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George P. Cosmatos' 1993 classic Tombstone has had remarkable staying power over the last three decades, and with good reason. The epic action, endlessly quotable dialogue, and fiery performances make it irreplaceable, along with the added benefit of having a historical basis for its narrative and most of its characters. It manages to strike many of the most well-worn yet beloved tropes from the iconic movies of John Ford, Howard Hawks, and Sergio Leone while adding in a more modern action and entertainment sensibility.
For those who treasure that balance of Old West aesthetics and entertainment, Netflix currently has a replacement that's risen to the top of the streaming charts. Potsy Ponciroli's Old Henrystars Tim Blake Nelson as the eponymous farmer who must defend his son from a dangerous cluster of outlaws in the Oklahoma Territory in 1906. There is plenty of slow-burn Western sizzle to the sharp, 99-minute narrative, and Nelson delivers a particularly captivating performance as a worn-down Western settler working to establish and maintain a peaceful existence. However, the movie's third act is what takes it to the next level, and makes it a great replacement for those who appreciate the historical leanings of Tombstone.
'Old Henry' Is a Thrilling Revisionist Western Action Drama
Boasting an incredible 94% Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score, the steadily-unfolding narrative of Old Henry makes it clear that Nelson's stern farmer Henry has a dark past that he's managed to hide in favor of his simple life with a wife and son. His accidental involvement in a battle between a sheriff and his posse and a group of outlaws exacerbates a sense of paranoia that permeates the entire affair, as neither Henry nor the man he rescues claiming to be a sheriff nor the gang of outlaws also claiming to be lawmen are what they say they are. The movie's final act sees the uneasy standoff reach a boiling point, bringing not only answers but a memorable and excellent action sequence.
Henry goes on a one-man rampage against the gang of outlaws threatening him, his son, and the apparent sheriff they rescued. It's a thrilling sequence, made all the more powerful by the reveal that Henry is in fact the infamous outlaw Billy the Kid, who faked his death 25 years earlier and escaped to start a new life. It's a twist that some will see coming (Henry McCarty was Billy the Kid's actual birth name), but even if you do, it doesn't diminish the tension of the build-up or the excitement of the final shootout.
'Old Henry's Scratches the Classic Western Itch Without Feeling Stale
Old Henry is anchored by Tim Blake Nelson, as his performance drives the entire movie forward. However, a Western is only as good as its villain, and Stephen Dorff delivers a criminally underappreciated turn as the outlaw masquerading as a sheriff, Sam Ketchum. He's equal parts charismatic and menacing, and makes a terrific foil for Nelson's exhausted gunslinger at the end of his life. Those characters, the Oklahoma territory setting, and the gun battles are decades-old staples of the Western genre, but the paranoia that hangs like a heavy curtain over the story keeps it feeling fresh and exhilarating, especially once the final act hits. Tombstone fans would do well by making sure Old Henry makes it way into their Netflix queue.
