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Laws of Man is a neo-Western thriller set during the Cold War era in the western United States that follows two U.S. marshals. The film takes a left turn in the final act that pays off.
When someone thinks of films set during the Cold War, they may think of The Hunt for Red October (1990), Bridge of Spies (2015) or even Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008).
Laws of Man fits into the category of Cold War era thrillers, but what stands out about it is that it is a neo-Western film similar to No Country for Old Men (2007). The neo-Western setting takes the idea of what a film set during the Cold War can be and breathes new life into the concept. It is a completely different feeling with the film set in the West, and that different feeling adds a refreshing and different perspective to what was going on in the world then.
'Laws of Man’ overview
This film is writer, director and producer Phil Blanttenberger’s third feature film. His prior two films are also period films; Point Man (2018) is set in the Vietnam war, while Condor’s Nest (2023) is set just after World War II in South America.
Like his past two films, Laws of Man puts a new spin on the time period in which the film takes place.
Laws of Man follows Frank Fenton (played by Jacob Keohane) and Tommy Morton (played by Jackson Rathbone). Fenton and Morton are trying to find land owner Benjamin Bonney (played by Dermot Mulroney) and serve a warrant. They run into speed bumps along the way, including dealing with the Mooncalf Gang led by Crash Mooncalf (played by Richard Brake) in their quest to serve the warrant and arrest Bonney.
As they go through the desert of Nevada, Fenton meets Reverend Cassidy, who is staying at the same motel as Fenton and Morton. Cassidy (played by Harvey Keitel) helps Fenton with his post-traumatic stress disorder and serves as a non-traditional spiritual guide.
In the final act, the film takes a hard left turn, and Fenton and Morton truly go head to head with Bonney.
My review
Laws of Man is a good watch for anyone who enjoys a new twist on a western thriller with added historic elements. Having the film set during the Cold War is an ambitious concept, and Blattenberger executed it well.
The concept alone is intriguing because I wouldn’t imagine the Cold War era being mixed with a Western or neo-Western. Blattenberger combines the two well and ultimately gives new life to what a neo-Western and a Cold War-era film can be.
The actors in the film are also fitting for the film. One of my favorites was Brake’s performance, which reminded me of him as Doom-Head in Rob Zombie’s cult horror film 31 (2016).
I also thoroughly enjoyed the characters of Frank Fenton and Tommy Morton. They were played well by their respective actors, and the dynamic between them was very good. That is to the credit of their acting, as well as Blattenberger’s writing and directing.
Without going into spoiler-filled details, the third act was a twist I found fitting. Tension throughout the film built up, and everything came to blows.
The religious references in the film were also an interesting touch. Bonney’s children are named Ahab, Noah and Joe. Ahab and Noah are named from the Bible. The obvious Christian reference is Reverend Cassidy. There is also a direct reference to Gilead and the road to Gilead. This addition is a nice detail that adds depth to the film.
There are also many flashbacks throughout the film, which is also an interesting touch, showing Fenton during World War II, which could be a reference to Condor’s Nest, as actor Jacob Keohane also starred in it but played a different character. The flashback scenes were filmed in Enfield, N.C.
I found the film easy to place myself in, as I have visited a Cold War missile silo firsthand in Wyoming. Even though the film isn’t set in Wyoming, it was still a missile silo in the desert in the middle of nowhere.
The cinematography of the film was stunning. One of my favorite things were the aerial shots in the film, specifically whenever the classic Cadillac was tearing down a dirt road.
Overall, I throughly enjoyed the film and have nothing negative to say about it. However, I wouldn’t recommend the film to everyone simply on the fact of what genre the film is. I understand that not everyone enjoys a Western or a thriller or a period film, and that’s OK.
The film is a fun ride through the American west during the Cold War, and I will definitely be watching it again.