isolated frontier farm. Shrewdly, before we actually meet Henry McCarthy, writer & director Ponciroli introduces the villains. Sheriff Ketchum (Stephen Dorff of "Blade") and his deputies are tracking down thieves who made off with a substantial amount of paper money. Living up to his last name, Ketchum captures one of the thieves. They beat this unfortunate fellow mercilessly for information and then trim a tree with his corpse. Before they strung him up, Ketchum strangled him personally, using the noose with which they would dangle him. You'll abhor Ketchum because he is a full-blown, bad-to-the-bone, dastard. Ironically, he can be terribly conversational when he meets somebody. While he palavers, he whittles away on a piece of wood. Adding to this irony, Ketchum is carving a dove! Ketchum and company wounded Curry (Scott Haze of "Midnight Special"), but then they lost his trail. As it turns out, Henry McCarthy discovered Curry while he was out riding. Reluctantly, our hero takes this stranger and his satchel full of cash back home. Afterward, he lashes him down to a bed to keep him from falling off it and reopening his wound. Curry breaks loose and attacks McCarthy's son Wyatt (Gavin Lewis of "Maximum Ride"), but our hero surprises Curry and knocks him unconscious. Later, he digs the bullet out of the outlaw's chest. No sooner has he dealt decisively with Curry than McCarthy watches with suspicion as Ketchum and company ride onto his property. Armed with a six-gun, McCarthy emerges on his porch and denies seeing a wounded desperado. Before Ketchum and his deputies withdraw, you can feel the ominous tension simmering between these two headstrong adversaries. Ketchum and McCarthy are destined to tangle, and only the savvy will survive. Primarily, Ketchum withdrew out of initial caution because he didn't like the way McCarthy held a revolver. Later, he explains to his deputies that McCarthy didn't hold the gun like any sodbuster he'd ever seen.
"Old Henry" drums up considerable suspense and tension before the inevitable showdown and then metes out its blistering violence with a bang. Basically, what unfolds is a home invasion situation, with our hero defending his property, shielding the stranger, and keeping his son Wyatt alive. Predictably, just as McCarthy is clearly no ordinary farmer, we learn Ketchum may not be the bona fide lawman as he claims. Nobody cuts anybody any slack when the shooting starts. "Old Henry" qualifies as an atmospheric, white-knuckled, clash of titans, with neither opponent backing down. For example, when one of Ketchum's deputies crawls under the house to shoot up through the floor, McCarthy flushes the varmint out with repeated blasts from his double-barreled shotgun. Of course, some surprises will be more apparent than others, but nobody emerges from this mêlée unscathed as swarms of flying lead fill the air. Tim Blake Nelson asserts a commanding presence throughout this no-nonsense shoot'em up, while Stephen Dorff is unforgettable as McCarthy's vile, sadistic enemy. Lensed on a low budget in Tennessee, "Old Henry" manages to look both as memorable and authentic as some of Hollywood's finest, twentieth century horse operas, like "Unforgiven."
Very enjoyable, a good film and better than fair western
namstonk11 October 2021
Is it a 10/10 as some are saying? NO. Is it below 5/10? Definitely not, it is a well above average film. The acting, score, cinematography are all very good, the script itself is also decent for its limitations, the only downside for me is that once you recognize a name it's pretty obvious the way it's going.
However, this film had no clear press as I am aware of but, it deserves it compared to some of the rubbish that has recently been released. Is it the standard of Unforgiven or Open Range no, but it is a solid movie.
However, this film had no clear press as I am aware of but, it deserves it compared to some of the rubbish that has recently been released. Is it the standard of Unforgiven or Open Range no, but it is a solid movie.
Finally a good western with an amazeballs showdown.
Fella_shibby14 October 2021
Generous with a 10 cos i enjoyed this movie. Simple, ain't no wannabe critic.
In fact apart from being an enjoyable movie for genre fans like me, this one has top notch cinematography, first class actors and a simple yet engrossing screenplay.
