Movie Review: Old Henry (2021)
Not long ago, I re-watched Unforgiven for the first time in many years. Unsurprisingly, it held up very well and continues to deserve the reputation of being among the greatest westerns ever. Seeing it again put me in the mood for the genre, which led to a viewing of Old Henry.
Tim Blake Nelson is an actor I knew little about until he stole the show in 2018’s The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. In Old Henry, Nelson plays a widowed, weathered old farmer who, along with his son, takes in an injured stranger. While a bit of a slow burn at first, after a band of lawmen show up inquiring about the missing stranger, things gradually begin to pick up.
A film such as this serves as a stark contrast to something like F9, the most recent entry into the “let’s see how we can be even more ridiculous than the last one” franchise. Those types of films continually push the limits of believability, CGI, and overall scope to greater heights (arguably) with each outing. Old Henry, on the other hand, keeps it simple with solid scripting, talented actors, and an engaging story. Toss is a detour here and a twist there, and this makes for one of my favorite films of the past few years.
Score: 9.1/10
Starring: Tim Blake Nelson, Scott Haze, Gavin Lewis, and Trace Adkins
How to watch: Showtime
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