🌵Killing Faith (2025) Review – A Haunting Supernatural Western That Tests the Limits of Belief

Ned Crowley’s Killing Faith (2025) brings a fresh and chilling twist to the Western genre — mixing frontier grit, supernatural horror, and emotional redemption. Starring Guy Pearce, DeWanda Wise, and Bill Pullman, this slow-burning thriller explores how faith and fear collide in the desolate American frontier. With its eerie atmosphere, haunting performances, and striking visuals, Killing Faith stands as one of the most intriguing supernatural thrillers of 2025.

🌙 The Story – When Belief Becomes Survival

"Some miracles are just curses we’ve learned to pray for."

Set in 1849, Killing Faith follows Sarah (DeWanda Wise), a recently freed slave whose young daughter carries a terrifying secret — everything she touches dies. Convinced the child is possessed, Sarah turns to Dr. Bender (Guy Pearce), a faithless physician mourning the loss of his family. Together, they embark on a treacherous journey across the American frontier in search of a mysterious faith healer who might cure the girl… or condemn her.

Their travels bring them face-to-face with outlaws, preachers, and spirits — including Preacher Ross (Bill Pullman), a zealot who sees the child as divine punishment, and Shakespeare (Raoul Trujillo), a weathered wanderer who believes death is merely a passage, not an end.

What unfolds is a haunting meditation on faith, trauma, and the power of forgiveness — a journey where belief can save or destroy.

⚰️ Themes and Symbolism – Death, Faith, and Freedom

Killing Faith isn’t just a Western; it’s a spiritual reckoning. Director Ned Crowley weaves themes of slavery, religion, and moral guilt into the dusty fabric of the Old West.

Every frame feels like a sermon delivered from the edge of madness — the dying land mirroring the broken souls who walk it. Sarah’s daughter becomes a living metaphor for divine wrath — a child burdened by sin not her own.

“Maybe God ain’t gone silent. Maybe He’s just waiting to see who listens first.” — Dr. Bender

The film draws haunting parallels between faith and freedom, suggesting that belief itself can be both a weapon and a refuge.

🔥 Performances – Guy Pearce and DeWanda Wise Deliver Fire and Grace

• Guy Pearce delivers a masterclass as Dr. Bender, a man of science confronting the impossible. His cold rationalism slowly unravels into desperate belief, giving one of his most layered performances since The Proposition.

• DeWanda Wise is mesmerizing as Sarah, blending strength, sorrow, and spiritual defiance in equal measure. Her journey from doubt to hope is the film’s beating heart.

• Bill Pullman commands the screen as Preacher Ross, a fire-and-brimstone minister who weaponizes religion in terrifying ways.

• Raoul Trujillo adds depth as Shakespeare, the film’s moral conscience wrapped in mysticism.

Even young Emily Ford (the child) gives a haunting performance, often silent but deeply unsettling — her every glance feels like a whisper from another world.

🎥 Direction & Cinematography – A Western Painted in Shadows

Shot by Justin Hamilton, the cinematography turns deserts and wastelands into cathedrals of silence. The film’s muted palette — ochre, gray, and deep brown — gives it a dreamlike yet decaying tone.

The score by Brooke and Will Blair (known for Blue Ruin and Green Room) builds dread through slow, sacred hums and mournful violins.

Director Ned Crowley, in his feature debut, crafts an atmosphere that feels both biblical and apocalyptic. His vision blurs the line between divine judgment and human despair — a world where faith isn’t the light, but the storm itself.

⚖️ Critical Reception – Divided, But Daring

Platform	Rating
IMDb	⭐ 5.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes	🍅 80% (Critics)

Critics have praised Killing Faith for its visual beauty, bold performances, and thematic ambition, though some felt the screenplay meanders in its middle act.

Still, many reviewers hailed it as “a poetic and punishing take on the Western mythos” and a striking return to form for Guy Pearce.

📺 Where to Watch Killing Faith

Killing Faith had its world premiere at Beyond Fest on September 26, 2025, followed by a limited U.S. release on October 3, 2025, through Shout! Studios.

You can now stream or rent it digitally on:

• 🎬 Prime Video – Available to rent or pre-order

• 🍎 Apple TV – Available now

• 🎞️ Fandango at Home (Vudu) – Rent or buy

• 📀 Barnes & Noble – Available from December 9, 2025

• 📺 Plex – Stream with ads

Limited showtimes are still running in select U.S. theaters via Fandango listings.

🌾 Why You Should Watch Killing Faith

✅ Unique supernatural twist on the Western genre

✅ Strong performances by Guy Pearce and DeWanda Wise

✅ Beautiful yet haunting cinematography

✅ Philosophical depth about faith and freedom

✅ Atmosphere that lingers long after the credits roll

If you loved The Revenant, The Proposition, or The Pale Blue Eye, Killing Faith is the next film to haunt your thoughts.

❓ FAQ – About Killing Faith (2025)

Q1. What is Killing Faith about?

It’s a supernatural Western thriller set in 1849, following a freed slave and her cursed daughter who embark on a dangerous journey with a faithless doctor to find a mysterious healer.

Q2. Who directed Killing Faith?

The film was written and directed by Ned Crowley, marking his feature directorial debut.

Q3. Who stars in Killing Faith?

The cast includes Guy Pearce, DeWanda Wise, Bill Pullman, Raoul Trujillo, and Jamie Neumann.

Q4. How long is the film?

The runtime is 109 minutes.

Q5. Where can I watch Killing Faith?

You can watch or rent it on Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Plex, and Barnes & Noble starting December 9, 2025.

Q6. Is Killing Faith worth watching?

Yes. While it’s not for everyone due to its slow pace and dark themes, the film is a haunting exploration of morality, religion, and redemption — a must-see for fans of psychological Westerns.

💀 Final Verdict – Faith, Fear, and the Frontier

Killing Faith is less about the monsters we see than the faith we lose. It’s an eerie, poetic reflection on belief, grief, and the human desire to find meaning in suffering.

“God don’t choose sides. He just watches what we do with the light He gives.”

With its haunting performances, spiritual undertones, and desolate beauty, Killing Faith earns its place among the most thought-provoking thrillers of 2025 — a supernatural Western that doesn’t just entertain, but challenges the soul.

⭐ Rating: 7.5/10 – A haunting, beautifully shot meditation on belief and despair.

📽️ Now streaming on Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home.