FULL MOVIE:
Review: The Rider (2017)
Genre: Drama / Western
Chloé Zhao’s The Rider is a quiet, powerful meditation on identity, masculinity, and healing in the American West. Blending fiction and reality, Zhao casts real-life cowboy Brady Jandreau to play a version of himself in this poetic, deeply human story that lingers long after the credits roll.
The film follows Brady Blackburn, a talented rodeo rider who suffers a near-fatal head injury that leaves him unable to continue the only life he’s ever known. As he grapples with his physical limitations and fading dreams, Brady must redefine his sense of self in a world that equates manhood with toughness and control. His journey is not just about recovery—it’s about understanding who he is beyond the saddle.
What makes The Rider extraordinary is its authenticity. Zhao captures the rhythms of rural life in South Dakota with natural light, long takes, and a documentary-style intimacy. Brady’s real family members and friends play themselves, lending the film a rawness and emotional truth rarely found in scripted dramas.
Jandreau’s performance is hauntingly real—because it is real. His bond with the horses, his tenderness toward his autistic sister, and his inner turmoil all unfold with understated grace. There’s no Hollywood gloss here—just a young man quietly fighting to reclaim purpose.
Rather than glorifying cowboy culture, The Rider explores its cost. It’s about resilience without bravado, strength without violence. It’s also about the beauty of letting go.
Slow, contemplative, and deeply moving, The Rider is one of the most authentic American films of the decade—a story told with empathy and soul.
How did The Rider speak to you? Did Brady’s story challenge your view of strength and identity? Share your thoughts below.
