10 Best Westerns NOT Set In The Old West
3. Wind River
Wind River came out in 2017, and was written and directed by Taylor Sheridan (one-time star of Sons of Anarchy and mastermind of Sicario). Full of the many themes audiences associate with the Western, Wind River follows wildlife officer Cory Lambert (Jeremy Renner) and FBI Agent Jane Banner (Elizabeth Olsen) as they attempt to solve the rape and murder of a teen on a Native American reservation.
In a lot of ways, this is a film that takes a step back from the Western and allows the audience to look at how the Old West and its wars and political turmoil shaped America for years to come. Beyond that, it's a film steeped in mystery, intensity and politics, a brilliant crime-thriller with sweeping sets and stunning visuals.
As he proved with Sicario, Sheridan is at his best when creating scenes of building tension and letting them pay-off massively. For that, it seems he was born to make Westerns - tense, tight, and epic in scope despite being relegated to one or two locations. Wind River is a Western through-and-through, and deserves a lot more praise for it achieved.
Plus, you know, Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch taking a break to solve crimes and deal with corruption - who doesn't want that?