Murder at Yellowstone Cityis a Western thriller full of twists, turns, and a shocking revelation that will leave viewers reeling. The story revolves around the murder of a gold prospector and the efforts to bring the killer to justice. Blame is immediately cast on a newly arrived former slave, but it becomes clear the entire town is in the midst of a much deeper mystery.
Director Richard Gray and writer Eric Belgau bring a unique whodunit set in the Wild West to life. AsMurder at Yellowstone Cityreveals more and more secrets held by the residents of the town, cast members Gabriel Byrne, Isaiah Mustafa, Thomas Jane, Richard Dreyfus, and Anna Camp heighten the tension with every action and line. Race, sex, violence, and religion as they existed on the American frontier add to the complexities ofMurder at Yellowstone City,making it more than a straightforward watch.
Despite a mere 24% on Rotten Tomatoes,Murder at Yellowstone City, now streaming on Netflix,is entertaining, exciting, and innovative, and deserves a new look.
‘Murder at Yellowstone’ City Is a “Rare” Contribution to the Western Genre
When prospector Robert Dunnigan (Zach McGowan) is killed, Sheriff Jim Ambrose (Gabriel Byrne) immediately takes Cicero (Isaiah Mustafa), a former slave who recently arrived in town, into custody. While Ambrose’s mind is set on Cicero as the killer, Thaddeus Murphy (Thomas Jane), the town preacher, sleuths to reveal the truth about Dunnigan’s death. Additional murders lead to the clarity that Cicero is not guilty, butultimately make Yellowstone City more dangerous for everyone in its vicinity.
In much the same way that an Agatha Christie novel provides new details as it goes along,Murder at Yellowstone Cityintroduces subversive relationships, unknown abuse, and dangerous lies. Both Dunnigan and his wife, Emma (Scottie Thompson), were engaged in adulterous affairs, the repercussions of which led to an increasing body count.
Murder at Yellowstone Citycombines mystery with traditional Westernin a way that defies expectations. Director Richard Gray was excited by what themovie brought to the screenand, according to a statement from 2022, “Murder mystery westerns are rare, that was super cool and original, but there is still such a classic western here, and that’s what really impressed me. At its heart, we’re dealing with fascinating characters, with major decisions to make.”
Thomas Jane, called a “Western movie expert” by Gray,toldMoviefonehowMurder at Yellowstone Cityunited “basic” Westerns with a new twist, something that had been taking place within the genre for decades. At its core,Murder at Yellowstone Citywas about the “tension between the individual, the freedom of the individual and the town” and, by the end, how a hero ultimately “has righted some wrongs, stomped out some evil, and rides off into the sunset.”
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‘Murder at Yellowstone City’ Is Surprisingly Relevant in the Modern World
Like the Wild West,Murder at Yellowstone Cityisrife with racial antagonism and lawlessness amid kindness, faith, and the belief in human good.Director Richard Gray explained,
“We’redealing with social injustice, and what folks are prepared to do in seeking the truth. What are they prepared to do for true justice? They risk their lives, they lose their lives — our heroes ultimately aren’t prepared to stay silent, and that’s what makes this film tick. There are themes, moments and truths that are incredibly relevant, then and now.”
As Alice Murphy (Anna Camp) stays by Cicero’s side, she and her husband, Thaddeus, not only provide him support but they keep him alive.Because Sheriff Ambrose is determined to pin the murder of Dunnigan, the Black man’s life was constantly under threat. Additionally, Violet (Tanaya Beatty) dies trying to help Cicero, emphasizing how risky it was to push back against injustice.
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Veteran actor Richard Dreyfus, who plays Edgar Blake, the local barkeep,said in 2022, “[Murder at Yellowstone Cityis] not only realistic.It’s eerily current. It’s exactly what we are going through as a country right now.”
Thomas Jane echoed this same line of thinking:
“We thought ‘this isa classic Westernthat does good things with the genre, but doesn’t break the genre or step outside of it, or attempt to twist it around in some funny way, like bringing aliens in.’ Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But this was a classic Western and when they work, they work. They’ve been around for a long time for a reason.”
