Review: Wind River (2017)

Directed by Taylor Sheridan

Starring: Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen

The story involves a Wildlife tracker and an FBI agent trying to solve a murder in Wyoming.

This film began with the “inspired by true events” card, as a young Native American woman runs away from an unknown threat and inevitably dies.

The film is incredibly gripping and extremely realistic, as we go into detail of how a chilling murder can unwind and disturb a small, isolated, and incredibly cold community.

Taylor Sheridan, the director of the film and also the writer of other films such as Hell or High Water, and Sicario, described the that the true stories involving the sexual assault of women on reservations such as the one in the film was his primary motivation for writing the film.Similar to his other screenplays, Sheridan really did pack a punch with the writing, as it does feel a lot like Sicario, with Sheridan painting a picture on society and its flaws, as well as the environment which has the theme of ‘silence’, as well as the snow having a theme to the movie as well.

We are introduced to the two protagonists in the film, Jeremy Renner stars as an experienced wildlife tracker who himself has lost a daughter to similar circumstances. Elizabeth Olsen stars as an FBI agent in charge of investigating the possible homicide within the Indian Reservation. Jeremy Renner was solid, showcasing his emotions quietly in the beginning, but when reminded of his daughter’s similar fate, angered and vengeful. Symbolism plays a huge part in the film, as he is connected to a mountain lion he was hunting. This symbolized his character, as he was ‘hunting’ the people responsible for the two deaths that ravaged the reservation, and in return he can find closure. I felt Elizabeth Olsten’s character was wasted personally, she did not have much say in the film, but was rather a character that went along with everything, instead of taking authority.

The cinematography by Ben Richardson was great, as it examines the isolated, freezing state that is Wyoming. The shots were also high angle shots, to showcase the frozen lands. The music was chilling, as it immerses you into the ‘silence’ that the reservation has endured after the murder.

In conclusion, I felt the film was good, just it lacked some writing for certain characters, and that the pacing was a little off. Taylor Sheridan visually exposed a very serious issue with this authentic film, and addresses the devastation of rape and murder, in whole, but more specifically in this film to the Native American demographic who are the prime victims in this example. An ambitious, gripping and complex film with a big message to society.

My rating: 8.0/10

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