Netflix's Western “The Harder They Fall”

By: Mckenzie Gerdes

On Nov. 3, Netflix released its new Western film, “The Harder They Fall,” directed by Jeymes Samuel. It quickly became rated #1 in the United States, and remains in the top 10 films on Netflix.

The movie starts off with a powerful line, “While the events of this story are fictional… These. People. Existed.”

Musician-turned-director Jeymes Samuel said to Variety, “The problem is historically, more often than not, we’d be shown a really narrow viewpoint of what Westerns are.” This quote is referring to the fact that many stories of Black cowboys, such as Nat Love and Rufus Buck, have not been represented in film yet. Samuel changed that with his film debut, crafting a rich storyline full of historical figures that have not been talked about enough.

The movie begins with the pivotal character Nat Love experiencing childhood trauma that will shape him into a vengeful outlaw. Nat Love, played by Jonathan Majors, forms a loyal group of skilled people to aid him in his revenge plot. Those people include Stagecoach Mary, Bass Reeves, Jim Beckworth, Bill Pickett, all of whom were real Black figures from the Old West, Nat Love included.

The protagonist, Rufus Buck, played by Idris Elba, is a crime boss who employs Trudy Smith (Regina King) and Cherokee Bill (LaKeith Stanfield), to stir up trouble. The conflict for audiences of “The Harder They Fall” emerges when they try to determine which group to root for. While Nat Love may be the clear answer, Rufus Buck’s group pulls off such a stunning prison break that both outlaw leaders are contenders, with their attractive yet perilous charismas.

Elba told Variety, “[Samuel] had these real-life characters that have been completely wiped out from history, and he extrapolated a story that is rich with its music and its culture, but in the encasement of a genre movie.”

Jay-Z, who is also a producer for the movie, created two original songs for the film. The musical score also includes names like Kid Cudi, Koffee, CeeLo Green, Lauryn Hill, Laura Mvula, and other talented artists. Additionally, director Jeymes Samuel created a song for the soundtrack, as well as his brother and famous musician, Seal.

This movie is visually stunning; cinematographer Mihai Mălaimare Jr. captures grand shots of desert landscapes and small towns. The set design is rich with vibrant tones and unique decorations, adding to the atmosphere of the Wild West.

“The Harder They Fall” is a masterpiece in its genre, combining an electric soundtrack, amazing cast, and outstanding visuals, to tell a story about far more than just revenge. Jeymes Samuel brought forth figures from the historical West, and showed what the future of Westerns can look like. It is obvious from the momentum of this movie that audiences will see more from this talented director in the future.