This portrayal of the untold story of the Harpes and Samuel Mason is well worth your time, and the price. The cinematography is stunning and beautiful. Some of it looks like a painting. One scene around the campfire on the banks of the river looks like it was painted by Homer Winslow. Overall the acting is great, although the performances of a few day players were lacking. Jeff Buchwald as Preacher Eli, Creek Wilson as Samuel Mason and John Marrs as Captain Ballenger were particular good. The costumes were magnificent and it is obvious that the production spared no expense in finding the most historically accurate material, designs and fabric as possible. I especially liked the uniforms of the Spanish soldiers. You can tell that everyone involved in the project were passionate about the subject matter.
I did have one problem with the writing. While the story does start off introducing us to Mason, we don't see him again for nearly an hour and then most of his back story is given in an exposition dump. Most of the story has been focused on the Harpes up until then. Then we don't see them again for about thirty minutes while we see Mason go down the path of crime until he meets Little Harpe. It makes the film slow down and drag. I would have preferred that in the first hour that the film had intertwined the stories of Mason and the Harpes as he tries to avoid being associated with them and then the second act ending with them ganging up together. However the filmmakers were trying to give an historically accurate timeline in the chronicling of the events. I respect that and won't take a star off.
Again, I highly recommend you checkout this indie gem out. Many reviewers will unfortunately focus on the lacking elements common to low budget filmmaking and therefore give The Wilderness Road a negative review. Please ignore them. The film industry is one of the few businesses in which quality of product matters less than quantity of money brought in by the product. Many talented filmmakers have seen their dreams dashed when their well made product failed to make anything financially. People are always complaining about how Hollywood isn't making anything new or original. The Wilderness Road is the first Western that features the history of the Natchez Trace, a road that has as much importance in American history as the Oregon and Santa Fe Trail. It is also the first that historically portrays the folklore and frontier legends of Samuel Mason and the Harpes. The only other time they were featured in cinema was Davy Crockett and the River Pirates. While that was a fun romp, The Wilderness Road treats these early American serial killers with the seriousness and respect that the subject matter requires. Hollywood has far too often ignored the frontier lore, settlement and wild west atmosphere east of the Mississippi in early American history (1780-1830ish). You can help send a message to the film industry that we want more original content based on forgotten American history by supporting The Wilderness Road.
