Watch 1922
- TV-MA
- 2017
- 1 hr 42 min
-
6.2 (73,284)
1922 is a 2017 American horror-thriller film directed by Zak Hilditch and based on the novella of the same name by Stephen King. The movie features a strong cast including Thomas Jane, Molly Parker, Dylan Schmid, Kaitlyn Bernard, Brian d'Arcy James, and Neal McDonough in the lead roles. The plot revolves around Wilfred James (Thomas Jane), a proud and stubborn Nebraska farmer who lives with his wife Arlette (Molly Parker) and teenage son Henry (Dylan Schmid) in 1922. Wilfred dislikes Arlette's desire to sell off their farmland and move to the city. He conspires with Henry and convinces him to help murder Arlette, believing that he has no other choice.
After the murder, Wilfred and Henry go on with their lives, but soon enough, strange and unexplainable events begin to occur. Wilfred's guilt-ridden conscience leads him to imagine that the ghost of his dead wife is haunting him and seeking revenge. As his paranoia heightens, Wilfred begins to unravel, and his world crumbles around him.
The narrative of 1922 is told through Wilfred's eyes, with occasional flashbacks that help fill in the backstory of the lead characters. The film maintains a slow and brooding pace, relying heavily on atmosphere and tension to create its uneasy moods. With ominous music and a subdued color scheme, the movie builds a sense of dread that never quite dissipates, even once the story has concluded.
Thomas Jane delivers a standout performance as Wilfred James, a man whose moral compass is gradually thrown off balance by his own insecurities and desires. Molly Parker as Arlette James is equally captivating, delivering a nuanced portrayal of a woman who craves more than what her current life can offer. Dylan Schmid as Henry is a believable accomplice who slowly comes to realize the true consequences of his actions.
Besides the performances, the movie's production design deserves high praise. The filmmakers have expertly recreated the grimy and forlorn landscapes of early 20th-century rural America. Every aspect of the set design, from the dilapidated barns to the rusty tools and machinery, feels authentic and adds to the movie's sense of unease.
While the film's pacing might not appeal to everyone, its thematic depth and its atmospheric setting make it an outstanding piece of cinema. 1922 explores the dangers of suppressed desire and the psychological toll of guilt, making it a poignant meditation on the consequences of our actions.
In conclusion, 1922 is an intense and thought-provoking film that keeps its viewers on their toes until the very end. The movie's storytelling, acting, and production design all work in tandem to create a unique cinematic experience that is both unnerving and captivating. For lovers of horror, psychological thrillers, or Stephen King adaptations, this is a movie not to be missed.
1922 is a 2017 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2 and a MetaScore of 70.