Tim Blake Nelson's posture, body movements, his worn out face n eyes fits the character n the revelation perfectly.
The sudden character transformation is amazeballs.
It was good to see Stephen Dorff aft Jackals n True Detective S3.
Many may compare it with the masterpiece Unforgiven but i think that's unfair.
In fact apart from being an enjoyable movie for genre fans like me, this one has top notch cinematography, first class actors and a simple yet engrossing screenplay.
Tim Blake Nelson's posture, body movements, his worn out face n eyes fits the character n the revelation perfectly.
The sudden character transformation is amazeballs.
It was good to see Stephen Dorff aft Jackals n True Detective S3.
Many may compare it with the masterpiece Unforgiven but i think that's unfair.
Nicely made
gsygsy15 October 2021
Well-written western, with an excellent central performance from Tim Blake Nelson as a farmer with more to him than meets the eye. Nelson is given top-flight support from Scott Haze and Stephen Dorff. I'm not so sure about the choice of Gavin Lewis, who plays Nelson's teenage son; he's less well cast, and feels urban in a way that the other actors in the cast don't.
It is a boy's night out, no question -- there aren't any female characters at all. Still, it's a nicely-made movie, carefully paced, with a tumultuous last reel.
It is a boy's night out, no question -- there aren't any female characters at all. Still, it's a nicely-made movie, carefully paced, with a tumultuous last reel.
Not even my type of movie, but very good
lusciousmuffins3 October 2021
I am truly baffled by the film industry.
Even when Hollywood manages to make a good movie, they do nothing to promote it.
Westerns are not really my cup of tea; however, this one was very well done.
Using the frontier in the early 1900s as a backdrop, this film creates action and suspense without relying on massive explosions or over the top special effects.
This is a perfect example of a filmmaker who clearly understands that if you want to make an engaging film, the story trumps everything else.
What other movies get so wrong this movie gets right, by focusing on character and plot development.
That is not to say the script is all this movie has to offer.
The cast deliver quality performances and the set and costume design evoke the stark reality of a different time in our history.
Whether or not you are a fan of Westerns, this is a film well worth your time.
Hopefully, word of mouth will do for this movie what the production company could not be bothered to do; namely, garner it the attention it deserves.
Even when Hollywood manages to make a good movie, they do nothing to promote it.
Westerns are not really my cup of tea; however, this one was very well done.
Using the frontier in the early 1900s as a backdrop, this film creates action and suspense without relying on massive explosions or over the top special effects.
This is a perfect example of a filmmaker who clearly understands that if you want to make an engaging film, the story trumps everything else.
What other movies get so wrong this movie gets right, by focusing on character and plot development.
That is not to say the script is all this movie has to offer.
The cast deliver quality performances and the set and costume design evoke the stark reality of a different time in our history.
Whether or not you are a fan of Westerns, this is a film well worth your time.
Hopefully, word of mouth will do for this movie what the production company could not be bothered to do; namely, garner it the attention it deserves.
It's about time
Draysan-Jennings11 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Other then the Young Guns movies most of the Billy The Kid films are terrible. It's about time we had good one. I thought this movie was great. It's one the better modern day westerns. I definitely wasn't expecting the twist in the end. Tim Blake Nelson nailed this role. His performance alone is more then enough reason to check this movie out. 7 stars.
Western with an annoying Teenager
bbv-6923710 October 2021
When are they going to learn that putting 'modern' self-opinionated ignorant spoiled teenagers in a movie, is just so annoying to adult viewers. A young boy back in those days did not ever act like a spoiled female teenager - and I for one do not want to see them ever again in any movie. Spider man is about the limit - anything else is ridiculously stupid. This could have been a very good western along the lines of Unforgiven - but the teenager ruined it. Think Unforgiven but with a annoying self-centred teenager always doing the wrong thing, and in the end getting Clint Eastwood killed.
