SWEET VENGEANCE (AKA: SWEETWATER) 2013

Directed by Logan Miller, Starring: Ed Harris, Jason Isaacs, January Jones, Eduardo Noriega   Western, US, 2012, approx. 91mins, cert 15.
Released in UK on DVD by Entertainment One on the 3^rd June 2013.

In the late 1800’s, newlyweds Miguel (Educardo Noriega) and Sarah (January Jones) are struggling to cultivate their piece of land in the unforgiving dusty plains of the Old West. Times are tough, and it doesn’t help when sheep from the nearby flock of fundamentalist preacher Prophet Josiah (Jason Isaacs) stray onto their land and nibble away their meagre crops. The townsfolk aren’t remotely supportive either; the bank manager siphons half their savings; the local shopkeeper is a peeping tom; whilst Sheriff Kingfisher is more than happy to turn a blind eye to all manner of wrong-doing.
But that’s not the half of it in this deliciously twisted tongue-in-cheek take on the Western...

The Prophet Josiah’s moral code is as flexible as a double-jointed contortionist, and no one is seemingly above judgement in his deluded world-view. On top of this there’s a new sheriff riding (and waltzing) into town to replace ineffectual Sheriff Kingfisher. Enter Cornelius Jackson (Ed Harris), a maverick law keeper destined to lock horns with Josiah. “You’re a queer man” remarks a nonplussed Josiah, to which Jackson replies: “Unusual, I prefer unusual: never queer”.  

Compared to Tarantino’s near three hour long DJANGO UNCHAINED, director Logan Miller unfurls this rip-roaring romp in an admirably succinct 85 minutes (the end credits bump the running time up to 91 minutes). The narrative shifts faster than a thoroughbred colt bolting from a glue-maker, and corpses soon start to pile up as revenge becomes the order of the day.

Miller injects unexpected moments of casual violence like mule kicks which punctuate the ripe dialogue and even riper characters. Against this backdrop the main leads are clearly relishing the chance to play along with the deliriously over-the-top screenplay. Ed Harris’ barnstorming performance as quirky Sheriff Jackson is simply extraordinary, and he pulls off several jaw-dropping scenes which practically steal the show. Not that he hasn’t got some stiff competition from Jason Isaacs. Delivering lines such as: “Now you will hang there in shame until the sun dries your scrawny testicles into leather hide...” Isaacs gives us a character which makes Lucius Malfoy from the HARRY POTTER franchise seem positively cuddly in comparison. And at the heart of the story we have January Jones’ Sarah, who strides convincingly through her challenging and pivotal role with measured assurance. 

Compared to the events which precede it, the dénouement in comparison feels a tad conventional and downbeat. But perhaps this is just a testament to how much fun the twin brother team of director Logan and writer Noah (Miller) have provided us with in the interim.

This review was originally published by FrightFest.

****(out of 5*)

Paul Worts