Review of The Horseman (2009) by Rob C — 16 Nov 2011

The Horseman follows the same premise as Taken, being a bit more graphic in it's nature. However, don't cross this out as being another mindless torture/revenge film, there's some intelligence behind the screenplay and for director Steven Kastrissios, he builds up a script with characters you actually care about.

It follows a man, after recieving news about his daughters death and her involvement in a violent porn film, who sets out on a journey to find said actors and producers of the film. While leaving a trail of bodies, he befriends a young female runaway who sort of keeps him on the plane of sanity, you can say.

We're instantly thrown into the violence at the beginning of the film and are carted down a rollercoaster of different scenes that leave a lot to the imagination and are not to gratuitous in nature.

We know what's actually going on, but Kastrissious shows us in a tasteful manner. We see the character of Marshall try to fight back his feelings as he commits these acts of violence towards the people who hurt his daughter.

Here we find a man not used to this side of himself, but somehow comes to grip and into a setting he begins to feel comfortable with, vengeance. The Horseman is an intense independent revenge film and a rather robust debut for director Steven Kastrissios.

I'd say a start to a really good career for the man.