Forsaken (2015)

Former criminal John Henry Clayton (Kiefer Sutherland) returns home to his preacher father (Donald Sutherland). John is compelled to revoke to his gunslinging when trouble plagues the town. Demi Moore and Brian Cox co-star.

With its patient pacing and classic storyline, Forsaken harkens back to the genre’s golden age in the 1950s. The casting of Kiefer and Donald Sutherland in a father-son conflict creates an added, moving layer of realism. Indeed, Forsaken is as much a family drama as it is an excuse for thrilling gunplay. The film’s centre is a debate around Christian morality and redemption. The script separates Christian theology from the church’s establishment, conveying spiritual wisdom. Furthermore, Forsaken is affecting for its tragic depiction of lost love, brought to life through Demi Moore’s performance.