End of the Rope

What could've been a decent movie based on a true event was just a torturous watch, I don't know if my ears will recover. I should've turned it off but, a true story always gets me. Especially since it was "western" type. While the acting, story, set, etc. Was decent, the sound (music) was way overdone and too loud. While I appreciate a good soundtrack & score, this was just the pits. Score was decent, volume was extremely overbearing. Mumbling actors, low volume voices, and a score that covered it all up. Too bad subtitles weren't available. The buildup in the beginning was stretched beyond its need to get to the point of the sullen, despaired sheriff. Any scene meant to draw out emotion, empathy or feeling for the characters/situation was for naught due to the loudness of the music. Whoever did the audio should be ashamed and probably needs to find a new career. Whoever made this movie can thank the audio team for ruining your movie.

Only watch it you have subtitles available and can tune a decent score down unfortunately.

The last 20 seconds of the ending film credits tells it all, it is a work of fiction. Sadly, I was really looking forward to this film, as I read the book, but I was really disappointed for many reasons. Both sides of my family for 3 generations lived in the Watford City, ND area, and many generations of both sides of my family are buried in the Schafer Cemetery. I grew-up hearing about the brutal Bannon crimes committed on the Haven family farm, who are also buried in the Schafer Cemetery. The film is entirely too long and slow. The invented fire backstory was fiction, and only made Bannon seem sympathetic, which historically he was not! Charles Bannon, by my relatives firsthand accounts, was a greedy, ruthless murderer of men, women, and children. The code of silence from the lynching in and around Schafer and Watford City, North Dakota persists until today, almost 93 years later. My grandfather showed me photos of Bannon in a Watford City museum when I was young, and he appeared to be the embodiment of evil. Conversely, the actor in this film looked like an alter boy. This film was a REAL missed opportunity to tell a truly tragic history, and while laws were broken, justice prevailed. Hopefully, someday, there will be a more historically accurate and chilling 'reboot' of this film and story.

If you are willing to overlook the 'Cellphone Camera' cinematography and the some what harsh lighting and editing, this film does stand tall in script, the Actors give both an honest and respectful truth to the disturbingly real life event script with a dialog that stands out as actually human, rather than the cut and paste dross one has come to expect over the past decade of paint by numbers Hollywood ... sadly I doubt this film will ever get the 'box office' respect it deserves in terms of effort made as there are no Marvel Superheros in the real world, only true tales seasoned by the likes of Truman Capote, Cormac McCarthy and as it now seems, Daniel Bielinski and Co.

I am so happy to have stumbled on this little gem. Always on the lookout for worthy Western dramas, too often I find cheesy costume dramas with paper thin screenplays and stuntmen pretending to be actors.

This Depression era crime drama is set in a rugged little hamlet in the hinterlands of North Dakota. It's a true story told with uncommon sensitivity. The setting is reminiscent of Year of the Dog, but IMHO this is a far superior film. The characters are very well developed and surprisingly complex, and all of the acting is superb.

Although it's onviously not a big summer tentpole movie, the production values are impressive. Aside from the odd habit of several male characters wearing their fedoras indoors (which I guess might be a real thing in the chilly Dakotas) all of the costumes were appropriate to the era and the characters, right down to the fabrics of their clothes.

The music track and cinematography were perfect for the subject matter. There are some nifty vintage autos and one nifty antique tractor, which add some welcome color to the bleak country setting.

Overall this is the kind of indie movie the world could use more of. Maybe regional production is the last hope of serious cinema as foreign filmmakers latch onto Hollywood's genre traditions and Hollywood wallows in juvenile action fantasies and cookie cutter action flicks.

Bravo!

"End of the Rope," a film based on the true story of North Dakota's last lynching, had the potential to be a gripping historical drama. Unfortunately, its excessive length of 2 hours and 19 minutes ultimately undermines its impact.

The acting is decent, and the background music complements the story well. However, the pacing is sluggish, and the film could easily have been trimmed by 30 minutes or more without sacrificing any essential plot points.

A few anachronistic details, such as items not in use in 1931, detract from the historical accuracy. While these may seem minor, they disrupt the immersion for viewers who are familiar with the time period.

Overall, "End of the Rope" would have earned a 6 out of 10 rating if it were a tighter, more focused film. However, its excessive length significantly detracts from the viewing experience, ultimately earning it a 3 out of 10. The performances and music are commendable, but the film's pacing issues and unnecessary scenes make it a slog to watch.

Despite its flaws, "End of the Rope" still offers a glimpse into a dark chapter of American history. If you're a fan of historical dramas and don't mind a slower pace, it may be worth watching. However, if you're looking for a tightly edited and fast-paced film, you may want to look elsewhere.