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Directed by Jonas Åkerlund and written by Dave Callaham, Horsemen (also known as Horsemen of the Apocalypse), is a very interesting crime drama that deserves a little more credit than it’s given.
I’m actually surprised with how many bad reviews I’ve read for this film. While it may not be a match for Se7en (what is!?), I still really enjoyed it. It has some disturbing deaths, good characters and a few twists.
The movie begins with a grisly discovery at the middle of a snow-covered park, where a pile of human teeth are found on a serving plate. The words “come and see” are written on trees located at the four cardinal points of a compass. Specializing in forensic odontology, Detective Aidan Breslin (Dennis Quaid- Vantage Point), gets assigned to the unusual case. Breslin is run-down and recently widowed, growing increasingly distant from his sons Alex (Lou Taylor Pucci- Evil Dead 2013) and Sean (Liam James- 2012), who are not fond of his constant absence through work.
As the killings continue and Breslin buries himself in his work, he finds himself becoming obsessed as the case becomes religious. The killers M.O is a quote from the Book of Revelations 6:1,3,5,7, which pertains to the lifting of the veil and the coming of the Apocalypse. Now knowing there is more than one killer patterned after the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Breslin and his partner Stingray (Clifton Collins Jr- Star Trek 2009) must work quickly before the leader’s time to kill comes. When the pieces of the puzzle finally come together Detective Breslin is left with a shocking discovery that could spell tragedy for himself and those he loves.
Also starring Ziyi Zhang (Rush Hour, Hero) who did an excellent job as the troubled Kristin, managing to get under your skin. Taylor Pucci gave a well done performance as Breslin’s grieving eldest son, and Eric Balfour (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2003) and Barry Shabaka Henley (Collateral, Miami Vice) made nice additions.
The clues are there if you like watching for them but I personally don’t like to read too much into a film or guess the outcome, and Horsemen is a pretty intelligent movie give or take a few blunders.
I’d definitely recommend Horsemen to fans of bloody murders of mystery. It isn’t put under the horror genre and I really think it should be. The Horsemen are terrifying! Come and See!
WICKED RATING: 6/10 [usr 6]
Title: Horsemen
Director(s): Jonas Åkerlund
Writer(s): Dave Callaham
Stars: Dennis Quaid, Ziyi Zhang, Lou Taylor Pucci
Year: 2009
Studio/ Production Co: Mandate Pictures, Platinum Dunes, Radar Pictures
Budget: $20,000,000 (estimated)
Language: English
Length: 90mins
Sub-Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
