A sprawling frontier Western beginning in 1859 that tells multiple converging storylines that all centre on the town of Horizon.

Horizon itself does not yet exist. It is a dream sold to would be settlers of perfectly pristine untouched land in the San Pedro Valley which just happens to be a sacred location for the indigenous Apache.

After the initial settlers of Horizon are slaughtered it begins to flourish. Only for the Apache to launch a larger offensive on those trying to settle there. Killing hundreds in a captivating extended assault on the town. These sequences give us three of the five main story threads of this epic. Firstly, we have Frances Kittredge (Sienna Miller) and her daughter Elizabeth (Georgia MacPhail) who survive the onslaught and are rescued by the army led by 1st Lieutenant Trent Gephart (Sam Worthington) and Sergeant Major Thomas Riordan (Michael Rooker). The Kittredge’s leave Horizon behind to seek sanctuary at Camp Gallant where Frances and Trent begin to kindle feelings for each other. Secondly, we have two other survivors who take a significantly different path. The young Russell Ganz (Etienne Kellici) and Elias Janney (Scott Haze) want revenge against the Apache and form up with Tracker (Jeff Fahey) to seek retribution for the town’s losses. Thirdly, the Apache who led the attack named Pionsenay (Owen Crow Shoe) did so against the wishes of his father and tribe leader. So he must make the decision to break his followers away from those of his father’s and forge his own path.

Separately to these story lines we have two other groups of characters converging on the town of Horizon.

Horse trader Hayes Ellison (Kevin Costner) finds himself between a young woman named Marigold (Abbey Lee) and the vengeful Sykes brothers who are searching for another woman who shot their father. Ellison being a noble protector does the honourable thing and finds himself on the run with Marigold and her adopted child.

Whilst a wagon train led by Matthew Van Weyden (Luke Wilson) is travelling towards what they believe to be promised land. Although thanks to the entitled Juliette Chesney (Ella Hunt) and Hugh Proctor (Tom Payne) Matthew finds himself having to keep the peace within the group whilst keeping one eye on prospective danger from outside.

Horizon is an absolutely wonderful Western and one that I was kept in rapture of for its entire 181 minute run time. It only has three possible flaws. Firstly, the simple fact that it is a Western means that a very large population of film goers are going to give it a miss. This is not something that impacts me other than to say that I think that is a huge shame. Secondly, this is Chapter 1 of a possible 4 film saga. Chapter 2 is already complete with another mammoth running time of 164 minutes and a release date of August 2024. Whilst Chapter 3 & 4 are in various stages of production. I hope that they get made and that they are equal to or build upon this opening feature because the possibility of what they could achieve is both gargantuan and concerning if they were to fail and not be completed. And finally, because this is only Chapter 1 it simply ends with some threads not yet joining the overarching story and with a montage of what is to come in Chapter 2. You may not find a sense of completion or finality. But you will sense a feeling of possibility. Something that perhaps a number of its characters do for the town of Horizon.

Co-written and directed by Kevin Costner the film features everything a Western should. Given Costner’s reputation for Westerns I was actually surprised to see this is only his fourth directorial feature. But when you consider that two of the other three are the seminal Dances With Wolves and Open Range you know that he has the pedigree to deliver another great film/s. Costner of course takes a starring role as well and plays the sort of honourable gun hand that typifies the genre. The cinematography from J. Michael Muro gives us the wide open plains and rugged landscapes you expect of this type of film, with the majority shot in Utah. Costner does not shy away from the brutality of living on the frontier with the extended attack on the burgeoning town of Horizon culminating in a siege on a singular home with a number of residents desperately trying to survive. The reasons for the indigenous attack on the settlers is rightly explained for a film made in this day and age with hints made about the catastrophic outcome this cycle of violence will result in. Whilst there are a range of honourable and violent characters trying to do the right thing or opportunistically take what they can for themselves to root for or rally against.

The vast array of characters are ones I am eager to find out more about as their story unfolds on the biggest canvas imaginable.

A spectacular throwback to a genre mostly forgotten. Fingers crossed for both its completion and standards to be fulfilled.