One could describe them as an angel descending and a devil ascending. Slow West comes from writer and director John Maclean and features Kodi Smit-McPhee, Michael Fassbender, Ben Mendelsohn, Caren Pistorius, and Rory McCann. The film’s music is composed by Jed Kurzel, with cinematography by Robbie Ryan. The story unfolds in the late 1800s, following a young Scottish aristocrat as he makes his way to the American West to find the woman he loves. There have been contemporary filmmakers who haven't just kept the Western genre alive, but also weren’t hesitant about portraying its harsh realities. They’ve chosen to strip away unnecessary elements, presenting a sense of realism with tough characters struggling through difficult times. Slow West fits into that category. For his first full-length film, John Maclean has created something he clearly understands well. It incorporates familiar Western elements—a naive newcomer, an experienced bounty hunter, a dangerous gang—but Maclean still manages to make it feel fresh and intriguing, with moments of dark humor sprinkled throughout. Essentially, the movie is a journey; McPhee’s lovelorn Jay Cavendish finds himself being guided across the landscape by Fassbender's enigmatic Silas Selleck. Their pairing is unusual but captivating, and as they are pursued by Selleck's former associates and encounter various odd or treacherous individuals, you might find yourself hoping that the underlying secrets and hidden agendas don’t destroy the unexpected bond neither was seeking. His intentions were misplaced. Maclean isn’t afraid to get gritty and violent, building toward a truly impressive final section of the film that feels like it arrived directly from a noir setting. This is not about creating a myth; it's a cynical look at the idealized version of the Old West. Those familiar with Westerns will notice historically accurate dialogue exchanges and references to immigration experiences—Maclean doesn’t shy away from showing how desperate life was for many who traveled hoping for something better. Filmed primarily in New Zealand, which serves as a convincing stand-in for the American West, the cinematography is beautiful. It's also good to see that the scenery isn’t just barren mountains and deserts; the journey includes forested areas as well. The cast delivers strong performances; Fassbender seems almost guaranteed to be excellent these days, and it would be great to see him in another Western. McPhee acts believably alongside him, and Mendelsohn, one of Australia's finest character actors, is perfectly suited for his role—his fans will know exactly what to expect. The movie poster is misleading; Caren Pistorius’s image shows her with a broad smile that doesn’t reflect the film’s tone at all. It would be better to pay attention to the faces of McPhee, Fassbender, and Mendelsohn on the poster, as their expressions are more representative of this excellent Western. 9/10

Source on TMDB