🎬 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 (𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟓)

Set against the rugged plains of 1872 Wyoming, Forsaken is a brooding and emotionally charged Western that explores the struggle between redemption and the inescapable weight of the past. The story follows John Henry Clayton (Kiefer Sutherland), a battle-weary former gunslinger who returns to his hometown after years away, hoping to lay down his weapons and reconcile with his estranged father, Reverend Samuel Clayton (Donald Sutherland).

But peace proves elusive. John Henry’s return coincides with a brutal land war, as ruthless barons led by James McCurdy (Brian Cox) terrorize the local farmers, forcing them to surrender their property through intimidation and violence. As the town trembles under the weight of corruption and fear, John Henry must confront not only these external threats but also the demons of his past.

Haunted by the lives he took and the choices he made, he is torn between honoring his vow to live a life of peace or answering the call to defend the innocent. His internal battle mirrors the emotional chasm between him and his father, a man of faith who disapproved of his son’s violent path. Their uneasy reunion stirs decades of resentment, pain, and buried love.

As tensions escalate, Forsaken builds toward a final confrontation that demands more than just bullets—it demands forgiveness, sacrifice, and the courage to change. John Henry’s journey becomes not just a fight for the town’s survival, but for his own soul.

Directed by Jon Cassar, the film made its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 14, 2015, before its U.S. release on February 19, 2016. Acclaimed for its stripped-down, character-focused storytelling and the authentic chemistry between real-life father and son, Forsaken stands as a moving and meditative entry in the modern Western canon.

With stark landscapes, restrained yet powerful performances, and a quietly intense narrative, Forsaken is not just a tale of gunfights and frontier justice—it’s a heartfelt meditation on family, forgiveness, and the long road home.