Parents' Guide to Murder at Yellowstone City

Long and smacking of budgetary restrictions, this Western nevertheless moves at an unhurried pace, balancing its thoughtful ideas with vivid storytelling and strong characters. It's rather impressive how well Murder at Yellowstone City overcomes its limitations thanks to clever casting and purposeful themes. At the center is Cicero's Blackness, which immediately singles him out as the murder suspect, even without any proof. This is presented as grimly inevitable, and the situation is enhanced by Cicero's love of Shakespearian tragedy (his name comes from Julius Caesar). Then there's the movie's view of faith, as Sunday church is interrupted with the news of the gold, the parishioners exiting their pews to see the treasure.

The preacher is forced to betray his position to help solve the mystery. Similarly, the movie offers caustic views of both Latina and Native American characters, both strong women who become victims. But there's a loving (if closeted) LGBTQ+ couple, and the preacher's wife is far from the passive character that role usually implies; she comes up with the most useful clues. All in all, like the best Westerns do, Murder at Yellowstone City uses its surroundings (shot in Montana) as a cross-section to explore the pros and cons of U.S. society, ranging from prejudice to teamwork. The solid cast and the confident way that writer Eric Belgau and director Richard Gray unfold the story keep everything in context, letting viewers enjoy the visceral Western stuff, while digesting the deeper themes.