A woman finds herself in a dangerous spot in God’s Country, the latest from co-writer/director Julian Higgins.
It’s hard to move to a new place, and Sandra mostly wanted to keep to herself at first. She bought an isolated home and did her work at the university quietly. When hunters showed up on her land she tried to shoo them off, but they got aggressive and things escalated out of her control. With no help coming from the police, the situation starts to threaten much more than her quiet life.
This has the feel of a neo-western, with wide open spaces and lonely encounters leading to an inevitable, violent standoff. The most obvious twist here is Thandiwe Newton taking on the role of the tired gunslinger, one who doesn’t want trouble but finds it anyway. It’s a role usually reserved for white men, of which Newton is neither, which adds fresh layers to the old dynamics at play.
Still, the ruggedly familiar outline of the film means Higgins won’t have to reinvent the wheel to make this work, which is good considering his sparse experience. He’s got a handful of shorts, some TV work, and the little-seen 2004 feature Mending Wall under his belt, making God’s Country his most high-profile work to date. Hopefully, he can lead the sturdy premise, and his excellent lead to something great.
God’s Country is directed by Julian Higgins and stars Thandiwe Newton, Joris Jarsky, and Jefferson White. It will be released in the US on September 16th. Further release dates are not currently known.
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