Never Grow Old, for discerning cinephiles

Irishman Ivan Kavanagh often brings an air of mysticism to his films, and Never Grow Old was no exception.

This western set in 1850, though slow-paced, manages to discomfort little by little.

With dense atmosphere and dark photography, it plunges into a small frontier town where something sinister seems to lurk.

The passage of time is blurred and the inhabitants keep secrets.

Emile Hirsch solidly plays the outsider who begins to unravel the mystery, and the always unsettling John Cusack provides his share of understated evil.

Although the narrative pulse falters at times and more subtleties could have been added, Kavanagh again shows his flair for the unsettling, leaving an uncertainty lingering until the very last frame.

Visually he mastered the inhospitable landscape like few others. And the hypnotic soundtrack adds to the sense of unease.

Despite its minor weaknesses, Never Grow Old is worth seeing for the difference in its approach. Kavanagh once again offers disturbing cinema for discerning cinephiles.