Review of September Dawn (2007) by Daniel K — 22 Dec 2009

2: This is a fairly unusual picture. It's particularly interesting for me simply because I've spent so much time in Utah and interacted with a number of Mormons there (as I have elsewhere too of course).

The Mormons I've met were only too happy to give me rides as I hitchhiked back to my vehicle after a couple long hikes. One even went about 25 miles out of his way to get me all the way back to my vehicle at the Escalante River between Boulder and Escalante.

They certainly didn't try to murder me as is the case with the unfortunate "gentile" settlers depicted here. Maybe they were just trying to ensure I spent as little time in their territory as possible.

Just kidding. The events depicted in the film just go to show yet again that intolerant religious extremism in any form can be extremely dangerous to all that come in contact with it. It's fairly obvious from the outset that these particular Mormons are a little different and a little too devout and brainwashed for their own good.

The taking of Jon Voight's wife by Joseph Smith because of her beauty and a supposed voice from God is just another version of the Shabaab's recent edict that gold and silver fillings are unislamic and need to be pulled out.

I suspect the Somalian terrorists used the precious blood-soaked gold and silver teeth rather than discard them, just as Joseph Smith undoubtedly used Voight's characters wife's body for pleasure.

The creepiness and malevolence of Terrence Stamp's and Jon Voight's characters is undeniable. Fittingly, Stamp is even more frightening as Brigham Young is the more powerful of two characters.

Power corrupts, but greater power leads to greater corruption I guess. It seems a bit ludicrous that there is a university named after him, if indeed he was involved in the events depicted here. I'm not an expert, but those involved with the film certainly believe it's accurate, and I wouldn't put it past these men to do something so vile.

They were indeed early homegrown terrorists. I found it fascinating to see that the west at this time was so far removed from the more developed parts of America that the Mormon church could essentially rule their little fiefdom at their own whims.

It was a slightly different perspective than I've ever seen in a western before. As interesting as the story is, the tone and pacing are a bit off. Too much time is probably devoted to longing looks, breaking in the unruly horse, and dwelling on the scenery in the first act or so.

It's not that I reject these aspects of the film, but rather that I reject the manner in which they were handled. Someone like Terrence Malick can pull this off, but Cain cannot. In the end, the historical elements of the story are much more interesting than the romantic aspects of the film.