The Fatal Flaw Of Kevin Costner’S ‘Horizon’ Isn’T The One Everyone’S Talking About

Costner, who revitalized his career with the hit Paramount series Yellowstone, brought a TV mindset to Horizon. This approach, evident in the film’s pacing, may have contributed to its lackluster reception.

While Yellowstone succeeded by catering to an older demographic often ignored by the streaming boom, Horizon struggled with its sprawling, unfocused narrative and meandering pace.

Critics noted that the film felt more like a TV series than a cohesive movie, with its episodic structure and cliffhangers more suited to television than the big screen.

Horizon tells multiple stories: Frances Kittredge (Sienna Miller) and her daughter find refuge at a Union Army camp after an Apache raid, horse trader Hayes Ellison (Costner) and sex worker Marigold (Abbey Lee) evade outlaws, a wagon trail led by Matthew Van Weyden (Luke Wilson) heads for settlement, and a group of bounty hunters targets Apache tribes.

These interconnected storylines, though individually compelling, create an information overload that undermines the film’s epic quality.

The film’s lack of narrative centrality and immediate hook made it difficult for audiences to engage. Although there are standout scenes showcasing Costner’s directorial talent, the overall narrative lacked momentum.

Key moments, such as Frances’ interactions with Lieutenant Trent Gephardt (Sam Worthington) and the artistic aspirations of a newlywed couple on the wagon trail, felt disconnected from the main plot.

Costner’s decision to map out an entire four-part saga without allowing viewers to fully engage with any one character or setting proved problematic.

A 4-part epic Western is a daunting commitment, and Chapter 1 needed more urgency to entice viewers to stay for the entire journey. Costner’s limited screen time in the first chapter also hurt the film, as his presence could have provided a stronger anchor for the audience.

Despite its ambitious scope, Horizon fell into problematic Western tropes. Costner’s deep-seated passion for the genre is evident, drawing inspiration from John Ford, Howard Hawks, and Clint Eastwood.

However, his portrayal of Native Americans often reverted to insensitive stereotypes. Although the film attempts to humanize Indigenous characters through extended dialogue and dedicated story arcs, these efforts sometimes feel superficial, serving more to push thematic elements than to flesh out the characters authentically.

The closing moments of Horizon: Chapter 1 tease future installments, showing potential for the storylines to converge at the titular settlement.

Despite the anticipation for Chapter 2, viewers might feel cheated after three hours of what felt like mere table-setting.

While Costner’s saga was expected to showcase a visionary’s bold gamble, the lack of closure in Chapter 1 left audiences frustrated, reminiscent of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s tendency to save the best for later installments.

Ultimately, Horizon’s initial chapter failed to capture the urgency and singularity needed to sustain a four-part epic. Costner has overcome odds before, but this time, the challenges may prove insurmountable.