Echoes of War - 2015

'Echoes of War'

 'Echoes of War' is about a civil war veteran returning home to his brothers family in search for peace. On his return he is caught between a web of resentment towards another family of a cattle ranch who harass his family and still their food. Between the family feuds and hard routines farm work the two teenagers of the feud families find love within each other. The lovers being Maika Monroe ('The Guest' and 'It Follows') and Rhys Wakefield ('Black Balloon') both talented new comers who will rise to stardom nether the less in the years to come. The civil war veteran Wade played by James Badge Dale suffers from shell-shock and struggles sleeping his violent outbursts have dark repercussions in the scenes to come. The once richer family the Mckluskeys owned a successful cattle business but since the war the soldiers took their cows away and steal the Riley's traps and the animals caught int hem until Wade returns. Even though he has returned from the war he finds himself in another one.  The intensity of the constant arguments and accusations drive him over the edge in the end and both families lose loved ones and have to move on but its already too late. 

Perhaps it was the very rural setting and costumes but I definitely got a Terrence Malik vibe the landscapes and dusk shots made the film a very beautiful one to watch and the story a very saddling one.  I would give it a eight out of ten as it seemed short,  once I really got into and the characters back stories were developing they were then killed off abruptly.