The Last Manhunt

The Last Manhunt is a slow-burning western drama based on the true story of Willie Boy, a Chemehuevi man, with a forbidden love, who must go on the run after a fatal incident in 1909. The film is directed by and stars Christian Camargo along with Martin Sensmeier, Mainie Kinimaka, Zahn McClarnon, and Jason Momoa who also produced the film.

The film has a distinctly indie feel with a lot of slower panned wordless moments. It reminded me a lot of another Jason Momoa film, Road to Paloma mixed with Romeo and Juliet. The cinematography was beautiful, with long pans of the desert landscape. You could really feel the heat and the thirst. The film also features a traditional Indigenous soundtrack and 1900s costumes which helped with the authenticity of the film

I appreciated the diverse and culturally appropriate casting. It was beautiful to see traditional practices of the Chemehuevi tribe on screen. Everyone cast did well in their roles. I particularly enjoyed Camargo’s performance as Sheriff Wilson. I found that his empathy, his attempts to respect the Chemehuevi tribe and his grief really helped to make him a fully flushed out character. I’d only seen Sensmeier in the western 1883 so it was nice seeing him stretch more as Willie Boy, in a leading role. You could also see the cast was very much influenced by Momoa’s own friendships. Mainei Kinimaka and Christian Camargo were both in his TV show See. Zahn McClarnon was in Momoa’s movie Braven, and his TV shows Frontier and The Red Road. My only critique here would be the lack in character development for everyone outside of the sheriff.

The film did a good job of depicting the cultural differences between the Chemehuevi tribe and the white settlers. They also included a number of themes around family, grief, the importance of understanding and collaboration and how the spinning of a narrative can affect the outcome of story. 

Overall, The Last Manhunt is an interesting and thought-provoking film. It is not a perfect film, but it is a worthwhile watch for those who are interested in learning more about Indigenous peoples' history in the United States.