The defence The Prestige Tourist
“Ambition earns the room.”
The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.
Back to trending 
Meek's Cutoff
Western · Drama · 2011
A group of settlers traveling through the Oregon High Desert in 1845 find themselves stranded in harsh conditions.
Movie details
Meek's Cutoff
“The Road to Civilisation is Not Always Civilised.”
2011 Western · Drama 1h 43m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
6.5 / 10
Community rating
A group of settlers traveling through the Oregon High Desert in 1845 find themselves stranded in harsh conditions.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over Meek's Cutoff?
For the defence
The Prestige Tourist
“You like your greatness pre-approved.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Adrenaline Seeker
“If it slows down, you check your phone.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
One-Eyed Jacks
Western · 1961
Running from the law after a bank robbery in Mexico, Dad Longworth finds an opportunity to take the stolen gold and leave his partner Rio to be captured. Years later, Rio escapes from the prison where he has been since, and hunts down Dad for revenge. Dad is now a respectable sheriff in California, and has been living in fear of Rio's return.
The Big Trail
Drama · 1930
Young scout Breck Coleman leads a wagon train along the dangerous trail to Oregon as he tries to get the affection of the beautiful pioneer Ruth Cameron and plans his revenge on the harsh scoundrels who murdered a friend of his in the past.
Hombre
Western · 1967
John Russell, disdained by his "respectable" fellow stagecoach passengers because he was raised by Indians, becomes their only hope for survival when they are set upon by outlaws.
Train Dreams
Drama · 2025
A logger leads a life of quiet grace as he experiences love and loss during an era of monumental change in early 20th-century America.
First Cow
Drama · 2020
In the 1820s, a taciturn loner and skilled cook travels west to Oregon Territory, where he meets a Chinese immigrant also seeking his fortune. Soon the two team up on a dangerous scheme to steal milk from the wealthy landowner’s prized Jersey cow—the first, and only, in the territory.
Dead Man
Drama · 1995
On the run after committing murder, an accountant encounters a strange Native American man who prepares him for his journey into the spiritual world.
Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here
Western · 1969
While confronting the disapproving father of his girlfriend Lola, Native American man Willie Boy kills the man in self-defense, triggering a massive manhunt, led by Deputy Sheriff Christopher Cooper.
How the West Was Won
Western · 1962
The epic tale of the development of the American West from the 1830s through the Civil War to the end of the century, as seen through the eyes of one pioneer family.
The Last Wagon
Western · 1956
When a handful of settlers survive an Apache attack on their wagon train they must put their lives into the hands of Comanche Todd, a white man who has lived with the Comanches most of his life and is wanted for the murder of three men.
News of the World
Drama · 2020
A Texan traveling across the wild West bringing the news of the world to local townspeople, agrees to help rescue a young girl who was kidnapped.
Where it lives
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Kelly Reichardt
Written by
Jonathan Raymond
Michelle Williams
Emily Tetherow
Bruce Greenwood
Stephen Meek
Will Patton
Soloman Tetherow
Zoe Kazan
Millie Gately
Paul Dano
Thomas Gately
Shirley Henderson
Glory White
Neal Huff
William White
Court is in session
Put Meek's Cutoff on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Adrenaline Seeker
“Importance has entered the chat.”
The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.