Outlaw (2024)

Genre: Action | Crime | Neo-Western | Drama
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Scott Eastwood, Eva Green, Michael Peña, Lance Reddick, and Mahershala Ali

Bringing back the grit and code of the old West into a modern criminal underworld, Outlaw (2024) is a hard-hitting, stylized neo-Western that blends classic themes of justice and vengeance with the adrenaline of a 21st-century crime thriller. Directed with sharp tension and moral intensity by Antoine Fuqua, the film is a throwback in all the right ways—grimy, personal, and anchored by a quiet but commanding performance from Scott Eastwood.

Set in the rugged outskirts of a fictional desert town in the American Southwest, Outlaw follows Jack Rowe (Scott Eastwood), a former U.S. Marshal turned drifter who lives off the grid—until a brutal cartel massacre forces him to return to a town he once called home.

Now ruled by corrupt cops, a bloodthirsty cartel leader, and a greedy land developer, the town is suffocating under fear. When Jack’s estranged brother is killed and his teenage niece kidnapped, he takes up arms one last time to deliver justice—his way.

With the help of a cynical local journalist (Eva Green) and a disillusioned DEA agent (Michael Peña), Jack becomes a one-man army, unraveling a deadly conspiracy that blurs the line between law and lawlessness.

Scott Eastwood steps out of his father's shadow with a restrained, smoldering performance. As Jack, he says little—but his presence fills the screen with tension and controlled fury. His transformation from silent loner to righteous avenger feels earned, not forced.

Eva Green brings both edge and elegance to her role, offering more than a typical love interest. Her character, hardened but hopeful, holds her own in a male-dominated landscape. Michael Peña adds layers of moral complexity, and the late Lance Reddick (in one of his final roles) is a quiet standout as a retired sheriff clinging to a fading sense of justice.

Mahershala Ali is terrifyingly calm as the cartel boss—a villain who speaks softly but leaves a trail of chaos behind.

Antoine Fuqua directs with his signature blend of moody atmosphere, kinetic action, and moral conflict. The shootouts are choreographed with brutal realism, using dust, shadow, and tension more than spectacle. The film’s color palette—burnt ochres and deep shadows—feels like a homage to No Country for Old Men and The Proposition, immersing us in a world where violence simmers just beneath the surface.

The soundtrack mixes twangy guitar riffs with electronic undertones, underscoring the blend of classic Western and modern grit.

Outlaw revisits the eternal conflict between personal justice and institutional failure. It critiques the erosion of law enforcement in corrupt systems and explores the idea that sometimes, the last hope lies in those outside the law.

The film also addresses generational trauma, the cost of violence, and the question: Can a man redeem himself by destroying everything he once swore to protect?

• Gripping lead performance by Scott Eastwood

• Tense, grounded action sequences

• Emotionally resonant themes of justice and redemption

• Powerful visual style and tone

• Memorable supporting cast, particularly Eva Green and Mahershala Ali

Familiar revenge plotlines may feel predictable to some

• Pacing slows in the middle act with a few underdeveloped subplots

• Could have further explored the cartel’s backstory

• The tone is relentlessly bleak—light moments are rare

Outlaw (2024) may not revolutionize the genre, but it reaffirms the power of a well-told revenge tale with grit, soul, and substance. It’s a stylish, slow-burning modern Western that asks not just what justice is—but who deserves to deliver it.