Buried secrets of an 1870s Montana town spark violence when a young man returns to reclaim his legacy and is caught between a sheriff determined to maintain order and a mysterious stranger hell-bent on destroying it.
Like horror movies, Westerns often fluctuate in quality—there’s no shortage of forgettable releases in either genre, but every now and then, something comes along to remind audiences why these genres endure. Zach Cregger’s latest horror flick, “Weapons,” injected some much-needed vitality into horror, signaling there’s still excitement to be found. Western enthusiasts, though, haven’t seen much to get excited about recently. While standout titles like “True Grit,” “Django Unchained,” “The Hateful Eight,” and “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” spring to mind, most of these are from years past. Personally, the western that’s stuck with me most is S. Craig Zahler’s “Bone Tomahawk.” With a cast including Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, and Richard Jenkins, it’s a raw, unforgettable entry that’s not for the faint of heart.
When the trailer for “The Unholy Trinity”—starring Pierce Brosnan and Samuel L. Jackson—dropped, it teased a classic revenge story: a son seeking payback for his father’s death. Trailers can be deceiving, so I approached the movie without any expectations. Ultimately, the film delivers exactly what was promised: a straightforward western with familiar beats, made better by strong acting and impressive visuals.
The narrative follows Henry Broadway (Brandon Lessard), whose father, Isaac (Tim Daly), faces execution for a crime he insists he didn’t commit. Before his death, Isaac pleads with Henry to expose the crooked sheriff, Saul Butler, who allegedly set him up, and kill him. After Isaac is hanged, Henry heads to Trinity, Montana, to confront Butler, only to learn from Gabriel Dove (Pierce Brosnan), the town’s new sheriff, that Butler is already dead.
Gabriel warns Henry that the townsfolk considered Isaac a villain and Butler a hero, suggesting that challenging their beliefs will only bring trouble. Despite this, Henry chooses to remain in Trinity, slowly becoming part of the community. Things take a dark turn when Julia (Katrina Bowden), a prostitute Henry grows close to, is murdered by Asa (Beau Knapp), a drunken local. Henry kills Asa in retaliation and, panicking, runs—soon pursued by Asa’s brother, Red (Tim Montana). Just as Red is about to execute Henry, a mysterious stranger named St. Christopher (Samuel L. Jackson) intervenes, killing Red and helping Henry escape.
Rumors spread that Isaac had hidden a large stash of Southern gold somewhere in Trinity, spurring the townspeople’s greed and turning them against Henry. Gabriel steps in, offering Henry refuge in his house on the town’s outskirts. As tensions rise and a mob gathers, Gabriel and Henry must defend themselves and Gabriel’s family, all the while trying to figure out who the enigmatic St. Christopher really is and why he has come to town.
The performances throughout are strong, with Brosnan and Jackson especially commanding the screen. Brandon Lessard gives Henry real depth, capturing his journey from a reserved, quiet man to someone willing to act decisively when pushed. This character arc stands out as a highlight, as does Thomas Scott Stanton’s cinematography. Shooting in a 2:1 aspect ratio, Stanton brings a sweeping, cinematic feel that suits the Western perfectly, making the Montana setting feel both beautiful and foreboding.
“The Unholy Trinity” doesn’t try to shake up the Western formula. While it has flashes of promise, it ultimately delivers a familiar revenge tale. It’s a solid Western, competently made, but it leaves you wishing it had tried something bolder.
Now available to own on Digital and on Blu-ray™ and DVD August 26th
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