The Horseman
Christian is on a mission to discover the truth behind his daughter’s mysterious decease and attempts to unearth clues as to what happened during her final hours.
Plot summary
Christian, a divorced father and white collar businessman grieves over the complicated death of his daughter. When a video arrives anonymously in the mail, featuring his daughter heavily intoxicated and mistreated, Christian sets out on a reckless journey to find answers.
Divorced businessman Christian is seen travelling along a dusty road of the deserted Aussie outback. At first sight, all appears fairly innocuous, but the desolate setting hints at a sinister undercurrent. Christian’s divorce is not his only pain: he is also bereaved, grieving for the recent, unexpected death of his teenage daughter. In a melodramatic twist, it becomes apparent that the devoted father is a blood thirsty murderer, leaving bloody corpses in his wake as he journeys through the Bush. The sudden death of his child has already planted the seed of suspicion in Christian’s mind and he becomes hell bent on revenge.
Christian is on a mission to discover the truth behind his daughter’s mysterious decease and attempts to unearth clues as to what happened during her final hours. While on the road and during his quest for retribution, the sorrowful father befriends Alice, a runaway teen girl. A tentative friendship begins to blossom between the pair. For Christian, Alice is a bittersweet reminder of the daughter he has outlived.
The Horseman is full of darkly realistic fight scenes, adding to the atmosphere of suspense. Marshall’s performance is a convincing portrayal of a desperate man driven mad by extreme grief.
The plot is unbelievable but the film is well paced and action-packed. It’s a smooth, seamless debut and has been a hit Down Under, bagging the filmmaker the Best Australian Director award and the gong for Best Australian Film at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival.
Intense, gripping and riveting throughout, you’ll find it difficult to tear your eyes from the screen. The vision of the eponymous horseman on his rampage through the outback will send chills down your spine long after the credits scroll across the screen. While it may not be everyone’s cup of chai, this slasher flick is well worth a watch if you’re after a tense plot or a slice of high-action drama.
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