Brutal 10-Year-Old Western Thriller Rides Onto Free Streaming in 4 Days

2 weeks ago 17

Kit Harington walks outside with a cut on his face in Brimstone

Published Mar 28, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT

Chris is a Senior News Writer for Collider. He can be found in an IMAX screen, with his eyes watering and his ears bleeding for his own pleasure. He joined the news team in 2022 and accidentally fell upwards into a senior position despite his best efforts.

For reasons unknown, he enjoys analyzing box office receipts, giant sharks, and has become known as the go-to man for all things Bosch, Mission: Impossible and Christopher Nolan in Collider's news division. Recently, he found himself yeehawing along to the Dutton saga on the Yellowstone Ranch.

He is proficient in sarcasm, wit, Photoshop and working unfeasibly long hours. Amongst his passions sit the likes of the history of the Walt Disney Company, the construction of theme parks, steam trains and binge-watching Gilmore Girls with a coffee that is just hot enough to scald him.

His obsession with the Apple TV+ series Silo is the subject of mockery within the Senior News channel, where his feelings about Taylor Sheridan's work are enough to make his fellow writers roll their eyes.

Brimstone is not the kind of Western people casually throw on for comfort. It is dark, punishing, and built like a nightmare, which is exactly why it has stuck with the viewers who found it. It never became a big mainstream title, but it has the kind of severe, memorable tone that makes it hard to shake once you have seen it. Now it is getting another chance on streaming, with Tubi adding it for free on April 1.

Directed by Martin Koolhoven, the film follows a woman trying to escape a terrifying preacher tied to her past. The story unfolds in a fractured structure, gradually revealing just how deeply that man has damaged her life. It plays like a mix of Western, mystery, and survival thriller, and it is not afraid to get seriously grim. The cast includes Dakota Fanning as Liz, Guy Pearce as the Reverend, Kit Harington as Samuel, Carice van Houten as Anna, and Emilia Jones as young Joanna.

Are You a Sarah Jessica Sharker? — The Collider Movie Quiz!

Today, we're plunging into the deep ocean that is SJP's filmography. You'll need to be a real shark to hunt down the correct answers.

Is 'Brimstone' Worth Watching?

Roger Ebert's review stated that Brimstone is undeniably ambitious, but that ambition ultimately works against it, resulting in a punishing and often unpleasant viewing experience that mistakes extremity for depth. The film stretches across two and a half hours, weaving a fractured, chapter-based narrative that attempts to reframe a Western as both horror and psychological drama. A big issue is how far the film goes with its content. The review pointed out that Brimstone constantly pushes into disturbing territory, but instead of adding meaning, it often feels like it’s just trying to shock the audience. Scenes of violence and cruelty are lingered on in a way that becomes repetitive, making the film feel more draining than impactful.

"'Brimstone' was apparently a passion project for the filmmaker, taking him years to write, driving him to the extent that he didn’t take a salary; he turned Hollywood money down when he couldn’t get final cut, and he had a near-breakdown that required a trip to the hospital emergency room when it looked like his financing was going to fall through. I’m all for heroic exertion in pursuit of one’s art, but in this case I wish Koolhoven had tried therapy first."

Brimstone arrives on Tubi on April 1.