Tim Blake Nelson rules
SnoopyStyle28 May 2022
It's 1906 Oklahoma territories. Henry (Tim Blake Nelson) is a dirt farmer. His son Wyatt (Gavin Lewis) is desperate to get out from under his thumb and learn to shoot guns for himself. One day, Henry finds Curry (Scott Haze) shot and left for dead. He also finds a satchel full of cash and immediately sees the danger. He obviously doesn't want to get involved. Nevertheless, he brings Curry home and treated back to health. Ketchum (Stephen Dorff) arrives with his men looking for Curry. They claim to be lawmen looking for a fugitive. Henry knows better.
Tim Blake Nelson is the man. The only flaw in his character is the times he's just standing out in the open in front of his house. It made me very uncomfortable. I wanted to scream at him to take cover but I also understand the premise that he sees no threat from these gunmen. It's not true but I get the literary flourish. I do love the way he stands like a real gunfighter. It's subtle but obvious. The kid is more problematic. It's not only his attitude but his manner of speech. Sure, he's whiney but he's almost whining with an ill-fitting voice. He's trying too hard and stands out like a sore thumb. I also question Dorff's performance. His acting is a bit too modern. He has a natural casualness. He needs a darker quieter menace for the role. He may not be cast right. In the end, it's all about Tim Blake Nelson and the man rules.
Tim Blake Nelson is the man. The only flaw in his character is the times he's just standing out in the open in front of his house. It made me very uncomfortable. I wanted to scream at him to take cover but I also understand the premise that he sees no threat from these gunmen. It's not true but I get the literary flourish. I do love the way he stands like a real gunfighter. It's subtle but obvious. The kid is more problematic. It's not only his attitude but his manner of speech. Sure, he's whiney but he's almost whining with an ill-fitting voice. He's trying too hard and stands out like a sore thumb. I also question Dorff's performance. His acting is a bit too modern. He has a natural casualness. He needs a darker quieter menace for the role. He may not be cast right. In the end, it's all about Tim Blake Nelson and the man rules.
a twisty western
ferguson-630 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Greetings again from the darkness. When asked to explain the appeal, many fans of Western movies note how the clear division of good and bad, and right and wrong, allows for easy identification of those to root for, or even admire. Writer-director Potsy Ponciroli muddies the water with this one, blurring the lines between good guys and bad guys, and keeping us guessing until the end.
The film opens in the Oklahoma territory in 1906, a mere seventeen years after the Land Rush of 1889. The farmer we meet, Henry McCarty (a perfectly chosen name) may or may not have been a 'sooner', but he admits to his son that the idea of free land is what drove him to settle here, on the plot next to his deceased wife's brother Al (Trace Adkins). Tim Blake Nelson is superb in the role, and plays Henry as a man with deep, and likely dark secrets. The land is challenging to work and he expends energy farming as well as protecting his son Wyatt (Gavin Lewis), a typical whiny teenager with little regard for adult struggles. Wyatt is anxious to escape the structure and limitations of life with dad.
Breaking a long string of days where nothing much happens for Henry and Wyatt, an injured man with a satchel full of cash is discovered on their land. Henry patches up the gunshot wound, and puts the unconscious man in bed, albeit with ropes binding him to the frame - one of the glimpses of Henry cluing us to waters that run much deeper than we'd typically expect for a farmer in the middle of nowhere. When the man awakens, he claims to be Sheriff Curry (Scott Haze) and that the three men chasing him are the bad guys. The dilemma for Henry is heightened in that he's not an inherently trusting fellow, and the Sheriff badge is actually on one the vest of those three men, Ketchum (a fun turn from Stephen Dorff).
The verbal exchanges between Henry and Ketchum are oratory poetry, and it makes for a juicy and tension-packed chain of events. We are left to deduce which of the men - Henry, Curry, and Ketchum - are who they say they are. It's a game of Clue featuring rifles, holsters, and horses. Cinematographer John Matysiak does a nice job with a wide-range of shots: outdoors, in the cabin, the big shootout, and even a doorway shot as a tribute to John Ford.
