Seraphim Falls DVD Review

"Seraphim Falls" reviews

DVD

Seraphim Falls

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2007-12-21 15:50:16

Provider

DVD Review

David Von Ancken's revenge western comes to DVD with little in the way of extras. Beyond the ubiquitous audio commentary and 'making of' documentary. there is nothing new here for fans of the film.

The main strength of this film are the lovingly-shot locations, evocatively recreating the classic landscapes of the Old West, as Liam Neeson's Civil War Colonel hunts Pierce Brosnan's trapper across New Mexico. Sadly, the impact is somewhat lost in its transfer to the small screen.

Neeson, with a gang of bounty hunters in tow, pursues Brosnan through forests, down valleys and across plains. The pursuit stretches both men to their limit and ultimately sees both break the codes by which they live.

In a throwback to classic westerns, we get only the merest hints of the protagonists' driving forces, and instead see a well-paced battle of wills However in some ways, this is a new kind of western - shot through with art house style. It also ably keeps the core of it's narrative back until its final reel. Keeping any explanation of motivation from it's audience allows the film to fully explore both landscapes of the wild west: the natural vistas of snow-covered mountains, brushwood prairies and deserts plus the new, emerging populations - the railroad builders and frontier farmers, small town bank robbers and the invaded (and beaten) native Indians.

Neeson's sense of claustrophobic, single-minded intensity in his pursuit keeps the tension and drive fully tangible throughout the film. Meanwhile, Brosnan's performance is visceral and excellent, completely shaking any remnants of Bond from his bones.

Only an overlong, muddled and unnecessarily allegorical final act detracts from this powerful and tense film.