Is Blackwood a good western Wendigo horror movie?

If you were to judge a movie by its cover alone, you might think Blackwood was a western. Understandably. It screams cowboy flick. And in part it is, but it’s also a horror movie featuring a Wendigo for the monster. But does that make for a good blend?

Well…

It had the potential to become something interesting. The trailer certainly caught my attention. I was looking forward to Blackwood. However, this is one of those times where the trailer is better than the movie.

Before I explain what I did and didn’t like about it, let’s first review what it’s all about. Warning: spoilers ahead.

About Blackwood

Here’s the synopsis from the movie’s site:

After her family was murdered, Dowanhowee, a Native American woman, travels alone into the ever-expanding West. She stumbles upon a decrepit town and crosses paths with a notorious outlaw group known as the Dutch Wilder Gang. She discovers one of the men riding a horse belonging to a member of her slain family. Dowanhowee takes revenge on the horse thief and evades the group by racing into an uncharted area known as the Black Wood Forest. Once inside this mysterious land, the Dutch Wilder Gang capture Dowanhowee and after a cruel interrogation the men find value in her, and force her to help them with their primary mission; to find a hidden vein of gold. Not long into their journey, they soon discover they must work together and fight for their lives as they have unknowingly awakened an ancient ravenous creature known as The Wendigo.

The film stars Bates Wilder (Castle Rock), Glenn Morshower (Transformers: The Last Knight, The Resident), and Tanajsia Slaughter (The Last Son). It was written and directed by Chris Canfield.

Blackwood releases in select theaters on July 22 and on digital and on demand on July 26.

What’s Good About Blackwood

I’ll start with the positives first. It deserves points for atmosphere and music. Both add creative elements that lend the movie some style.

What’s Bad About Blackwood

Exactly what you need to have for a good movie is missing in this one, i.e. the storyline, dialogue, and acting.

It’s never quite made clear why Dowanhowee (Tanajsia Slaughter) is headed for Blackwood. We eventually learn cowboys murdered her family, and she watched her daughter gunned down in cold blood. When we first meet her she’s stumbling into a town looking to trade rabbit fur for a horse, which just gets her laughed at.

One of the townspeople also abuses her because she’s a native woman. The sheriff steps in and puts a stop to it, but also tells her in no uncertain terms to get out of town.

So right off, we have a lot of sympathy for Dowanhowee. She seems nice enough, until she viciously attacks and murders a member of Dutch Wilder’s (Bates Wilder) gang and steals his horse. We then later learn that the horse used to belong to her.

Anyway, off she rides towards the mysterious Blackwood. As soon as the unfortunate gang member’s body is found, Dutch and his crew take off in hot pursuit.

However, before that Dutch has problems of his own. He’s stolen something for Sally Pickerton (Kara Rainer). That’s why he’s come to town. To collect payment. However, Sally hoodwinks him and promises a fortune in gold awaits him in Blackwood. All he has to do is secure a claim and he’s welcome to take as much as he can carry.

Well, he’s an outlaw, not a miner. But that’s okay. Her right-hand man, Wallace Price (Glenn Morshower) is good at finding “shiny bits.” Sally just needs Dutch to dispatch the men she previously sent to stake the claim who she believes have double-crossed her.

However, we know from the opening scenes they did no such thing. The Wendigo got them.

Instead of killing Sally, Dutch accepts her deal, which right away was a tough plot pill to swallow. No outlaw would’ve put up with that.

But he does, and before Dutch leaves, Sally warns him, “There are many legends about the Blackwood. So as you travel forth from here, please take caution. Let’s hope those stories I’ve heard aren’t all true.”

That was a major problem with the movie. There was a lot of talk about the legend of Blackwood, but no real showing.

I mean, yes. We see the Wendigo killing the miners in the beginning, but why was Blackwood so scary? What made people say that? We never learn that and it’s something that could’ve enhanced the tension. Instead, we’re just asked to accept “it’s a bad place,” and leave it at that.

We do see that in addition to the man-eating Wendigo, ghosts roam the area. Or they haunt people with the ghosts of their past. In both Dutch and Dowanhowee’s cases, it’s their dead daughters. Dutch ends up revealing his family was killed too. While he was off fighting the Civil War, “injuns” burned up his home with his wife and daughter inside.

Anyway, so Dutch and his crew catch up to Dowanhowee and pretty soon find they all must work together to save their lives. Which means killing the creature before it kills them.

The plot felt contrived and forced. There weren’t any memorable scenes, or dialogue, all of which was predictable, and most of the acting was very second-rate. Not all. Performances from pros like Glenn Morshower and Stelio Savante (who played Henri) stood out, which only made the bad acting stand out more.

What’s Ugly About Blackwood

Can you kill a Wendigo? Apparently, you can free the soul trapped in the creature, as Dowanhowee and Dutch do. But it ended in a way that suggested the evil spirit that comprises the Wendigo may have found a new home in Lester (George Thomas Mansel). No sequel needed for Blackwood, please. Once was enough.

Blackwood Trailer

For More Info

Visit theblackwoodmovie.com.

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When’s the last time you saw a movie about a Wendigo?