The two twists are what really made this click for me. And one of them is quite a whopper. The suspense generated by the situation is certainly enhanced by the fancy verbal sparring, including a terrific line from Henry when asked about his background: "Many vocations, some more marginal than others." But it really comes down to us as viewers, along with Henry, attempting to discern the good guys from the bad, and constantly asking ourselves ... who do we trust? Mysteries are fun, especially when a good old-fashioned shootout is included, and the film's big reveal turns out to be etched in western lore.
Coming to theaters on October 1, 2021.
The film opens in the Oklahoma territory in 1906, a mere seventeen years after the Land Rush of 1889. The farmer we meet, Henry McCarty (a perfectly chosen name) may or may not have been a 'sooner', but he admits to his son that the idea of free land is what drove him to settle here, on the plot next to his deceased wife's brother Al (Trace Adkins). Tim Blake Nelson is superb in the role, and plays Henry as a man with deep, and likely dark secrets. The land is challenging to work and he expends energy farming as well as protecting his son Wyatt (Gavin Lewis), a typical whiny teenager with little regard for adult struggles. Wyatt is anxious to escape the structure and limitations of life with dad.
Breaking a long string of days where nothing much happens for Henry and Wyatt, an injured man with a satchel full of cash is discovered on their land. Henry patches up the gunshot wound, and puts the unconscious man in bed, albeit with ropes binding him to the frame - one of the glimpses of Henry cluing us to waters that run much deeper than we'd typically expect for a farmer in the middle of nowhere. When the man awakens, he claims to be Sheriff Curry (Scott Haze) and that the three men chasing him are the bad guys. The dilemma for Henry is heightened in that he's not an inherently trusting fellow, and the Sheriff badge is actually on one the vest of those three men, Ketchum (a fun turn from Stephen Dorff).
The verbal exchanges between Henry and Ketchum are oratory poetry, and it makes for a juicy and tension-packed chain of events. We are left to deduce which of the men - Henry, Curry, and Ketchum - are who they say they are. It's a game of Clue featuring rifles, holsters, and horses. Cinematographer John Matysiak does a nice job with a wide-range of shots: outdoors, in the cabin, the big shootout, and even a doorway shot as a tribute to John Ford.
The two twists are what really made this click for me. And one of them is quite a whopper. The suspense generated by the situation is certainly enhanced by the fancy verbal sparring, including a terrific line from Henry when asked about his background: "Many vocations, some more marginal than others." But it really comes down to us as viewers, along with Henry, attempting to discern the good guys from the bad, and constantly asking ourselves ... who do we trust? Mysteries are fun, especially when a good old-fashioned shootout is included, and the film's big reveal turns out to be etched in western lore.
Coming to theaters on October 1, 2021.
Better than expected.
paulwattriley13 October 2021
As the title this was much better than I expected. I didn't know much about the film other than Old Henry was a farmer and had to defend his homestead against a posse.
Its a bit slow after the start but come to life late on. I eneded up kicking myself as even though it was clear the farmer was no ordinary farmer and I knew the name Henry McCarty I never made the connection initially until the final confrontation.
A fitting tribute to the kid.
Its a bit slow after the start but come to life late on. I eneded up kicking myself as even though it was clear the farmer was no ordinary farmer and I knew the name Henry McCarty I never made the connection initially until the final confrontation.
A fitting tribute to the kid.
So you saw it
nogodnomasters15 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Old Henry has a homestead in the Oklahoma territory in 1906. He is basically a pig farmer and lives there with his son Wyatt (Gavin Lewis). His wife passed a decade ago. His Brother-in-law lives in a nearby farm. We see a sheriff hunting a man. An injured man manages to make his way to the homestead. Henry nurses him halfway back to life and protects him from the posse.
The film sounds boring, but it is not. There is family drama mixed into the story and a twist about 15 minutes from the end.
Guide: No swearing, sex, or nudity.
The film sounds boring, but it is not. There is family drama mixed into the story and a twist about 15 minutes from the end.
Guide: No swearing, sex, or nudity.
