Nicholas Cage’s career spans several decades, and over the years he went from independent darling to mainstream action star and back, but one thing we know him for for is being quirky.
After deciding he’d rather experience life and see more of the world, Will Andrews (Fred Hechinger) drops out of Harvard and heads West to the Colorado wilderness. When he arrives he meets Miller (Cage) who agrees to take him on a buffalo hunt far up in mountains.
Butcher’s Crossing is a slow burn western, but it’s not your typical western. Cage’s performance is unfortunately uneven, as he appears unwilling to portray Miller as the villain he really is. At times it feels as if he is wanting to push the boundaries and let his character go full out, but he just doesn’t go all the way with it. It’s the same thing for Hechinger. The biggest issue with the film however isn’t with the characters, but the passage of time. You don’t get a real sense of how long the characters are out in the wild.
Even with its flaws Butcher’s Crossing is an enjoyable movie with a strong story, but it’s not for everyone. Butcher’s is a movie that’s not so much about the characters themselves, but the lessons they learn about life. It’s about respecting the land we live on and the world around us. It’s about understanding that life isn’t necessarily fair all the time.
- Release Date: 9/17/2022
