Sweetwater (2013)

January Jones is Sarah Ramirez, a former whore trying to forge a new life on a New Mexico farm with her husband Miguel.

They’ll need to make it on their own because most of the white folks in these here parts regard Miguel and their relationship with disdain.

Ed Harris is Sheriff Cornelius Jackson, who’s been sent to the Sante Fe area by the governor.

Seems the husband of his favorite cousin disappeared en route to Sante Fe. So did the husband’s brother.

Jackson’s job is to find out what happened to them.

Jason Isaacs is Prophet Josiah, a man who believes he gets messages directly from God and has carved out his own Holy Land in the prairie, complete with large white crosses lining the pathway to his home.

He preaches, but certainly doesn’t practice, holiness. He’s also obsessed about removing vile influences from the surrounding area.

Harris finds the cousin and the cousin’s brother dead. And suspects the good prophet.

Sarah’s husband disappears. She suspects the prophet, too.

And the killing has only begun.

January Jones as Sarah Ramirez, a former whore looking for justice on the Prophet’s Holy Land in Sweetwater (2013)

Eduardo Norieta as Miguel Ramirez, confronting Prophet Josiah about sheep damaging his crops in Sweetwater (2013)

Review:

In a day when fresh, well-done, entertaining Westerns are few and far between, Logan Miller and his brother Noah serve up one well worth watching. They also play bit roles as early victims of the prophet’s attempts to cleanse his holy land.

At one point, Prophet Josiah proclaims Sheriff Jackson “queer.” In truth, he’s the most sane of the three main characters. Once she dons the clothing of her former profession and sets out on the vengeance trail, Sarah shows no mercy for anyone connected to the prophet, whether they’ve wronged her or not.

Among the memorable little gems — Jackson teaching the prophet a geography lesson by carving a map into his cherished mahogany table, the sheriff fishing a bullet from a dead man’s body, the sheriff getting beaten with brooms by the prophet’s wives and Sarah luring two of the prophet’s men into a trap by bathing topless.

Jason Isaacs as Prophet Josiah, meeting the suspicios Sheriff Jackson for the first time in Sweetwater (2013)

Ed Harris as Sheriff Jackson, using a knife to make a map on the Prophet’s new mahogany table in Sweetwater (2013)

Directed by:
Logan Miller

Cast:
Ed Harris … Sheriff Jackson
January Jones … Sarah Ramirez
Jason Isaacs … Prophet Josiah
Eduardo Noriega … Miguel Ramirez
Stephen Root … Hugh
Jason Aldean … Daniel
Vic Browder … Martin
Luce Rains … King Fisher
Dylan Kenin … Jim
Keith Meriweather … Jonathan
Noah Miller … Levi
Logan Miller … Jacob

Runtime: 95 min.

Song:
“Cold Grey Light of Dawn”
by Hudson Moore

Stephen Root as Hugh, the banker who cheats Miguel and Sarah out of half of their money in Sweetwater (2013)

Vic Brower as Martin, the store owner who plays Peeping Tom with his female customers in Sweetwater (2013)

Memorable lines:

King Fisher: “Do I look like a dog-killer-catcher?”

Sheriff Jackson: “My name is Sheriff Cornelius Jackson.”
Sarah Ramirez: “I know who you are.
Jackson: “I think I should be flattered.”
Sarah:”You hung my father.”
Jackson: “Pardon me, ma’am, but I’ve never hung anyone. They sorta hang themselves.”
Sarah: “Is that what you tell yourself to ease your conscience?”
Jackson: “The judges sentence the guilty. I either shoot them or arrest them, depending on the circumstances.”

Sarah Ramirez: “And where would I go?”
Prophet Josiah: “With me. I will bring you to Holy Land. And I will provide for you and take care of you in every way.”
Sarah: “Sounds like hell.”

Prophet Josiah: “You are a queer man.”
Sheriff Jackson: “Unusual. I prefer unusual. Never queer.”

Josiah’s wife: “You’re the devil’s harlot. You’re bitch’s Satan.”
Sarah, after shooting her dead: “I suppose I am.”

Prophet Josiah: “The shamer has become the shamed. Now I am the shamer. And it feels good.”
Sheriff Jackson: “Hey Jo-Jo, I’m a little bit confused …
Prophet: “Sorry, did I not make myself quite clear? You are going to hang there. And you are going to fucking die.”

Luce Rains as King Fisher, shutting down an investigation into a dog’s death before it starts in Sweetwater (2013)

Jason Aldean as Daniel, one of the Prophet’s man, under Sarah’s gun in Sweetwater (2013)

Jason Isaacs as Prophet Josiah, getting disturbing news about two more deaths in Sweetwater (2013)

January Jones as Sarah Ramirez, showing what she thinks of the Prophet’s proposition that she join his flock in Sweetwater (2013)

Jason Isaacs as Prophet Joseph, assuring an unconvinced Sarah (January Jones) that he’s cleansed her of sin in Sweetwater (2013)