The Unholy Trinity (2025) - Film Review

      **The Unholy Trinity, 2025.**

      Directed by Richard Gray.

      Featuring Pierce Brosnan, Samuel L. Jackson, Brandon Lessard, Veronica Ferres, Gianni Capaldi, Q’orianka Kilcher, Tim Daly, Ethan Peck, Katrina Bowden, David Arquette, Anthony J. Sharpe, Beau Linnell, Isabella Ruby, Eadie Gray, Stephanie Hernandez, Dylan Brosnan, Paris Brosnan, Stu Brumbaugh, Tina Buckingham, Nick Farnell, Chuck Mathews, Scott McCauley, and Tim Montana.

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      Long-buried secrets in a Montana town from the 1870s ignite chaos when a young man returns to reclaim his heritage, finding himself torn between a sheriff intent on preserving order and a mysterious outsider determined to tear it apart.

      With a title like The Unholy Trinity, one might expect director Richard Gray (along with screenwriter Lee Zachariah) to delve deeply into the character dynamics within that triangle. Instead, the film relies on recognizable stars like Pierce Brosnan and Samuel L. Jackson, presenting a muddied and uninspired hunt for gold that ultimately centers on a specific house believed to conceal it.

      Henry Broadway (Brandon Lessard), the young protagonist, discovers that his father constructed this house, as well as several other buildings in the small Montana town. This complicates the search for St. Christopher (Samuel L. Jackson), a man with a complex history with Henry’s father, indicated by his casual demeanor while witnessing Henry's father's execution. Moments before, Henry’s father declares his innocence and urges his son to seek revenge against the sheriff who allegedly set him up. The twist is that the sheriff is already dead, leaving Henry at a loss as he forms a bond with the new sheriff, a gentle and weary Gabriel Dove (Pierce Brosnan).

      This convoluted narrative significantly overcomplicates the film's theme of buried treasure, alongside backstories revealed through exposition and other plot points, including Gabriel’s covert alliance with indigenous character Running Cub (Q’orianka Kilcher). She faces an angry mob led by Gideon (Gianni Capaldi) who accuses her of wrongdoing. Additionally, the film attempts to portray a coming-of-age journey for Henry, who inadvertently has his first sexual encounter in a brothel and begins to wonder if he is being punished by God when a shootout occurs.

      In terms of storytelling, The Unholy Trinity resembles a disjointed narrative that sporadically bursts into decent action, yet lacks any genuine investment. It follows a conventional Western formula, only coming to life during Samuel L. Jackson's anachronistic and charismatic moments, as he acknowledges the material’s generic and overly complicated nature. Pierce Brosnan also adds sophistication to the role of the honorable sheriff navigating his responsibilities amidst volatile mobs.

      Perhaps the film’s most significant flaw lies in Brendan Lessard's portrayal of Henry, who comes across as a blank character—unengaging and dragging down the narrative. Whether pursuing vengeance or caught between St. Christopher and Gabriel regarding the treasure, Henry lacks depth, making it hard to feel any excitement for his journey. As details about St. Christopher emerge, he becomes the more compelling character, though it's uncertain if that was the filmmakers' intention.

      The Unholy Trinity is certainly an improvement over the usual low-quality films that predominantly dominate this straight-to-VOD genre today, but it still falls short of being truly exceptional.

      **Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★**

      Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association, the Critics Choice Association, and the Online Film Critics Society. He also serves as the Reviews Editor for Flickering Myth. Check here for new reviews and follow my BlueSky or Letterboxd.