On Swift Horses gives you something you weren’t expecting, which certainly gave a shock for the two old ladies in the front row, but more on that later…
It also gives something else which I will mention upfront, in that it brings together, Elvis Presley, Adam Warlock and Supergirl… okay, the main person in this is Daisy Edgar-Jones (Twisters), who hasn’t yet played an otherworldly being (well, Elvis was pretty out there), but here, she’s Muriel.
Since it’s 2025, she knows what every woman wants in life, and as she gets up out of bed, unlike her husband, Lee (Will Poulter – Warfare), she keeps the covers over her breasts. Frequently popping along is Lee’s brother, Julius (Jacob Elordi – Priscilla, Saltburn). They’re both in the Korean War and each have six months left, but are back from leave at the moment for Xmas…
…except that Julius is about to drop the truth bomb that he’s been discharged with no pay.
Six months later, Muriel’s a waitress, Lee’s at the factory with aspirations to own a newbuild house for them both, while Jacob’s a gigolo and looking to work security in a casino, where he teams up with Henry (Diego Calva – Bird Box Barcelona). Fortunes fluctuate for the trio, as Muriel overhears a racing tip while at work, gets intrigued and puts a bet on, while Jacob tries his hand at poker prior to taking up his role in that establishment.
But life ain’t all sunshine and rainbows, since is while Lee is fine with a new motorway being built nearby, local resident Sandra (Sasha Calle – The Flash) is less than happy, and hopes they’ll sign a petition against it, since it’ll flatten her family’s old home.
I wasn’t expecting a huge amount from On Swift Horses, and in terms of drama, plotting and intrigue, it did not deliver. For the most part, all it brought me was an extreme amount of lethargy and a gap-filler inbetween The Conjuring 4: Last Rites and Honey Don’t, but then it brought me something I wasn’t expecting, and if you want to avoid spoilers, avoid the section below…
Still, they missed absolutely nothing, since beyond this subplot, On Swift Horses delivered absolutely nothing. If you like horses, though, one character does bring one into the proceedings late on.
NOTE: There are no mid- nor post-credits scenes.
On Swift Horses is in cinemas now, but isn’t yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD. However, once announced, it will appear on the New DVD Blu-ray 3D and 4K releases UK list.
However, you can buy the novel on which this film is based.
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 119 minutes
Release date: September 5th 2025
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
cinema: Odeon Trafford Centre
Rating: 1/10
Director: Daniel Minahan
Producers: Mollye Asher, Michael D’Alto, Tim Headington, Daniel Minahan, Theresa Steele Page, Peter Spears
Novel: Shannon Pufahl
Screenplay: Bryce Kass
Music: Mark Orton
Cast:
Muriel: Daisy Edgar-Jones
Julius: Jacob Elordi
Lee: Will Poulter
Sandra: Sasha Calle
Henry: Diego Calva
Wayne: Jason Kravits
Eddie: Dan Martin
Rosie: Andrew Keenan Bolger
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.