It’s probably somewhat too stately. But it is an odd, mostly compelling yarn, and acted with gusto and shot with real physical commitment to the wide open spaces and raw chill of the elements.

The Thicket is an awful story, in a great way.

Juliette Lewis steals the show in a bleak, action-heavy Western that lacks the depth to match its gritty visuals.

The movie constantly asks, “Are the good guys really all that good?” Again, this isn’t necessarily an original concept for the Western genre, but director Elliott Lester handles the idea with grace and delicacy that make the question feel genuine.