Mohawk (2018)

I love film makers who can do a lot with very little. Ted Geoghegan may not yet be Sean Baker (The Florida Project). His films still feel low budget and a bit on the cheap. But what he does with them remains remarkable. Here he tells the story of a female Mohawk warrior and her two poly bisexual male lovers, one British, one Mohawk, who burn down an American military encampment in the War of 1812, and are then stalked and hunted by the surviving American soldiers. It's brutal and edge of your seat exciting with an intense ending that makes it worth the ride.

Geoghegan sets his story completely in the unencroached forests as the European wars spill into American territory. His characters are well drawn and complicated and his take-it-as-it-is style highlights the savagery of war and the desperation of those caught in it. He upends all traditional assumptions about who is good and bad and presents a refreshing point of view to tell his harsh tale.

Mohawk may not be polished but it is as powerful as higher budget films. It also may not be for everyone. Those who can't stand violence presented for what violence is will spend a lot of time looking away. But if you are interested in seeing this warrior's tale, see her rail against colonialists, see passion between three lovers push them to the brink of survival, then Mohawk is a film for you.

Mohawk
Starring: Kaniehtiio Horn, Eamon Farren, Justin Rain, Ezra Buzzington
Director: Ted Geohegan
Writers: Grady Hendrix, Ted Geohegan