Meek's Cuttoff

"I don't blame him for not knowing where we are. I blame him for saying he did."


Few words have never said so much. There is not an abundance of talking in this film. The little we do hear ofttimes is mumbled and drowned out so we can't hear them well, but the shots of the desolate land where amazing.

Meek's Cuttoff is based on a true story of a group of people crossing the planes on the Oregon Trail. A small group decides to follow a man Named Meek on a "shortcut" on the way to the coast. This is where our story begins. The opening shot will have leave your wanting a glass of water on it's own. The land is high desert and dry. We see them fording one river and that is about the extent of the water in the film. We see them lowering wagons down steep hills. Many of these things you have heard they had to do, but it was nice to be able to see someone do it. Seeing them makes you appreciate them more.

The group are making their way to the West coast through tough terrain. The area is dry and the threat of Indians is everywhere. They do come across an Indian who they try to use as a guide to find water. There is not much more to this movie that can be written. It is mostly a feast for the eyes. It is all said in what is not said.

6 out of 10