‘Meek’s Cutoff’ shows realistic horrors of early Oregon Trail travelers

"Meek's Cutoff" is an atmospheric western written by Jonathan Raymond and directed by Kelly Reichardt. Set in 1845, the film follows a group of settlers traveling across the unforgiving Oregon Trail during its earliest days.

The caravan of three families makes a risky move when they hire a mysterious mountain man named Stephen Meek to guide them on a shortcut through the Cascade Mountains. Tensions rise among members of the convoy when the water begins to run low and Meek's self-assured directions seem to be leading them astray. One of the travelers, Emily Tetherow, becomes especially suspicious of Meek's motivations and believes that the rogue roughneck may not be all that he seems. Desperation sets in as the pioneers continue onward, pushing their physical and psychological boundaries as they are forced to endure the hostilities of the environment around them and the people among them.

"Meek's Cutoff" makes a strong effort to set itself apart from the long-standing staples of the western genre. Through employing an unsettling level of stark realism, the filmmakers have fashioned a cinematic experience that captures the miserably monotonous reality that the earliest Americans faced while pursuing the unknown frontier. "Meek's Cutoff" swaps out sheriff's stars and shoot-outs for the somber sound of squeaky wagon wheels and seething social tension, producing a potent period piece that refuses to sacrifice its attitude of authenticity for the sake of viewers' expectations.

Michelle Williams turns out a solid performance as the film's central protagonist Emily Tetherow. Her understated portrayal of the strong-willed woman fits wonderfully within Reichardt's brutally realistic world. Emily's backbone makes her braver and more admirable than the men around her, with an unwavering moral compass revealing her to be the only one with a true sense of direction among the lost travelers. Though the headstrong Emily is undoubtedly the character viewers will most connect with, it is Bruce Greenwood's performance as Stephen Meek that steals the show. Greenwood's go as Meek makes the mountain man almost instantaneously repugnant, yet incredibly intriguing, as he periodically provides glimpses of his true nature.

The film's visual style mimics the stagnant destitution of the voyagers' seemingly endless journey. Incessant wide-eyed static shots manage to capture the duality of the desiccated desert, acting as both an exquisitely barren backdrop of scenic beauty and an unending expanse of lifeless limbo that imprisons the characters.

Due to its uncompromising minimalist approach, "Meek's Cutoff" is forced to forgo an eventful narrative, instead aiming its intentions on expressing the excruciating struggle of uncertainty that America's earliest settlers faced. Much like the pioneers it follows, the film is stripped down to the bare essentials, not wasting an ounce of energy to force the story forward at any rate faster than a horse pulled wagon.

Though this unhurried and deeply contemplative film may not appeal to everyone, its palpably tense tone, absorbing insight into the lives of the earliest Americans and unorthodox direction makes it a memorably distinct western.

"Meek's Cutoff" will show at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center June 10-16.

mikehollins@dailynebraskan.com

Grade: B