The Horseman (film)

{{Infobox film

| name = The Horseman

| image = Thehorseman2008poster.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Theatrical film poster

| director = Steven Kastrissios

| producer = Rebecca Dakin
Steven Kastrissios

| writer = Steven Kastrissios

| starring = Peter Marshall
Caroline Marohasy
Evert McQueen

| music = Ryan Potter

| cinematography = Mark Broadbent

| editing = Steven Kastrissios

| studio = Kastle Films

| distributor = Umbrella Entertainment
Screen Media Ventures

| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2008|06|29}}

| runtime = 96 minutes

| country = Australia

| language = English
Gaelic

| budget =

| gross =

}}

The Horseman is a 2008 Australian vigilante action psychological thriller film written and directed by Steven Kastrissios{{cite web | url=http://www.quietearth.us/articles/2009/11/04/GRIMMUPNORTH-09-Review-of-THE-HORSEMAN | title=Grimmupnorth 09: Review of The Horseman | publisher=Quiet Earth | date=4 November 2009 | author=projectcyclops | accessdate=16 April 2010 }} and starring Peter Marshall, Evert McQueen and introducing Caroline Marohasy.{{cite web | url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/36476/the-horseman-gets-limited-theatrical-release | title=The Horseman Gets Limited Theatrical Release | date=18 March 2010 | publisher=Dread Central | accessdate=16 April 2010 }}

Plot

After the drug-induced death of his teenaged daughter, Christian (Peter Marshall) is sent a video tape, a "snuff film" involving his daughter and several men. Christian then decides to avenge his daughter by killing all those linked to the sex tape. Along the way he meets a teenage runaway named Alice (Caroline Marohasy) and a fragile friendship begins to unfold.

Cast

{{Cast listing|

Peter Marshall as Christian
Caroline Marohasy as Alice
Brad McMurray as Derek
Jack Henry as Finn
Evert McQueen as Jim
Christopher Sommers as Pauly
Bryan Probets as Walters
Steve Tandy as Devlin
Chris Betts as Hilton
Damon Gibson as Chuck
Hannah Levien as Jesse Fortesky
Ron Kelly as Det. Adams
Robyn Moore as Irene
Warren Meacham as Richards
Greg Quinn as Kenneth
Rhye Copeman as Eddie

}}

Production

The Horseman was conceived as a short film.[http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/interview/646 The Horseman: Director Steven Kastrissios] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611053656/http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/interview/646 |date=11 June 2010 }} It was filmed in Burpengary, Queensland.{{Cite news |last=Mallinder |first=Terry |date=12 January 2015 |title=Queensland's horror filled history |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/central-queensland/queenslands-horror-filled-history/news-story/cc763e4424eea65e0d648181d5af207f |access-date=10 March 2024 |work=Sunshine Coast Daily}}

Release

The film came out on DVD and Blu-ray on 1 March 2010 in the UK.{{cite web | url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/36123/the-horseman-wreaks-vengeance-uk | title=The Horseman Wreaks Vengeance on the UK | publisher=Dread Central | accessdate=16 April 2010 }} The film was part of the Sitges Film Festival,{{cite web | url=http://www.soundonsight.org/sitges-2009-complete-lineup/ | title=Sitges 2009 Complete Lineup | publisher=Sound on Sight | accessdate=16 April 2010 }} Fantasia Festival,[http://www.ioncinema.com/news/id/4197 Fantasia 2009: Steven Kastrissios' The Horseman] the Film4 FrightFest{{cite web | url=http://www.quietearth.us/articles/2009/07/03/Incredible-Film4-FRIGHTFEST-lineup-announced | title=Incredible Film4 Frightfest lineup announced! | publisher=Quiet Earth | accessdate=16 April 2010 }} and South by Southwest 2009.{{cite web | url=http://www.fearnet.com/news/reviews/b15112_sxsw_review_horseman.html | title=SXSW Review: 'The Horseman' | publisher=Fear Net | first=Scott | last=Weinberg | date=19 March 2009 | accessdate=16 April 2010 }} Screen Media Ventures set the limited theatrical run for the United States on 15 June 2010.{{cite web | url=http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/19508 | title='The Horseman' Gets Limited Theatrical Run This June | accessdate=16 April 2010 | publisher=Bloody Disgusting | date=18 March 2010 }}

Critical reception

While it has been criticised for the brutal violence and content matter, receiving an R rating,{{cite web | url=http://kastlefilms.com/The_Horseman.html | title=The Horseman | publisher=Kastlefilms | accessdate=16 April 2010 }} writer and director Steven Kastrissios has mentioned he believes that the brutality is essential to the story.[http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/20498 Interview with 'Horseman' Director Steven Kastrissios, Creature Feature Next?] It currently has a rating of 60% on the movie review site Rotten Tomatoes based on 30 reviews, with an average score of 5.9/10.The Horseman (2008), http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_horseman_2008. Retrieved 13 November 2022

=Accolades=

class="wikitable"
Award ! Category ! Subject ! Result
rowspan=2\|Melbourne Underground Film Festival \|Best Film \|rowspan=2\|Steven Kastrissios \|{{won}}
Best Director \|{{won}}

class="wikitable"

Award

! Category

! Subject

! Result

rowspan=2|Melbourne Underground Film Festival

|Best Film

|rowspan=2|Steven Kastrissios

|{{won}}

Best Director

|{{won}}