Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- gritty
- harrowing
- rageful
- intense thriller night
- revenge cinema marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly view the film as a gritty, effective revenge thriller anchored by Peter Marshall's lead performance, while finding its brutal violence and disturbing subject matter divisive.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Christian's search for answers after receiving the video becomes an increasingly violent campaign of revenge.
Christian is repeatedly beaten, kills in pursuit of answers, and is explicitly framed as an unstable and dubious hero.
The plot hinges on footage of Christian's daughter being mistreated and his violent response to the perpetrators; the film is identified as a rape-and-revenge work.
Christian's friendship with runaway Alice recalls his daughter and introduces emotional vulnerability amid the revenge quest.
Films like The Horseman, and why
The Last House on the Left
shared rape-and-revenge framework, brutal violence, and morally compromised protagonist
Blue Ruin
shared revenge thriller structure, bleak atmosphere, and escalating personal violence
Animal Kingdom
shared australian crime setting, raw realism, and damaged characters navigating violent retribution
I Spit on Your Grave
shared exploitation-influenced revenge narrative, disturbing content, and grief-driven retaliation
Movie Details
- Director
- Steven Kastrissios
- Release Date
- 2008-08-03
- Runtime
- 96 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (117)
Cast
- Peter Marshall
- Caroline Marohasy
- Brad McMurray
- Jack Henry
- Evert McQueen
- Christopher Sommers
- Bryan Probets
- Steve Tandy
- Damon Gibson
- Hannah Levien
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Horseman about?
- A grieving businessman pursues violent answers after receiving evidence of his daughter's abuse, finding a fragile connection with a runaway along the way.
- What is The Horseman like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Horseman as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Horseman violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Horseman as graphic.
- What did critics think of The Horseman?
- Critics broadly view the film as a gritty, effective revenge thriller anchored by Peter Marshall's lead performance, while finding its brutal violence and disturbing subject matter divisive.
- Which films are like The Horseman?
- Films with a similar feel include The Last House on the Left, Blue Ruin, Animal Kingdom, and I Spit on Your Grave.
- How long is The Horseman?
- The Horseman runs 96 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Horseman?
- In United States, The Horseman streams on Philo, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel.
