'On Swift Horses' Rides into U.S. Theaters in April
It may seem like most awards-bait films starring a high-profile British cast that debut at the various film festivals are instantly scooped up by studios eager for Acamdey Award attention, but that's not always true. Many get bogged down in negotiations with buyers or come away with tepid enough reviews to garner little interest. Some, like the period drama On Swift Horses, get left in limbo due to multiple factors; in this case, it's a perfect blend of controversial LGBTQ+ material, middling to poor reviews, and cast members recently in other snubbed films. However, Sony Pictures Classics eventually made a deal to distribute, with a 2025 release date set for April.
Based on the debut novel of the same name by Shannon Pufahl, On Swift Horses is a 1950s-set film that tells the story of a love triangle that develops when Lee, a Korean war veteran, his wife, Muriel, and his younger brother, Julius, move out to California together. However, this is not the usual case of a woman sleeping with two brothers — Julius is gay, for starters, and eager to get the heck out of the Golden State for the real wealth in Las Vegas. His defiance of the conservative 1950s-era social norms inspires Muriel to start her own secret rebellion, one that starts going off the rails when she discovers she also isn't nearly as straight as the world told her she was.
TIFF reviewers did not love the film; it barely rated on the Fresh side of the Tomatometer by the festival's conclusion. However, Sony is planning another high-profile release, screening the movie at SXSW in hopes of a friendlier reception ahead of the theatrical debut.
