Old Henry (2021) Shout! Studio
Directed By: Potsy Ponciroli
Starring: Tim Blake Nelson, Scott Haze, Gavin Lewis, Richard Speight Jr, Trace Adkins
Plot Summary: Old Henry is an action-Western about a widowed farmer and his son who warily take in a mysterious, injured man with a satchel of cash. When a posse of men claiming to be the law come for the money, the farmer must decide whom to trust. Defending against a siege of his homestead, he reveals a talent for gunslinging that surprises everyone, calling his true identity into question.
I have to say that I am not the biggest Western film fan. Having said that, I have made it a point to explore the genre and push myself out of my cozy cinematic comfort zone. Potsy Ponciroli may have just made me rethink modern Westerns in his stark and haunting film Old Henry. Potsy Ponciroli is fairly new to feature films but directs this movie with the kind of confidence of a seasoned professional. He is able to balance a tone that is brutal and depressing and yet light and hope are ever present throughout. If I’m being totally honest, Potsy’s plot is fairly simplistic in terms of narrative and themes, yet this for me was never an issue. This is because the movie is so incredibly strong in acting, visuals and satisfying pay-off. This is a Western, yes. However, I think it’s more of a father-son drama that intersects with the genre. Indeed, this deeper motif of growing up and seeing your parents in a new light is well worn but relatable and effective. I would even go further and say that the somewhat saggy plot is glued together by its emotional core, acting and photography.
What struck me right away is how incredibly stunning the film looks. Ponciroli and cinematographer John Matysiak (Two Shadows) paint a rich and eerily beautiful picture of isolated turn of the century Oklahoma. The rolling hills and vast vistas all help give the film a huge scope and budget feel. Furthermore, production designer Max Biscoe (Art director on Shutter Island) truly makes you feel like you stepped back in time, and no minor detail has been spared.
Cohen brothers regular Tim Blake Nelson is utterly mesmerizing as the titular Henry. Every fiber of Nelson’s being projects this weathered, world weary relic that is just trying to ride into the sunset of his life in near isolation. Nelson knows exactly the right tone and how to not underplay or overplay his character. This is harder than it seems, but the seasoned actor really nails it. I think it’s a career high for him in a non-Cohen’s film. And, I’m gonna say something that may just blow your mind: Stephen Dorf is in this and wow, I have to say he’s good. Like Nelson, Dorf never goes hammy with the role yet relishes in it at the same time. This is also is where a strong director comes into play. Scott Haze, Trace Adkins and Gavin Lewis round out a great supporting cast.
Harrowing and thoughtful with a hell of a finale twist, Old Henry is a stellar film that both defines and subverts its dusty, weather-worn Western trappings. Job well done, Ponciroli.
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Big film nerd and TCM Obsessed. Author of The Ultimate Guide to Strange Cinema from Schiffer Publishing. Resume includes: AMC’s The Bite, Scream Magazine etc. Love all kinds of movies and television and have interviewed a wide range of actors, writers, producers and directors. I currently am a regular co-host on the podcast The Humanoids from the Deep Dive and have a second book in the works from Bear Manor.
