On Swift Horses TIFF Review — Jacob Elordi and Daisy Edgar-Jones Prove Their Star Power in Riveting Romance

In recent years, we have seen a revitalization in the viability of adaptations of adult fiction books. Where the Crawdads Sing was huge in 2022, and just this year, It Ends With Us has become one of the year’s biggest successes. On Swift Horses seems poised to continue that trend, starring some of the buzziest actors working in Hollywood today in a compelling, unexpectedly nuanced romantic drama. 

On Swift Horses Review

Based on the popular novel by Shannon Pufahl, On Swift Horses follows a small-town waitress (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and her husband’s brother (Jacob Elordi) as they find excitement and unexpected love in the worlds of gambling. As the movie begins, it seems likely to be a relatively standard love triangle melodrama, but it quickly shows itself to have much deeper nuance.

Unfortunately, it would not be possible to discuss the themes the film explores without spoiling its “twist.” Although the movie reveals this subversion rather quickly, it’s an interesting approach that lends itself to an unspoiled viewing experience (at least for those who are not familiar with the source material). However, these themes — primarily explored during the third act — are investigated in a way that, while not particularly insightful, stand out in a genre notorious for its shallowness.

One of the things about Bryce Kass’s script that works so well is its nuance with its characters. This story requires its characters to strike an incredibly delicate balance. Some of the things they are doing — from adultery to cheating at gambling — aren’t exactly the most ethical and likable. Yet, the movie needs the audience to at least identify with these characters to an extent, as the emotional impacts of the story will not resonate otherwise. Thankfully, this aspect of the movie works quite well.

Image courtesy of TIFF.

It is also impressive how well Kass balances the different storylines. Movies where the characters spend most of the runtime apart are often skewed in favor of one character. You’ll frequently feel the runtime in one storyline while the other completely flies by. Both storylines in On Swift Horses are very compelling, keeping viewers invested for the entire two hours.

The main draw for this film is its stars — two of the buzziest actors working in Hollywood today. Daisy Edgar-Jones (Twisters) and Jacob Elordi (Priscilla) are the primary foci of the movie, and both of them are pretty great. They have the charm it takes to pull off the sappy romance aspects of the story but the chops to handle the more emotionally complex drama that it strives to be.

Beyond the two leads, On Swift Horses also boasts an impressive supporting cast, including Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’s Will Poulter, Babylon’s Diego Calva, and The Flash’s Sasha Calle. Each of these three performers brings a unique charm to their roles as love interests that the protagonists encounter over the course of their journey. Poulter, in particular, is very impressive, bringing genuine humanity and empathy to a character that easily could have been a cartoonish stereotype.

The visuals of the movie are also very impressive and go a long way in immersing the viewer in the time and place of the story. Cinematographer Luc Montpellier (Women Talking) creates some gorgeous, painterly frames. The production design and costume design are also quite strong, immersing viewers in the settings of 1950s California, Vegas, and the Midwest. 

Is On Swift Horses worth watching?

On Swift Horses is a beautifully shot film with a beautiful cast and an uncommonly nuanced script for its genre. With this movie, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Jacob Elordi have cemented themselves as bonafide movie stars, as their charisma is the factor that really brings everything together.

On Swift Horses screened at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, which runs September 5-14.

Written by Sean Boelman

Articles Published: 212

Sean is a film critic, filmmaker, and life-long cinephile. For as long as he can remember, he has always loved film, but he credits the film Pan's Labyrinth as having started his love of film as art. Sean enjoys watching many types of films, although some personal favorite genres include music documentaries, heist movies, and experimental horror.