When the man who killed his family is released from prison, an
​outlaw brings his gang back together to seek revenge once and for all.

WESTERN

The Harder They Fall (2021)

Directed by Jeymes Samuel

Written by Jeymes Samuel and Boaz Yakin

Starring Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz,
Regina King, LaKeith Stanfield, Delroy Lindo,
​Danielle Deadwyler, Edi Gathegi, RJ Cyler, Deon Cole 

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Connor Eyzaguirre

November 5, 2021

9/10

Netflix's output this year has not been great. They seem to value quantity over quality big time, and films like Gunpowder Milkshake, Army of the Dead, Beckett, Thunder Force, and The Woman in the Window will disappear as quickly as they showed up, never to be spoken of again. But they aren't without their 2021 gems, Films like Moxie, The Mitchells vs. the Machines, Bad Trip, and now The Harder They Fall, which isn't just one of Netflix's best original films in years, but also a fantastic and unforgettable western. This film is a brilliant blend of classic western tropes and a neo-western flavor, and easily one of my favorite films of the year.

The ensemble cast alone brings a huge smile to my face. Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, Regina King, Delroy Lindo, and LaKeith Stanfield? Are you kidding? Holy shit. And the story is right out of the western playbook. An outlaw (Majors) is hunting down the sadistic killer (Elba) who murdered his parents, and both gangs end up going to war in the town of Redwood. Also, most of the characters were real-life historical black outlaws and lawmen in American history. People who vanished from mainstream history due to constant American whitewashing. That's pretty damn incredible, and props to Jeymes Samuel for shining a spotlight on them.

The Harder They Fall sports an incredible cast, a badass soundtrack, and some of the best gunfights in western film history. There is something happening at every second. There are no dull moments in this film. I'm so happy this turned out to be a great watch, and I hope it continues to make waves. I want to see it on a dozen 2021 top ten lists. It'll certainly be on mine.