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Forgotten film Friday: Wind River

 A retrospective by Forest Humphrey

Trigger Warning: “Wind River” depicts and deals heavily with the subjects of sexual violence, self harm and drug abuse. 


2017's “Wind River” forms a kind of thematic trilogy with writer/director Taylor Sheridan's previous two films “Sicario” and “Hell or High Water”. Sheridan has a knack for this kind of “modern western” and takes his work to dark places. If you've seen the aforementioned films you know you're in for a gritty and tense thriller that is not afraid to deal with heavy subject matter.

On the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming, hunter Cory (Jeremy Renner) discovers the body of a local young woman in the snow, miles from anywhere. When the tribal police investigate, they discover the woman had been raped, and contact the FBI. They send one rookie agent (Elizabeth Olsen) to assist in finding out what happened. 

The film's plot is as straightforward as they come, but everything else around it is what I believe elevates this film into genuine excellence. It puts a spotlight on how poorly Native American's are treated, even today. The tribe has a mere half dozen officers trying to cover an area the size of Rhode Island, and when asked for help, they get the tiniest amount possible. The snowy wilderness gives the film a consistent atmosphere of bleak isolation, even as the cinematography manages to also give it a chilling beauty. And while its subject matter can be very tricky to depict, I find the film treats the crime in question with the respect and gravity it deserves. More than once the film has managed to drive me to tears. There is no exploitation here to be found here. 

Amusing as it is that the film stars a pair of “Avengers” alumni, both Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen showed up to put in the work. Along with veteran co-star Graham Greene, the cast all turn in fantastic performances. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis gave the film a stellar soundtrack as well, perfectly capturing the feelings conveyed by the daunting natural environment and heavy themes. 

“Wind River” is a fantastic film from top to bottom, even if it is one I can't watch often due to its heavy subject matter. If the warning I gave doesn't deter you, I cannot recommend it enough. 




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