The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

John Henry Clayton (Kiefer Sutherland) returns to his western home sometime after the Civil War. He discovers Donald Sutherland (Rev. Clayton) is still alive and doing films while his mother has died. Rev. Clayton does everything he can to make his son feel unwanted, but to no avail, he stays. We then discover some bad guys are forcing the ranchers to sell their land. We don't know why, but this is a theme of half the western films out there, normally involving either the railroad or goldmine. John Henry has an old girlfriend (Demi Moore) that has moved on without him. If you have ever seen a western before you got a pretty good idea what happens...even the lines got to be predictable.In spite of this being identical to so many westerns and Donald Sutherland pontificates in too many scenes, the film was done well for fans of the genre. Keifer gives us one fine emotional scene in the church and I liked the original title "Redemption" a bit better.Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity

Forsaken is directed by Jon Cassar and written by Brad Mirman. It stars Kiefer Sutherland, Donald Sutherland, Brian Cox, Michael Wincott, Aaron Poole and Demi Moore. Music is by Jonathan Goldsmith and cinematography by Rene Ohashi.There's a group of words bandied around for this one such as generic, cliché and formulaic, and most assuredly these can not be argued about. For this is very much an old style traditional Western, the plot featuring a retired gunslinger being pushed into action again - while he tries to reconcile with his estranged father - is a hard core staple of 1950s Westerns. But what is wrong with having a traditional Western in this day and age as long as it's produced with skill and grace? The answer for Western lovers is nothing at all.This is a beautifully mounted picture, fronted by father and son Sutherland's - which adds heartfelt emotion to their scenes together - and boosted by gorgeous cinematography (making it a Blu-ray must), it's a genre piece of worth. Crucially it knows what it wants to be, it has no pretence to be anything other than a traditional Oater for lovers of such. The villains are sneery and scenery chewers - apart from Wincott who is a gentleman dandy type - and the good guy is wonderfully broody and reflective. Pacing is fine, the story has good drama and the finale excites as we hope it should.In summary, nothing new here of course (except maybe Cox's out of place language!), so expectation of such would be foolhardy, but a smashing Western it be. 7/10

Released in 2015 and directed by Jon Cassar, "Forsaken" is a Western starring Kiefer Sutherland as a repentant prodigal son who returns to his hometown in the Northwest after going off to fight the Civil War and afterward morphing into a notorious gunfighter. His mother's now passed away and his father, the town preacher (Donald Sutherland), has a hard time embracing him. Demi Moore plays his youthful flame, now married (the husband played by Jonny Rees). Brian Cox is on hand as the land-grabbing villain with his hired guns (Aaron Poole and Dylan Smith). Michael Wincott stands out as the southern Gentleman Dave, an honorable gunfighter.This is a nigh excellent realistic Western even though parts are too by-the-numbers and it clearly borrows from past Westerns, like the towering "Shane" and "Unforgiven." But it's different enough to stand on its own and holds some agreeable surprises up its sleeve.I like the subplot about the Civil War causing John Henry (Kiefer) to become disillusioned, falling into the gunfighting lifestyle. Kiefer is unexpectedly good as the protagonist, easily carrying the movie with the help of his father; the church sequence is particularly effective. I also appreciate the message with the romantic subplot, which is the antithesis of the eye-rolling events in "Pale Rider," a film that borrowed even heavier from "Shane" and could be called a total rip-off (or homage). I thought I had the ending figured out, but I was wrong, which is good.The movie runs 90 minutes and was shot in CL Ranch, Springbank, Alberta, Canada.GRADE: Borderline A-/B+ ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY *** SPOILER ALERT ***Someone criticized "Forsaken" on the grounds that it was a "low-budget Pale Rider," But there are significant differences between the two movies: John Henry (Kiefer) in "Forsaken" is a human being rather than a mysterious supernatural figure like the Preacher (Eastwood) in "Pale Rider." John Henry served during the Civil War, clearly suffering PTSS and swearing off killing whereas the Preacher appears as a sort of angel of vengeance with zero qualms about killing those who deserve it.John Henry humbles himself, allowing himself to get his axx kicked, whereas the Preacher is superhuman, always kicking axx from the get-go.As a human being, John Henry repents in tears in the church facility, hugged by his father, whereas the Preacher needs to do no such thing.John Henry loved the woman (Mary Alice) enough to not mess with her in any way and thus risk destroying her family whereas the Preacher has sex with the woman even though her kindly husband, Hull, is his friend and he's supposed to be an agent of righteousness (!), which is a gaping plot hole.John Henry doesn't want to take on Gentleman Dave, if he doesn't have to, likely because they're birds of a feather and he recognizes Dave's code of honor, unlike the other scumbag thugs hired by McMurdy. He also mercifully allows the young hirelings the chance to leave the gunfight. By contrast, the Preacher basically kills everyone linked to the villain without mercy."Forsaken" is real-life dramatic Western whereas "Pale Rider" is a mythical Western with supernatural elements.

overall the movie was good the relationship between father and son was good. The story line though well worn was OK. GGood actors but farmers they are not. a couple of nit pics Once you fell a tree with an axe -- cut the branches up with a saw whacking a small branch with a axe for no apparent reason seemed staged.while you are digging out the stump there is no need to chop at it with the axe -- you already cut the tree down. after you plow the field you harrow it or at least rake it to smooth the ground but you do not seed the furrows.Overall the movie was really OK. they really should have consulted a farmer though.