The Scent of Rain & Lightning

I will not rate or review this movie. It may be brilliant. Just to say that I noticed it because it was classified on the Net as Western. It is not a Western.

Westerns can be a lot of things, but this ain't it.

The Scent of Rain and Lightning made some interesting decisions: a non-linear story line, understated colors, and a list of characters that you both related to and suspected of murder. By the time the main character unravels the story of her parents' deaths, she realizes that no one is all good or bad, that people make mistakes and that some of those choices lead to dire consequences. This is no old-time western where the bad guy rides in with his black hat so you know who "done" it. The story unravels, going back and forth from past to present, keeping you engaged and guessing. I think this choice by the director was brilliant, and it keeps the audience in a semi-state of uncertainty--as soon as you think you've figured it out, guess again. I saw this movie with my husband, who normally likes easy and entertaining, but he found it as intriguing as I did, and I prefer movies that leave me with something to chew on afterwards. The casting had depth and allowed for the whole movie to work instead of revolving around a few major characters; it definitely felt like an ensemble. If you liked Hell or High Water, you'll like this film.

Scent of Rain and Lightning (an adaptation of the novel by Nancy Pickard) upends expectations at every twisted turn. Anchored by a strong script from RUDDERLESS writers Casey Twenter and Jeff Robison, the film refuses to comply with the usual genre rules. Styled as a Western, flirting at the edges of a who-don-it, the film ultimately questions if we can truly know the truths of our personal histories...let alone understand them. Director Blake Robbins's extreme close-ups create a feeling of confusion and claustrophobia while a stellar cast hints at unseen histories. Watch for Maggie Grace's enigmatic portrayal of the headstrong, paradoxical Laurie.

Although I like the mystery genre this time I wasn't completely satisfied. There was just too much going on, back and forth from the present to the past, too many characters, that results in a too confused story to follow. The acting was good though, certainly nothing bad to say about that. The filming was good too. Just too bad it was all that confusing and a also bit slow at times. Why they put this movie in the western genre is also a mystery to me. It's not because it's in Texas and that people wear cowboy hats that it's a western. But the movie is worth a watch, you won't get bored. I won't watch it a second time though, once is enough.

This is the kind of film that sticks with you, and makes you want to watch again. The story isn't told in a traditional way, which can make it feel unsettling and even disorienting at times, but in an interesting and engaging way.