Beyond Fest at American Cinematheque 2025 Review: Killing Faith
- Travis Brown
- Sep 29
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 2
Writer-director-producer Ned Crowley delivers a brutal, dust-choked vision of frontier survival in Killing Faith, which had its world premiere at Beyond Fest. Set in 1849 against a backdrop of plague, drought, and migration, the film blends Western grit with supernatural terror, anchored by strong performances and a bold sense of atmosphere.
At the center is Guy Pearce as Dr. Bender, a physician spiraling into ether addiction after the loss of his family to illness. His path collides with Sarah (a commanding DeWanda Wise), a formerly enslaved woman navigating life with her daughter, played by Emily Katherine Ford. The girl’s existence is complicated by a chilling gift: the power to kill anything she touches. In a town ravaged by fear, that power marks her as both cursed and dangerous, forcing Sarah to seek salvation through Preacher Ross (Bill Pullman)—a man she believes may hold the answer.
The journey is thick with menace. Cannibalism, starvation, and violent clashes with outsiders shape the road west, while Crowley populates his world with characters who feel ripe for their own side stories. Standouts include Jamie Neumann as Whitey, a scene-stealing survivor, and Joanna Cassidy, whose brief appearance resonates. Supporting turns from Jack Alcott as Edward, the farmhand tethered to Sarah’s plight, add further texture to the ensemble.
The film’s first two acts are tight, propulsive, and rich in period detail, balancing its supernatural conceit with the bleak realism of frontier hardship. Crowley captures the contradictions of God-fearing communities who are at once devout and merciless, treating the young girl’s presence as no less dangerous than the plague itself.
Where Killing Faith falters is in its final stretch. The third act loosens its grip, weighed down by length and moments of overstatement, particularly in Pullman’s late-game portrayal. Some resolutions feel overstretched, muting the raw intensity built earlier. Yet even with its uneven close, the film remains a striking genre piece, carried by its cast, atmosphere, and willingness to plunge into the darkest corners of frontier myth.
Verdict: Killing Faith may not stick the landing with the same sharpness it begins, but its haunting imagery, layered performances, and uncompromising tone make it one of the standout discoveries of Beyond Fest 2025.
Rating: 3.5/5
The film premiered at Beyond Fest and will be released soon via Shout! Studios.
Directed by: Ned Crowley
Written by: Ned Crowley
Cast: Guy Pearce, DeWanda Wise, Bill Pullman, Raoul Trujillo, Jaime Neumann, Jack Alcott, Joanna Cassidy, Emily Ford
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