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
Daniel Minahan
Daisy Edgar-Jones, Jacob Elordi, Will Poulter, Diego Calva, Sasha Calle
USA
2025
English
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Credits
Screenwriter
Bryce Kass
Cinematography
Luc Montpellier
Editor
Robert Frazen, Joe Murphy, Kate Sanford
Original Music
Mark Orton
Production Design
Erin Magill
Art Director
Elizabeth Newton, Kate Weddle
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