June 14, 2025

On Swift Horses (2024) – Official Review

“In the vastness of the American West, love, betrayal, and redemption ride on swift horses, forever altering the course of lives.”

The American West, with its rugged landscapes, vast plains, and untamed beauty, has always been a powerful backdrop for cinematic tales of love, loss, and survival. On Swift Horses (2024) is a gripping new entry into the genre, a film that blends the expansive landscapes of the West with intimate stories of passion, heartache, and vengeance. Directed by Sarah Polley, the film invites the audience into a world where fate is shaped by decisions made in the saddle, and where the price of freedom is often the blood of those who seek it.

Plot Summary

Set against the stunning backdrop of the 1950s American West, On Swift Horses follows the lives of two unlikely companions: Muriel (played by Carey Mulligan), a strong-willed, independent woman who has recently lost her husband in a tragic accident, and Carl (played by Tom Hardy), a brooding, mysterious figure with a past he’s trying to outrun. The two meet under the shadow of Muriel’s grief, but as their relationship develops, so does a dangerous bond—one forged in the fires of mutual longing and shared secrets.

Muriel, though grieving, is driven by an inner fire and a desire to escape the confines of the life she once knew. Carl, a former criminal with ties to a dangerous underworld, offers her a taste of freedom and excitement—if she’s willing to pay the price. As their journey deepens, Muriel begins to realize that Carl’s past is not as easily left behind as he would like. Their love becomes a thrilling but dangerous game, as both are caught in a whirlwind of violence, passion, and betrayal.

When Muriel’s estranged brother, Jack (played by Michael Shannon), arrives on the scene with his own dark secrets, the stakes rise even higher. Family ties, blood feuds, and deep betrayals come to the forefront, and Muriel must decide whether to run from her past or face the demons she’s tried to forget. In the end, On Swift Horses is a tale about finding redemption on the road, but it also shows how the past is never truly gone—especially in a world where everyone is trying to outrun something.

Artistic Analysis

Visually, On Swift Horses is a masterpiece, capturing the raw beauty of the American West with sweeping shots of endless deserts, rugged mountains, and the quiet yet devastating power of the land. The cinematography, led by Roger Deakins, uses the landscape as both a character and a symbol of the isolation and freedom the characters seek. The world feels vast and unforgiving, but there is also a strange sense of hope and possibility within the emptiness. The land becomes both a prison and a pathway to freedom for Muriel, Carl, and their families.

The film’s pacing is deliberate but never slow, allowing each moment to linger with emotional weight. Polley’s direction allows the audience to truly immerse themselves in the characters’ lives—whether it’s Muriel’s quiet moments of reflection or the tense, action-filled sequences that erupt at the film’s climax. There’s a subtlety to the storytelling that speaks volumes, as the film never rushes to resolve its conflicts but allows them to unfold naturally.

Performances

The performances in On Swift Horses are nothing short of extraordinary. Carey Mulligan gives an emotionally raw performance as Muriel, a woman who is both fierce and vulnerable. Mulligan effortlessly captures Muriel’s complexity—her sorrow, her anger, and her desire for something more than the life she’s been handed. Her chemistry with Tom Hardy is palpable, and the tension between them drives much of the film’s emotional core. Hardy’s portrayal of Carl is layered and haunting; he plays a man who is both a survivor and a man on the run, burdened by a past he can’t escape. Hardy’s brooding presence adds an air of mystery to Carl, and as the film progresses, we see the vulnerability underneath his tough exterior.

Michael Shannon brings a quiet intensity to the role of Jack, Muriel’s brother, whose motivations remain unclear until the film’s later stages. His performance is haunting, and he plays a character that feels unpredictable, someone who carries his own brand of dangerous loyalty. The tension between Shannon and Mulligan is electric, adding depth to the family dynamic and heightening the stakes of the story.

Emotional Depth

At its heart, On Swift Horses is an exploration of love, loss, and the destructive power of secrets. The film digs deep into the emotional lives of its characters, showing how their pasts define their present and shape their decisions. The relationship between Muriel and Carl is the emotional anchor of the story, as they struggle with the cost of freedom and what they’re willing to sacrifice for it.

The film also explores the idea of redemption—how the past can haunt and shape the future, but also how we can never outrun the consequences of our actions. Muriel’s journey from grief to empowerment is a powerful one, as she learns to confront her past rather than run from it. Carl’s redemption arc is equally compelling, as he comes to terms with the violence and crimes that have defined his life.

But the emotional core of the film is the relationship between Muriel and Jack. Their bond, strained by years of separation and unspoken trauma, is the driving force behind much of the tension in the latter half of the movie. As the siblings confront their shared past, the pain and betrayal that simmer beneath the surface are impossible to ignore.

Tone and Rhythm

The tone of On Swift Horses is both gritty and poetic, capturing the stark realism of the American West while also embracing the deep emotional landscapes of its characters. The film never shies away from the harshness of its world—whether it’s the unforgiving land or the violence that lurks just beneath the surface. However, there is a tenderness in the film as well, particularly in the quiet moments between Muriel and Carl, where their unspoken bond speaks louder than words.

The rhythm of the film is steady, building tension slowly as the characters’ secrets are unveiled. The slow burn of the plot makes the eventual moments of action feel all the more intense, and the emotional climax is both satisfying and heartbreaking. The film’s pacing ensures that every decision the characters make feels earned, and by the time the film reaches its conclusion, the audience is emotionally invested in the outcome.

Final Thoughts

On Swift Horses is a breathtaking and emotionally charged film, a powerful tale of love, redemption, and the undeniable pull of the past. The performances are stellar, the direction masterful, and the story itself is one that lingers long after the credits roll. This is a film that will speak to anyone who has ever tried to outrun their past, or who has found themselves caught between the desire for freedom and the weight of their own decisions.

It’s a poignant reminder that, no matter how far we run, our past is always there, waiting for us to face it. And in the vast, unforgiving world of the American West, sometimes the only thing faster than a horse is the reckoning we can’t escape.