sports

February 3, 2026

Frontier Crucible review

A cast of handsome dudes, some beautiful scenery and violence reminiscent of 2015’s Bone Tomahawk make this a watchable, if plodding, ride

Frontier Crucible review

TL;DR

  • The film is a slow-burn western set in 1872 Arizona, based on Harry Whittington's novel "Desert Stake-Out".
  • Myles Clohessy plays the protagonist, Merrick Beckford, entrusted with delivering medical supplies.
  • Key supporting characters include a father-son duo (Thomas Jane and Ryan Masson), an antagonist (Armie Hammer), and a wounded couple (Eli Brown and Mary Stickley).
  • Ryan Masson's performance as the flawed son Billy is particularly noted.
  • The film is criticized for having too many talky scenes, which is at odds with the western genre's strength in conveying meaning through fewer words and glances.
  • The aesthetic is praised, with evocative shots of Monument Valley and effectively staged violence reminiscent of "Bone Tomahawk".
  • The pacing is described as slow, with a tendency to "plod" where it could be more energetic.

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