Hell or High Water (2016) remains an underrated neo‑Western

Movieweb argues that Taylor Sheridan's 2016 neo-Western Hell or High Water is one of the most underrated films of the century, a crime drama starring Chris Pine, Ben Foster and Jeff Bridges.

The film follows two brothers who rob banks to prevent foreclosure on their land while a Texas Ranger (Jeff Bridges) hunts them down. It was nominated for four Oscars — Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor (Jeff Bridges) and Best Editing — and holds a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes, yet it grossed only $36 million against a $12 million budget.

The piece notes several reasons the film flew under the radar: limited marketing after production house OddLot Entertainment was running low on funds and had closed, and a crowded 2016 release slate that included major studio films. Sheridan was not yet a household name (Yellowstone had not premiered), and the movie’s sympathetic depiction of criminals driven by need — a reverse mortgage, a recent bereavement and the discovery of oil on the land — set it apart thematically.

Reviewers singled out the performances and director David Mackenzie’s work, and the report lists writers as Taylor Sheridan, Gil Birmingham and Kristin Berg. The film was released August 12, 2016, runs 97 minutes, and, according to the report, is available to rent on Amazon or Apple TV+.

Key Topics

Culture, Taylor Sheridan, Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges, David Mackenzie