Great Western
billcr1211 November 2021
Tim Blake Nelson is Old Henry, a seemingly simple farmer who lives with his teenage son on a farm in turn of the century Oklahoma. He rescues a wounded man with a satchel and eventually must make choices in order to protect himself and his son. An all male cast is unusual in the modern era and they are all excellent. The story is has twists and turns which are based on historical people. The scenery is beautiful and Nelson should earn an Oscar nomination.
A small classic reminiscent of Unforgiven. Good viewing.
JohnDeSando16 October 2021
Film westerns are sometimes like the dime novels that so frequently supported the tall tales therein-minimalist and fabulous. However, now and then an authentic and harrowing story like Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven rides in and changes things. I also characterize Old Henry, an Amazon original starring Tim Blake Nelson in the title role, of striking out for new fictional territory, although having a whiff of Unforgiven in the telling.
Henry (Nelson) is a farmer seemingly hiding out for no reason known to anyone, certainly not his teen son, Wyatt (Gavin Lewis), who nonetheless suspects dad may be more than a simple farmer.
As writer/director Potsy Ponciroli incrementally distributes Henry's back story, the film becomes not only thrilling with possibilities but also a decidedly trenchant commentary on the outcomes of choices early in life that refuse to go away no matter how we try to escape them.
Who to trust? That's a whole other topic of this minor classic.
Enter the stranger who changes things, Curry (Scott Haze), wounded and taken in by Henry, only to be followed by a gang of desperados wanting their stolen money back from Curry. The banter between Henry and lead bad boy Ketchum (Stephen Dorff) is the stuff of terse, pulpy, and sardonic inuendo, like the opening of Tarantino's Inglourious Bastards, with Christof Waltz doing veiled threatening over a glass of milk. Ponciroli shows a dialogue talent that suggests much more than it says.
Besides dialogue, this oater has the requisite satchel of cash to move the story, which eschews the Chaucerian greed motif (think The Pardoner's Tale) to get to the heart of the matter-a dad meeting a son on common ground for survival-and the quick surrender of dad Henry's dictatorship to allow son Wyatt to grow into a heroic equal.
The landscape is stark, the cabin is spare, and yet there is depth of history for dad and care for Wyatt. The bad guys, bound for a reckoning with a hidden force in Henry, are the typical western villains who embody the ambivalence of the wide-open territory (they aren't really lawmen bringing justice to the frontier), fraught with danger but a promise of a new life redeemed from violence but not after violence has a hand. As in Eastwood, combating an evil past and setting the record straight requires heroism of a small but symbolically significant consequence for these little lives on the Western plains.
Henry is a player of consequence, a part of history told in one of the cleverest reveals ever. Old Henry is a small adventure that means more than it appears. On Prime.
Henry (Nelson) is a farmer seemingly hiding out for no reason known to anyone, certainly not his teen son, Wyatt (Gavin Lewis), who nonetheless suspects dad may be more than a simple farmer.
As writer/director Potsy Ponciroli incrementally distributes Henry's back story, the film becomes not only thrilling with possibilities but also a decidedly trenchant commentary on the outcomes of choices early in life that refuse to go away no matter how we try to escape them.
Who to trust? That's a whole other topic of this minor classic.
Enter the stranger who changes things, Curry (Scott Haze), wounded and taken in by Henry, only to be followed by a gang of desperados wanting their stolen money back from Curry. The banter between Henry and lead bad boy Ketchum (Stephen Dorff) is the stuff of terse, pulpy, and sardonic inuendo, like the opening of Tarantino's Inglourious Bastards, with Christof Waltz doing veiled threatening over a glass of milk. Ponciroli shows a dialogue talent that suggests much more than it says.
Besides dialogue, this oater has the requisite satchel of cash to move the story, which eschews the Chaucerian greed motif (think The Pardoner's Tale) to get to the heart of the matter-a dad meeting a son on common ground for survival-and the quick surrender of dad Henry's dictatorship to allow son Wyatt to grow into a heroic equal.
