The Legend of DarkHorse County

What makes Legend of DarkHorse worth watching is its uncompromised and blunt way of showing the acts of horror in being in the wrong place at the wrong time while drinking irresponsibly all at the same time.

It is a very quiet and slow film, mostly shot using static and still cameras, it feels more like a documentary than a fictional film. It's clear upon viewing, that this film wanted to remind us all that violence should not be entertainment. As such, every act of violence and degradation is shown in a sad, dark light. Nothing over the top or for cheap gore sake. Blood is limited to shirt stains and a few splats.

This film is an attack on our desensitized feelings towards alcohol abuse. Yet, at the same time, the film purposely desensitizes us to certain acts -- Such as abducting children. The way we see it in the film it becomes "normality" to us, we barely raise an eyebrow thinking that young children can become a unlikely hero.

Legend of Darkhorse only real downfall is that it can't figure out whether its a serious look at morality or an action adventure for teens. It could work on either level not sure if it can for me on both levels. The young actors could have pulled off a "hunger games" type film nicely as they were slick enough in Darkhorse to hold their own film. But I was more interested in the deeper drama.

Darkhorse continues to descend until at the end, when we are taken from a smart and well done "Dante's Inferno" to the punishing grounds by two giant crosses (effective), where a certain rule breakers is... (well no spoiler here). This final sequence is the very effective and best part of the film. As the victim and the guilty find a common ground of likeness. It's a savage and truthful attack, one that is impossible to deny that judgement is best served to someone or something much more than mere humans.

The very ..very end worked out well in rendering the film as a complete and accurate reflection on Good and Evil as being much more that a power struggle but a cycle in life in which one depends on the other. This rang true to me and was refreshing as far as films go.

All in all, A well made movie, definitely worth a watch, even for the religiously devoid.