Horsemen, Come and See

If you are expecting “Se7en,” you will be disappointed. But if you are looking for a movie that won’t win any awards…but will definitely entertain you for a good 90 minutes, then this is the film for you.

While out walking his dog, an old man makes a gruesome discovery. Aidan Breslin (Dennis Quaid) is called in to investigate. Two other murders follow soon after. These murders are elaborate and well planned, and their only links are cryptic messages and biblical references to the four Horsemen of the apocalypse. Breslin must race against time to solve the case before the last murder is carried out. For if that final murder takes place, Breslin is in danger of losing more than he could ever imagine.

This movie has received some very poor reviews, and I think the main reason for this is because people expect “Se7en.” Don’t do that! Arguably, “Se7en” is a masterpiece. It is intensely acted, intelligently made; it is simply a sublimely sinister story. Even David Fincher (the director of “Se7en”) has struggled to strike gold twice. Movies like “Se7en” come along once in a decade, so it is unfair to compare another movie to it just because it includes eerie lighting and somewhat of a biblical reference. If you judge “Horsemen” as a stand-alone film, it will not dissatisfy.

“Horsemen” is an enjoyable movie, and Dennis Quaid is one of those reliable actors. His movies will rarely make you want to use words like genius or sublime, but they will leave you completely entertained and content that you have not wasted your evening by watching one of his films.“Horsemen” falls into the latter category; it won’t compel you to wax lyrical about how good it is, but it will be an engaging inclusion to movie night.

I will admit to having been slightly frustrated by “Horsemen” because with just a few minor changes, it could easily have garnered a five-star rating. Indeed, it has a few problems. Firstly, it straddles two genres. It is not gory enough or includes a high enough body count to be called a horror film, and the plot isn’t intriguing enough to be called a thriller. Statements are made throughout the film that are not backed up by what we see on screen. For example, we are told that the murderer is a medical savant and yet when the murderer is finally revealed, we’re left wondering how this person could possibly be that medical genius. I must confess that I hate when movies do this! Calling all movie-makers and script writers! You can’t just tell us that individuals are incredibly gifted you have to demonstrate it! If you don’t it’s hard for the viewer to believe that the characters really are that unique. And finally, the ending is disappointing. The movie has carried you along with it and when the concluding twist is finally revealed, you feel slightly cheated. Moreover, it seems to be a bit on the incredulous side.

The reason why these points are so exasperating is that the movie has a lot of things going for it. First, it looks stunning. Jonas Åkerlund, the director, has broken his teeth making music videos, and I am reliably informed that they are some of the best music videos of all time. Therefore, he knows how to make things look good. Secondly, Ziyi Zhang is fantastic in her role. She is seductively shy when needed, and she alternates this with being splendidly sinister. I think she may have received a bit of criticism for her broken English, but I didn’t really notice that at all. All I can say is that her English is certainly better than my Chinese. Thirdly, like all good horrors, it doesn’t overdo the scare factor by using tricks, such as loud bangs or flashing images. “Horsemen” draws you into its world and fills you with a sense of unease, which makes you creep gently along with it waiting for the ultimate scare and the ultimate twist.

In short, “Horsemen” can sometimes be breathtaking, with flashes of genius interspersed with tiny pockets of frustration. But all in all, it is a good film. What can be considered a shame is that because of the critical bashing it has received, the sequel promised at the end of the movie may never be delivered. I believe that the second time around, this movie franchise could achieve greatness. So don’t listen to the naysayers and “come and see” it for yourself.