The landscape is stark, the cabin is spare, and yet there is depth of history for dad and care for Wyatt. The bad guys, bound for a reckoning with a hidden force in Henry, are the typical western villains who embody the ambivalence of the wide-open territory (they aren't really lawmen bringing justice to the frontier), fraught with danger but a promise of a new life redeemed from violence but not after violence has a hand. As in Eastwood, combating an evil past and setting the record straight requires heroism of a small but symbolically significant consequence for these little lives on the Western plains.
Henry is a player of consequence, a part of history told in one of the cleverest reveals ever. Old Henry is a small adventure that means more than it appears. On Prime.
A solid all round movie. A good watch.
CrazyArty11 March 2022
A decent modern take on a Western. A farmer finds a wounded man with a bag full of cash on his property.
Stars Tim Blake Nelson and Stephen Dorff.
Tim Blake Nelson is not a natural looking leading man but does a really good job. Dorff is also credible.
I liked this film. It has feeling and heart, a good plot with action and tension.
A solid watch.
Stars Tim Blake Nelson and Stephen Dorff.
Tim Blake Nelson is not a natural looking leading man but does a really good job. Dorff is also credible.
I liked this film. It has feeling and heart, a good plot with action and tension.
A solid watch.
Inconsistent
ericvi-6641416 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Despite nice filming and decent actors, there are too many inconsistencies.to be a satisfactory movie.
McCarthy wants initially to protect his son but he shelters a fugitive and not even for the money. Why then? A sense of justice? From a former outlaw?
He wants to send his son to fetch the doctor, then decides to go himself and leaves his son alone with what could be an outlaw. Weird.
For someone that fainted and lost a lot of blood, and was operated quite crudely, Curry recovers pretty fast...
McCarthy initially asks Curry to leave his house, before the night skirmish, following day he decides to leave with his son and let Curry defend himself alone in the house. Pretty dumb from both Mc Carthy and Curry.
In front of eight gunmen, Mc Carthy leaves the comparative safety of his house to shoot it out. And he does that initially with his Winchester but without his gun. Rookie mistake for an expert gunman. Then he goes out again (why?).
Guns for hire walk around and turn the house corners like they are suicidal or never were in a gunfight.
Curry walks in front of the window and gets shot in the leg. Never heard of cowering?
Dialogue with the son is also pretty pathetic, son being a caricature of teenager wanting to prove himself.
Only original idea is the resurrection of Billy the Kid, but it is lost in the multiple incoherencies.
McCarthy wants initially to protect his son but he shelters a fugitive and not even for the money. Why then? A sense of justice? From a former outlaw?
He wants to send his son to fetch the doctor, then decides to go himself and leaves his son alone with what could be an outlaw. Weird.
For someone that fainted and lost a lot of blood, and was operated quite crudely, Curry recovers pretty fast...
McCarthy initially asks Curry to leave his house, before the night skirmish, following day he decides to leave with his son and let Curry defend himself alone in the house. Pretty dumb from both Mc Carthy and Curry.
In front of eight gunmen, Mc Carthy leaves the comparative safety of his house to shoot it out. And he does that initially with his Winchester but without his gun. Rookie mistake for an expert gunman. Then he goes out again (why?).
Guns for hire walk around and turn the house corners like they are suicidal or never were in a gunfight.
Curry walks in front of the window and gets shot in the leg. Never heard of cowering?
Dialogue with the son is also pretty pathetic, son being a caricature of teenager wanting to prove himself.
Only original idea is the resurrection of Billy the Kid, but it is lost in the multiple incoherencies.
One of the greatest moments!
the_dimbster19 July 2022
Don't look up anything about this movie and just watch it. There's an incredible scene that I thought was absolutely amazing and it's best if you don't know why it's good, but just rest assured that this western does well to create a tense situation. It's a bit of a slow burn, but I loved a couple of its scenes. It's mostly just OK and I'm not rushing to rewatch it, but the experience of that first watch was great.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
