As far as Vincent D’Onofrio roles go, the actor doesn’t automatically scream “Western.” Sure, the actor took a turn directing the 2019 Western flick The Kid, and the Daredevil: Born Again star is largely known for his more villainous roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Men in Black, or even Jurassic World. Still, back in 2016, D’Onofrio took a stab at the Western genre in Antoine Fuqua‘s controversial remake of the iconic ’60s picture, The Magnificent Seven. Starring opposite the likes of Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, and his Jurassic World co-star Chris Pratt, D’Onofrio shines as the memorable mountain man Jack Horne.
Vincent D’Onofrio Plays a Wild, Religious Mountain Man in ‘The Magnificent Seven’
The Magnificent Seven remake centers on Denzel Washington’s Sam Chisholm as he is convinced by the people of the small town of Rose Creek to help them against the murderous robber baron Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard). To face Bouge, Chisholm compiles a group of men that includes gunslinger Joshua Faraday (Pratt), former Confederate Goodnight Robicheaux (Hawke), knife-fighter Billy Rocks (Byung-hun Lee), Mexican outlaw Vasquez (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), and the Comanche warrior Red Harvest (Martin Sensmeier). Then there’s Jack Horne, Vincent D’Onofrio’s character. In a vast departure from his usual work, D’Onofrio plays an overtly religious (but highly motivated) mountain man who is particularly handy in a fight — and boy is he perfect for the role. Not only is his hulking presence just the right fit for the role, but he is the right actor to tackle this oddly specific part.
Jack Horne is quite an interesting character. With a higher pitch in his voice and an animalistic desire to rid the world of all evil, Horne instantly becomes one of The Magnificent Seven‘s most memorable characters. Though many of the other Seven are left to the wayside throughout, Horne is given an intricate backstory as both an Indian scalp hunter and a family man who tragically lost his wife and children to some unknown (and likely horrific) end. D’Onofrio plays the part masterfully, and adds layers of emotional depth to a character who could have easily become “one note” if not handled with care. “My guy looks like a guy who used to have a life and has become a little rough around the edges,” the actor explained in a promotional feature for the film. Indeed, in that same promo, director Antoine Fuqua notes that Jack Horne was essentially a big bear guided by his faith, which is why he is willing to charge head-first into any explosive conflict.
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The original film starred Gregory Peck.
Of course, it’s this strange combination of faith and violence that makes Horne such a dynamic character. The Magnificent Seven remake doesn’t shy away from the role of the Christian faith in the lives of the people of Rose Creek (a burned-up church is a major set piece here), nor many of the other characters in the film, from Chisholm to Robicheaux. But the way that Horne uses his faith as both a shield and a weapon is quite compelling. The most outspoken of the group regarding his religion, he plows his way through hired guns to protect Rose Creek’s inhabitants while uttering scripture passages (like the beginning of Psalm 23) as personal mantras to keep him on the straight and narrow. With intense focus, he saves lives while simultaneously taking them, and the juxtaposition is fascinating.
‘The Magnificent Seven’ Isn’t As Good as The Original, but It Offers Some Action-Packed Thrills
Despite its shortcomings, The Magnificent Seven thrives on its strong cast, detailed set pieces, and top-tier action (something Fuqua has always done well). Though it was controversial upon its release for feeling more like an action picture than a traditional Western (we gave it a poor score in our 2016 review), the film has its moments. Denzel Washington’s Chisolm is the obvious standout, a mysterious Bass Reeves-like lawman who comes with a troubled backstory of his own, one not revealed until the final showdown. While The Magnificent Seven remake may not be as great as the original motion picture (or even the long-forgotten television series of the same name), the film itself is quite well-made, with a fine script and Fuqua’s masterful action sequences, you’ll certainly be entertained until the credits roll. More than that, the charisma of the titular Seven themselves is perhaps the icing on the cake. Pratt and Hawke are fine as always, playing their standard action hero types, but the more unique performances, like D’Onofrio’s, are what make the film worth revisiting.
The Magnificent Seven is available to stream on Prime Video in the U.S.
The Magnificent Seven
- Release Date
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September 23, 2016
- Runtime
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132 minutes
- Writers
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John Lee Hancock, Nic Pizzolatto
