Released in 2021 to near-universal critical praise, Old Henry somehow slipped through the cracks during the explosion of Yellowstone-style dramas. Starring Tim Blake Nelson in a career-defining role with Stephen Dorff and a familiar face from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (Scott Haze), the film delivers a raw, emotional take on the Western genre that feels both timeless and painfully relevant. Four years later, as Westerns dominate screens once again with hits like Landman and Yellowstone spinoffs, viewers are finally discovering this haunting, beautifully crafted movie that should have been a modern classic from the very beginning.
Directed by Potsy Ponciroli in his feature debut, Old Henry is a taut, 99-minute chamber Western set in 1906 Oklahoma Territory. Nelson plays Henry McCarty, a widowed farmer living quietly with his teenage son Wyatt (Gavin Lewis), raising pigs and avoiding trouble. When Henry finds a wounded stranger (Dorff) with a satchel of cash, he takes him in—igniting a chain of events involving a posse led by the menacing Ketchum (Haze). What unfolds is a masterclass in tension: slow-burn buildup exploding into visceral shootouts, all anchored by Nelson’s restrained, soulful performance.
The film’s strength is its subversion: no grand vistas or heroic monologues, just gritty realism and moral ambiguity. Ponciroli’s script twists expectations, delivering a revelation that recontextualizes everything, earning comparisons to Unforgiven. Cinematography by John Matysiak captures dusty isolation, while Jordan Lehning’s score underscores quiet dread.
Critics raved: 94% Rotten Tomatoes, “a near-perfect Western” (Roger Ebert). Nelson’s “quiet intensity” drew Oscar buzz. Yet limited release and pandemic timing buried it—grossing $42,000 domestically.
Now streaming resurgence: “Finally watched—10/10 masterpiece” (@WesternFan, 50k likes). As genre revives, Old Henry redefines it: small, smart, shattering.
Stream on Netflix/Prime Video; discover what you missed.
