Based on Joe Lansdale’s novel, “The Thicket” feels like a Western trapped in a time loop of clichés, where every bloody shootout, snowy trail, and grim-faced hero we’ve seen a hundred times before is trotted out again with little to say. It’s not that this is a particularly bad film, it’s just extremely boring and highly forgettable.
Set in the unforgiving terrain of West Texas, the film tells the story of Jack (Levon Hawke), a young man who enlists the help of bounty hunter Reginald Jones (Peter Dinklage) to track down Cut Throat Bill (Juliette Lewis), the killer who kidnapped his sister. The result is a bloody and brutal manhunt through a lawless land, and it doesn’t end well for so many involved.
The premise is a standard Western setup that feels too familiar, from the assemblage of a ragtag crew to the thematic journey for justice. The wintry setting and effective performances from the cast both add a little depth, but most of the film’s potential is squandered on a very slow burn that’s exhausting to watch.
From the very beginning, the film struggles to find momentum. The pacing is painfully sluggish, with long stretches of the narrative simply spinning wheels rather than moving the story forward. In a film that’s supposed to be about a dangerous chase across a violent landscape, there’s an unfortunate lack of urgency.
The sparse action scenes are predictably violent but lack the adrenaline or excitement to elevate the material. Instead of building tension, the film opts for an overly methodical pace, dragging viewers through barren landscapes and endless brooding monologues. It’s a slow-burn Western, but in the worst way.
The performances are more than competent, but they sometimes border on caricature. Dinklage and Lewis give turns that are far more showy than necessary, especially considering their characters are one-dimensional. The gravelly voice inflection adopted by Lewis is absolutely grating (I have never been more irritated in the way a character speaks as much as I was here).
The film’s visual style is certainly one of its strongest points. Director Elliott Lester captures the stark, unforgiving beauty of the West with wide shots of barren, rugged landscapes and a color palette that mirrors the bleakness of the story.
Despite the strong aesthetic and some bloody, intense moments, “The Thicket” never manages to overcome its predictability. This forgettable, frustrating film is a standard entry into the genre, and by trying too hard to be gritty, complex, and profound, it ends up bringing very little to the table.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 