On Swift Horses

Directed by Daniel Minahan, On Swift Horses follows three circa 1950s characters (Daisy Edgar-Jones’ Muriel, Jacob Elordi’s Julius, and Will Poulter’s Lee) as their lives diverge in decidedly unexpected ways. Filmmaker Minahan, armed with a screenplay by Bryce Kass, delivers an exceedingly (and mostly excessively) deliberate endeavor that proves unable to capture (and sustain) the viewer’s ongoing interest, and it’s clear, certainly, that the picture’s palpable arms-length atmosphere is established right from the get-go – as Minahan kicks the proceedings off with an underwhelming, uneventful opening stretch devoid of compelling attributes. And while the movie is undoubtedly quite well acted and rife with evocative period details, On Swift Horses, saddled with a meandering and often painfully drawn-out (and flat-out impenetrable) midsection, is ultimately unable to pack the heartfelt, poignant punch for which Minahan is quite obviously striving – thus securing the film’s place as a misguided misfire that could only have worked at a much, much shorter running time.

* out of ****