A young Scotsman (Kodi Smit-McPhee) follows his soulmate across the Atlantic and the wild frontier while teaming up with a fugitive (Michael Fassbender) being pursued by a band of ruffians. John Maclean's Slow West feels rushed and awkward, with characters needing fleshing out, scenarios that grow repetitive, and a final shootout that is unsatisfactory. The scenery is excellent and Smit-McPhee is strong although Fassbender's performance is spotty.
** 1/2 out of ****
