Brimstone (2017)- BFI London Film Festival 2016

148min

Genre:       Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Western

Director:    Martin Koolhoven

Cast:         Dakota Fanning, Guy Pearce, Carice van Houten…and more

Writer:      Martin Koolhoven

-Synopsis-

Dakota Fanning stars in the 19th century American frontier tale of a young mute mother, whose life is thrown into turmoil by the appearance of a commanding and sinister reverend in her small town, forcing her back into a tragic past she hoped to have escaped in this dark and disturbing mystery/drama western with a Dutch twist from writer/director Martin Koolhoven.

After a troubled production which involved the recasting of several actors, including his lead, Koolhoven finally makes his long-planned dream project a reality… and boy is its one which will split opinion. But one thing’s for sure it won’t soon slip your mind, if you have the stomach to power through two and a half hours of shocking abuse and borderline sadism, in one of the most original and surely the darkest Western in living memory.

‘Brimstone’ plays out backwards over four distinct chapters named after the books of the bible, only in reverse, starting off by introducing us to “Liz” (Dakota Fanning); a young wife and mother living a humble existence in a small settlement in the old Amercian West, whose harrowing past comes back to haunt her when a menacing fanatical Reverend  (Guy Pearce) appears, seeking diabolical revenge masked as “righteous” retribution.

What follows is a truly disturbing and morbidly captivating voyage across America; a tale of suffering, abuse, subjugation and religious extremism, but also the strength of the human spirit, as the story turns to the past and unravels the mystery of “Liz” and “The Reverend”, before circling back to the present day of these opposing forces and settling some old scores.

Dakota Fanning well and truly sheds her legacy as a precocious child actor through a remarkable performance as a young woman with unshakable inner strength, despite being ravaged by the cruelty of life and the hardships of 19th century frontier living, bent but not broken and unwilling to remain a victim. While British actress Emilia Jones is equally impressive in her turn as the younger version of our reluctant heroine, but the antagonist of the piece is, for better or worse, the one which will most likely sear the film into your memory.

As the impenetrably dark “Reverend”, Guy Pearce once again proves why he is one of the most versatile and underappreciated actors working today, bringing to life one of the most unsettling villains in recent film history. Armed with fearsome intensity and the rousing condemning word of God from the darkest of pulpits; Pearce portrays a puritanical so-called “man of god”, an immovable zealot consumed with diabolical obsessions and intentions, at best conveniently legitimised by the “good book”, and at worse actively encouraged by it, illuminating one of the core themes in the film of religious extremism… something we’re depressingly still familiar with today.

Despite the setting and its two leads, ‘Brimstone’ is very much a European production, from the director down to the crew and much of the cast, as well as the beautifully shot locations which completely pass for the 19th century American frontier, thanks to cinematographer Rogier Stoffers and some top-notch production design. And just like Kristian Levring’s ‘The Salvation’ did for the Danes, ‘Brimstone’ weaves in Dutch immigrant elements into this quintessential “American” narrative, reminding us all of the diverse foundations of that country.

With its female-centric viewpoint, it’s understandable that ‘Brimstone’ has been described as a “Feminist” Western. But thanks to Koolhoven’s forthright cultural sensibilities, it approaches female empowerment through a side-road of unspeakable struggle; including depictions of sexual abuse, subjugation, violence and incest, leaving a film is so dark and disturbing that it’s easy to overlook the themes and be blinded by its ominous tones.

With its unflinching callousness and lingering brutality, ‘Brimstone’ has already provoked the ire of reviewers and commentators as it journeys through the film festival circuit, with many unable or unwilling to wrap their heads around the deliberately provocative and downright shocking depiction of child abuse, and the horrendous treatment of women. But focusing increasingly delicate sensibilities on the film’s execution and visual choices, rather than the core of the narrative and its message, is sort of missing the point, which makes us wonder how many provocative classics would fare in today’s climate.

‘Brimstone’ features a clear revenge element which is always tempered by bitersweetness and never amounts to grimly satisfying retribution, which leaves some bemoaning the lack of a ‘Kill Bill’ style female-empowerment revenge streak, as if that’s now the only acceptable way to justify the depiction of female subjugation, something that’s alive and well today and not relegated to 19th century Puritanism.

Since we can’t truly know what Martin Koolhoven’s motivations or intentions are, you need to ask yourself this; do you believe that he has applied his blunt Dutch sensibilities to a grim and utterly dark mystery/drama?, which ironically reflects how religious zealotry can inspire or be used as an excuse for evil, often by broken people to subjugate others. Or do you believe Koolhoven is some sort of sadist?, using his “art” to express his troubling proclivities, unfortunately for the director it’s clear to see which one is easier to believe and how quick some are to enrol Koolhoven into the Lars von Trier school of filmmaking.

The Bottom Line…

A dark and disturbing story of abuse and retribution, built on a foundation of religious extremism, wrapped up in a classic Western; Martin Koolhoven gives us a deliberately unsettling contribution the a classic American genre which won’t slip soon your mind. ‘Brimstone’ might walk a stark, sadistic and morbidly reflective path towards female empowerment in an unforgiving time, but the message is clear and even offers the slightest sliver of hope, in an otherwise grim but unforgettable affair.

‘Brimstone’ is out in March of 2017 in the US, with no UK date yet.

Similar films you may like (Home Video)

The Salvation (2014)

A Danish immigrant in the late 19th century American west finds himself in the crosshairs of a ruthless outlaw when he kills the gang leader’s brother for murdering his wife and child, as the local town collapses under the weight of corruption and fear, revenge is the only redemption for a man left with nothing.

Directed by Kristian Levring and starring Mads Mikkelsen, Eva Green and Jeffrey Dean Morgan others.

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