The Good
The best feature of The Salvation has to be in the acting. Mads Mekkelsen (Casino Royale) plays our Danish former soldier turned immigrant homesteader named Jon and does a great job. It’s all in the way he carries himself to that icy stare that tells you this is a man that has seen and been through some things that have made him tough, but still quite humble. However, it does not take long for that “Don’t mess with me” attitude to come out when push comes to shove and he has to take his revenge for his loved ones.
One of the other actors of note is Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Watchmen) who plays Delarue, the psychotic leader of the goons that seem to torment everyone throughout the entire film. He was dark, sadistic, and proved he could play a bad guy just as well as any of his other good guy roles. Although Eva Green (Casino Royale) did not have a single line in the script, she somehow managed to be one of the most haunting roles playing Madelaine. Madelaine, or The Princess as Delarue later called her, was kidnapped by Native Americans at an early age who left her scarred and without a tongue leaving her to the life of a mute person. Delarue’s brother had rescued her, which proved to be a blessing and a curse as she was forced into marrying him. However, even though not a word was spoken, audiences could sense what she was thinking and feeling through her eyes, facial expressions, and the way she carried herself.
The Bad
The main drawback was in the special effects and cinematography department. During some scenes, especially the stagecoach ride, the lighting and overall gritty quality made it feel reminiscent of an old western rather than one released in 2015. Some might enjoy this, however, if I wanted to watch an old Western I would order an old Western.
Other areas of concern were in the fight scenes. Although they were brilliantly acted and intense, there were less than realistic gunshot wound effects. The blood had an almost ketchup quality to it.
The In-Between
Although the plot line was formulaic in nature, the fact that they kept to the classic good versus evil plot was a comfort as that is part of the reason for watching a western. It makes for a good fix if you’re looking for a decent movie of its genre.
There were some reservations at the start of the film when subtitles were being used, but have no fear! It is short lived and soon English will flow to your viewer ears. Furthermore, it just fits with the particular scene in the script when Jon is speaking to his wife and adds to the authenticity as they are suppose to be immigrants finding a better life in America. It adds a touch of something different to the dialogue as well, making it a classic with a twist.
