“American Primeval” (2025) written by Mark L. Smith; directed by Peter Berg; starring Taylor Kitsch & Betty Gilpin / Z-View
American Primeval (2025)
Created by: Mark L. Smith
Director: Peter Berg
Teleplay: Mark L. Smith
Stars: Taylor Kitsch, Betty Gilpin, Dane DeHaan, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, Derek Hinkey, Joe Tippett, Jai Courtney, Preston Mota, Shawnee Pourier, Kyle Davis, Tokala Black Elk, Mustafa Speaks, Nick Hargrove, Alex Fine, Andrew P. Loga, Irene Bedard, Kim Coates and Shea Whigham.
Tagline: No one survives alone.
The Plot…
1857.
A wagon train heading into the west is attacked. Isaac Reed, a frontiersman who had been trailing the group manages to get Sara Rowell and her son Devin away to safety. Abish, a newlywed Morman bride shows courage as the surviving women are killed. Abish’s life is spared, but she taken captive by one of the Paiutes. Everyone else is left for dead.
Although badly wounded and partially scalped, Jacob Pratt survives. Jacob is determined to find his bride Abish.
The attack on the wagon train appeared to be by Native Americans. Although there were some Paiutes that participated, the massacre was led by a Morman militia. The Mormans, led by Brigham Young, are determined to make this area of the west, their stronghold. When it is learned that Abish survived and could identify that Mormans were involved in the raid, a squad is sent to find and kill her.
Bounty hunters are on the trail of Sara Rowell and her son. Sara is wanted for the murder of a man back east.
As the US calvary prepares for revenge against the Shoshone (thought to have massacred the wagon train), bounty hunters are closing in on Isaac Reed, Sara, Devin, and Two Moon, a young Native American girl who joined their group. At the same time the Morman soldiers are hunting Abish.
Each group will face more battles with the other groups, wolves, and the elements. Most will not survive living in American Primeval.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
American Primeval writer Mark L. Smith also wrote The Revenant (2015).
Shea Whigham always raises the bar when he appears in a scene.
Arrows have never appeared so fast and dangerous as they do in this one.
American Primeval (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.