Finally recalls a less convincing version of those of Anthony Mann which managed realism and the mythic without a false note.
Seraphim Falls (2007)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted: 81
Fresh: 44
Rotten:37
Average Rating: 5.7/10
Consensus: A brutal, slow-moving drama that unfolds among some great-looking scenery.
Theatrical Release: 03-08-2007
Synopsis: PIERCE BROSNAN and LIAM NEESON star in Seraphim Falls – An epic action thriller set against the backdrop of the American Civil War. Directed by David Von Ancken (The Shield, CSI) Seraphim Falls is a visceral study of revenge and a bloody... PIERCE BROSNAN and LIAM NEESON star in Seraphim Falls – An epic action thriller set against the backdrop of the American Civil War. Directed by David Von Ancken (The Shield, CSI) Seraphim Falls is a visceral study of revenge and a bloody account of the aftermath of war. Combining the raw brutality of FIRST BLOOD with the mesmerizing savage beauty of COLD MOUNTAIN, this is a film that will leave audiences gasping, and on the edge of their seats. It's been five years since the end of the American Civil War. Somewhere deep within the snowy mountains of the American West a lone figure - Gideon (PIERCE BROSNAN) sits in front of a fire, lost in thought. Abruptly, he is pulled out of his reverie by the echo of a Henry rifle and a bullet puffing into the snow inches from his head. With no time to react another shot rings out. It connects with Gideon's shoulder and whips him to the ground. Instantly Gideon calculates his one chance of survival. To leave everything he owns and run for the cover of the nearby fir trees – his blood leaving a crimson trail in the snow… So begins the thrilling first act of SERAPHIM FALLS, and the final stage of Colonel Morsman Carver's (LIAM NEESON) terrible revenge - to hunt down and kill Gideon, no matter what it takes. There will be many men dead before these two meet face to face, and only then will Carver fully comprehend the full cost of his undertaking. Launched by a gunshot and propelled by rage, the relentless pursuit will take them both far from the comforts and codes of civilization and into the unforgiving wilderness. The emotional conclusion to this odyssey comes after a bloody climax in which both men are forced to confront their past and travel deep within the recesses of their souls. SERAPHIM FALLS - a taut action film, an epic chase and primal battle set in the mythic landscape of the West. [More]
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Liam Neeson, Anjelica Huston, Angie Harmon
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Liam Neeson, Anjelica Huston, Angie Harmon, Xander Berkeley, Ed Lauter, Tom Noonan, John Robinson, Robert Baker, Tom Noonan
Director: David Von Ancken
Director: David Von Ancken
Screenwriter: Abby Everett Jacques
Producer: Bruce Davey, David Flynn
Composer: Harry Gregson-Williams
Studio: IDP Distribution
Reviews for Seraphim Falls
Rob Roy pursues James Bond in an old-fashioned Western that’s cripplingly short on action.
Von Ancken at times brings his debut very close to something grand and memorable.
Messages, as Sam Goldwyn famously advised, are better left to Western Union.
As the story self-destructs, we are left with the majestic scenery, photographed by John Toll, and the pleasure of two good actors from one side of the Atlantic stretching themselves to seem convincing on the other.
A very impressive feature debut with this brutal western revenge thriller.
As Gideon misses chance after chance to break free from the posse on his tail, you just want Seraphim Falls to end.
The edgy pleasure is to be found in the sheer brutality of the chase and the bitter struggle to survive the elements.
It may be too ponderous for some, and an appearance by Anjelica Huston as a snake-oil peddler near the end is a touch too surreal, but if you’re a fan of Westerns the way they used to make them, you’ll be mesmerised.
An unconvincing attempt at an old-fashioned western, Seraphim Falls works best as a chase thriller but falls apart when it tries to harness the mythic power of the American frontier.
The chase is on in brooding western Seraphim Falls, with Liam Neeson gunning for Pierce Brosnan across snowy mountains, river rapids and blazing desert.
An unremarkable revenge/chase western, bolstered by its name cast, matter-of-fact violence and Toll’s pristine photography. Eventually a little pretentious – with Anjelica Huston’s cameo the nadir – but if you love oaters, it’s just worth the time.
The overweight middle section is repetitive, contrived and, well, boring. But at least the views are spectacular and Brosnan, especially, is likeably quirky.
Great performances, splendid looks, but its grip slackens toward a rather fuzzy finale.
Enjoyable, frequently tense and superbly directed chase thriller with strong performances and spectacular photography throughout.
An intriguingly internalised examination of revenge and remorse, plus a surprisingly emotional anti-war theme.
Those who say there's nothing left to be done with the genre hasn't seen this...
A handsomely-mounted, muscular, red-blooded Old West adventure ... One of the most stunning films to look at in recent years.
Latest News for Seraphim Falls
April 28, 2007:
Trailer & Poster review ![]()
More...
January 26, 2007:
Another "Crown" for Brosnan
Pierce Brosnan took a detour into indie productions after hanging up his Bond tux and martini -- most recently in "The Matador" and "Seraphim Falls" -- but... More...
January 25, 2007:
Critical Consensus: "Smokin'" Not Hot, "Release" Hardly A Catch, "Epic" and "Chocolate" Not Screened
The first month of 2007 wraps up with four eclectic releases, featuring hitmen ("Smokin' Aces", starring Ryan Reynolds, Jeremy Piven, and a million other hip... More...
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