Protraph Lack of good storyline.

SteinMo What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

Helloturia I have absolutely never seen anything like this movie before. You have to see this movie.

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

classicsoncall This Western gets short shrift by it's rating here on IMDb but I thought it was a pretty good one. The theme of course, has been done time and time again, but the principal characters and cinematography help it rise above it's B movie origins. I like the idea of real life fathers and sons portraying characters with the same relationship, so Donald Sutherland and son Kiefer made the story work here, of a long waylaid Civil War soldier returning to his home town only to be rebuffed by a preacher father who detests his son's reputation as a gunfighter.What would have made the story distressing to me is if John Henry Clayton (Kiefer Sutherland) had reunited with his former fiancé, Mary Alice Watson (Demi Moore). That would have made the story more than intentionally clichéd, so I found it appealing that John Henry's ride into the sunset was done as a loner. The most interesting character here for me was Gentleman Dave Turner (Michael Wincott), hired gun of town boss James McCurdy (Brian Cox), who's conversations with John Henry hinted at mutual respect even while foreshadowing a presumed, eventual showdown. If there's ever another 'Gunfight at the O.K. Corral' remake, I think Wincott could make a quintessential Doc Holliday, he had just the right looks and temperament for the infamous gunman.I got a kick out of that scene when John Henry arrived at Mr. Parsons' (Dave Trimble) general store inquiring about the LeMat he had on display for sale. Eventually realizing that Clayton only needed it for the remainder of the day, his offer of a good price on the firearm turned into "Or you can borrow it". I thought that was classic.

Frank Damage Forsaken is mostly a standard fare of classic western film tropes strung together to form a not so original story. Yet for hard core western fans it ends up being a relatively watchable one none the less.People here have talked about the grandeur of the cinematography in this movie though what we get in that respect is somewhat minimal and not terribly impressive by any western standard. If you're looking for a western with cinematography to appreciate check out 2015's The Revenant (the acting is far better as well), or even the most recent remake of The Magnificent Seven.I'm sure a lynch party will be formed soon after reading this, but I honestly believe the films' main draw here is the Sutherland father and son team. Regrettably I have to say, it's not that great of a match, at least not in this particular story.While I am aware Keifer Sutherland built up a strong following with his television success, he really doesn't seem to play this character to that credit and what we get from him feels closer to the character he played in the classic late 80s movie Young Guns, all those years ago. Not to take away from Michael Wincott's performance as Gentleman Dave Turner in this film, but I couldn't help feeling during the course of watching that he might have been more suitable for the lead instead of Keifer.It is simply the kind of clichéd story that just required a stronger lead (as well as screenplay) and perhaps some juxtaposed flashbacks of that lead's less civilized days. At least in this case.Overall, fans of the classic western style won't be too disappointed, but at the same time, shouldn't really be very impressed either and if they are they probably haven't seen enough well done westerns.IMDb doesn't allow 1/2 stars, so it bumps up to a semi solid 6/10.

Wuchak Released in 2015 and directed by Jon Cassar, "Forsaken" is a Western starring Kiefer Sutherland as a repentant prodigal son who returns to his hometown in the Northwest after going off to fight the Civil War and afterward morphing into a notorious gunfighter. His mother's now passed away and his father, the town preacher (Donald Sutherland), has a hard time embracing him. Demi Moore plays his youthful flame, now married (the husband played by Jonny Rees). Brian Cox is on hand as the land-grabbing villain with his hired guns (Aaron Poole and Dylan Smith). Michael Wincott stands out as the southern Gentleman Dave, an honorable gunfighter.This is a nigh excellent realistic Western even though parts are too by-the-numbers and it clearly borrows from past Westerns, like the towering "Shane" and "Unforgiven." But it's different enough to stand on its own and holds some agreeable surprises up its sleeve.I like the subplot about the Civil War causing John Henry (Kiefer) to become disillusioned, falling into the gunfighting lifestyle. Kiefer is unexpectedly good as the protagonist, easily carrying the movie with the help of his father; the church sequence is particularly effective. I also appreciate the message with the romantic subplot, which is the antithesis of the eye-rolling events in "Pale Rider," a film that borrowed even heavier from "Shane" and could be called a total rip-off (or homage). I thought I had the ending figured out, but I was wrong, which is good.The movie runs 90 minutes and was shot in CL Ranch, Springbank, Alberta, Canada.GRADE: Borderline A-/B+ ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY *** SPOILER ALERT ***Someone criticized "Forsaken" on the grounds that it was a "low-budget Pale Rider," But there are significant differences between the two movies: John Henry (Kiefer) in "Forsaken" is a human being rather than a mysterious supernatural figure like the Preacher (Eastwood) in "Pale Rider." John Henry served during the Civil War, clearly suffering PTSS and swearing off killing whereas the Preacher appears as a sort of angel of vengeance with zero qualms about killing those who deserve it.John Henry humbles himself, allowing himself to get his axx kicked, whereas the Preacher is superhuman, always kicking axx from the get-go.As a human being, John Henry repents in tears in the church facility, hugged by his father, whereas the Preacher needs to do no such thing.John Henry loved the woman (Mary Alice) enough to not mess with her in any way and thus risk destroying her family whereas the Preacher has sex with the woman even though her kindly husband, Hull, is his friend and he's supposed to be an agent of righteousness (!), which is a gaping plot hole.John Henry doesn't want to take on Gentleman Dave, if he doesn't have to, likely because they're birds of a feather and he recognizes Dave's code of honor, unlike the other scumbag thugs hired by McMurdy. He also mercifully allows the young hirelings the chance to leave the gunfight. By contrast, the Preacher basically kills everyone linked to the villain without mercy."Forsaken" is real-life dramatic Western whereas "Pale Rider" is a mythical Western with supernatural elements.

adonis98-743-186503 Kiefer and Donald Sutherland share the screen in this brooding western about an embittered gunslinger who attempts to make amends with his estranged father whilst their community is besieged by ruthless land- grabbers. Father and Son for the first time ever star in a film that truly shines thanks to their performances and a supporting cast of Brian Cox and Demi Moore. Although the film could easily have a better gun fight in the end i still thought that it worked cause of how great the 2 main actors were and the dramatic moments were really really good and the ending was really moving as son and father share the screen one last time Forsaken is a really great movie that won't leave you disappointed.