Deep within vast archive of Netflix is the 2008 crime thriller “Horsemen.” Not as popular as it should have been, “Horsemen” is definitely worth a second glance while scrolling through the Netflix queue.
“Horsemen” stars Dennis Quaid as forensic detective Aidan Breslin, a recently widowed man who is unable to commit to spending time with his two sons because he is wholeheartedly consumed by his job. The day it all begins starts out like any other — Breslin wakes up, showers, dresses and clips his badge on his belt. He drives to the crime scene expecting it to be nothing too unusual. The reality of the situation is far from his expectations, however.
The crime scene: a frozen pond, a silver platter containing several bloody teeth and four trees in the cardinal directions painted blood-red with the words “Come and see.” Soon after, Breslin is called in to another crime scene, the connection being “Come and see” written on the four walls of the room. The victim, a middle-aged woman with two young daughters and an older adopted daughter, has been suspended from a metal rig by hooks through her skin. Around her neck dangles a necklace with a sword charm.
Victim number two follows soon afterwards, also suspended with hooks, the walls sporting the common phrase “Come and see” once more. This victim is wearing a necklace with a charm resembling a pair of balances. Puzzled by the perplexing phrase “Come and see,” Breslin shuts himself up at home to continue his investigation. He stumbles upon a biblical clue that explains the phrase, tying together each victim and leading him to believe that there will be two more.
Breslin’s theory is that the series of grisly murders are being committed by four killers, each assuming the role of one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. There’s the Red Horse who brings War, the Pale/Green Horse who brings Death, the Black Horse who brings Pestilence, and lastly the White Horse — their deadly leader — who brings Famine/Conquest. Believing to have one of the Horsemen in custody, Breslin relentlessly attempts to seek out answers, including the identities of the other three Horsemen.
As the case begins to unravel, many different aspects of the victims, the killers and Breslin’s own personal life begin to become relevant to the case. It becomes increasingly complicated from there. Not much is known about the other three Horsemen or the next two victims. With barely any leads to go on and the Red Horse refusing to divulge the whereabouts of the other Horsemen, Breslin must peel back the case one layer at a time, paying close attention to clues that may have been overlooked before.
For a 3-star horror movie on Netflix, I was thoroughly impressed by “Horsemen” and the complexity of the plot, the solid acting and the genuine suspense generated by the flawless filming techniques.
