On Swift Horses

Muriel (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and her husband Lee (Will Poulter) are beginning a bright new life in California when he returns from the Korean War. But their newfound stability is upended by the arrival of Lee’s charismatic brother, Julius (Jacob Elordi), a wayward gambler with a secret past. A dangerous love triangle quickly forms. When Julius takes off in search of the young card cheat he’s fallen for, Muriel’s longing for something more propels her into a secret life of her own, gambling on racehorses and exploring a love she never dreamed possible.

Switching back to film after a long spell directing prestige TV (Deadwood; Six Feet Under; House of Cards; Game of Thrones) Daniel Minahan has fashioned an elegant, evocative movie about desire and deception in 50s USA; it’s an old timey Hollywood romance but with an explicitly queer point of view.

On Swift Horses presents a potent picture of the faultlines simmering below the American surface.

Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle

On Swift Horses is a stunning tableau of almost-romances, weaving together ephemeral moments of magic with the pain that inevitably follows when the universe takes them away.

Christian Zilko, IndieWire

A film driven by carnal appetites and a longing to break free of societal expectations. It features an electrifying performance from Elordi, along with detailed sets and stunning photography. With style, strong performances and emotive use of mis-en-scene, On Swift Horses is a flawed but intense critique of Americana.

Robert Daniels, Screen Daily