Film Review – The Isolate Thief (2025)

      The Isolate Thief, 2026.

      Directed by John Suits.

      Featuring Mackenzie Foy, Odeya Rush, Joe Pantoliano, Sean Bean, Jack Kesy, Ty Simpkins, Bryan Martin, and Martin Sensmeier.

      SYNOPSIS:

      A young woman fights to hide the gold she has stolen from ruthless outlaws who have taken over her secluded post, outsmarting them in a treacherous winter where survival hinges on cunning and deceit.

      Set in a Union outpost amidst frigid weather, John Suits’ The Isolate Thief exceeds expectations for what is likely a limited budget, presenting a suitably cold, oppressive aesthetic, and an ensemble cast that surprises with both its depth and clever casting. At the forefront is Mackenzie Foy, moving beyond her Twilight and Disney origins to deliver a gritty performance in a period piece that she manages with competence and believability, whether she’s fending off wolves, tending to wounds, engaging in a treacherous survival game, or handling a firearm.

      This is just the beginning, as Joe Pantoliano appears as a seemingly innocuous graverobber, only to later emerge as a captive of Union soldiers led by Sean Bean, who are searching for gold presumed to be linked to him. In reality, the gold has been concealed by Foy's character, a grieving and underestimated caregiver left alone at the outpost following her father's death in the war. The brutal ease with which the Union soldiers torture the drifting graverobber hints at the group's sinister nature, suggesting our hero should exercise caution in trusting them.

      Without revealing too much, Ada (Mackenzie Foy) faces a violent band of outlaws masquerading as Union soldiers under Sean Bean's command, who will go to any lengths for the gold (alongside a cohort of lesser-known yet notable actors like Ty Simpkins and Jack Kesy). In the woods, she encounters a severely injured Emily (Odeya Rush), who is linked to these outlaws. Emily, treated as an object of desire (referred to by derogatory terms that undermine her agency), is so traumatized by her encounters that she warns Ada to comply with their demands, as resisting often leads to more horrific consequences.

      Although Kevin Lefler's screenplay may not crackle with the intensity expected from such a high-stakes narrative (the film shares some DNA with The Hateful Eight but lacks its depth of character and thematic richness), the cast elevates the material, providing an undercurrent of quiet intensity in the mundane exchanges and deceptions that we anticipate will eventually blow up for Ada. The story isn't afraid to venture into darker territory, putting these women through extreme challenges as they vie for survival.

      Ultimately, it serves as a straightforward cautionary tale about ruthless, misogynistic outlaws who underestimate the women they face. This sentiment is palpably felt when the women take control in the third act. The film effectively achieves its goals, utilizing the freezing setting for atmospheric impact (with the ground frozen solid and graves unable to be dug, representing just how cold it is) while allowing Mackenzie Foy to explore new dimensions of her acting, showcasing resourcefulness, alongside Sean Bean’s ability to shift from calm to menacing in an instant. The Isolate Thief is a feminist Western that organically empowers through familiar yet competent storytelling, culminating in some intense confrontations between the sexes.

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

      Robert Kojder