This is a good film, surprisingly so, actually. In the trappings of a period piece, this plays out very well in a pretty suspenseful drama, with a bit of mysticism that's built on in a subtle way. The progression may be a bit slow for hard-core action fans, but coming in at 100 minutes, it relays a lot of story in a pretty short time. Definitely worth the price of rental, for sure.
Despite commendations for his actions in the Mexican/American War in 1847, Captain John Boyd (Guy Pearce) is delegated to a remote post in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the California territory because they know as well as he does, he's a coward. His actions in the war tested his virtue and despite his final rise to bravery, failed not only his fellow soldiers but himself. So off to a remote outpost he goes (which is basically an assignment for the invisibles), and resigns himself to an isolated duty with absolutely no resemblance to the lifestyle he once led. But then a disheveled traveler shows up at their barracks, telling them of his party's ill-fortune and ultimate demise, leading a small investigating band of soldiers out to the wilderness where it happened.
Sure there's a bit of blood (it is about cannibalism, after all), but the authentic feel and expertly played roles make this a pretty worthwhile film. Pierce (Memento) and Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting) are excellent as the main leads, and minor characters having enough setup to dignify there roles as well, including Jeffrey Jones, Neal McDonough, and even David Arquette, playing the role he was born to play as the slightly mentally stunted peon soldier who likes the reefer (but not in a corn-ball kind of way). This film is beautifully shot, I must say, with very well-done sets. There's some editing faux-pas at the end that could've been treated in a different manner, but otherwise this is a pretty good drama that didn't get the attention that it deserved upon theatrical release and after.
