Star power carries On Swift Horses, which isn’t necessarily a negative criticism in this case. Jacob Elordi, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Will Poulter, Diego Calva, and Sasha Calle have incredible chemistry with each other, and with the audience. Their charming, and often seductive, appeal has the powerful potential to attract a younger crowd towards period dramas without cheapening the quality of the film or lowering the expectations of the viewer.

While light on plot and long in the tooth at nearly two hours, the character work in On Swift Horses is what keeps us consistently interested. Readers who are familiar with Shannon Pufahl’s novel of the same name may be more accustomed with the story, but newcomers will be more than satisfied by the unpredictability of these personal arcs that tie in secrets, romance, seduction, and high stakes.

On Swift Horses is the return to feature filmmaking for director Daniel Minahan (Series 7: The Contenders), though his latest movie resembles his experience with prestige television shows; such as handling a variety of characters but also favoring obvious cues rather than nuance. Again, the latter isn’t necessarily distracting because it fits this worthwhile romantic-drama.

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Addison Wylie: @AddisonWylie