On Swift Horses, directed by Daniel Minahan and based on Shannon Pufahl’s acclaimed novel, is not your traditional Western. Premiering at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and making waves in 2025 cinematic discourse, the film boldly reimagines post-war America through the eyes of a queer-Latinx cast navigating forbidden desires and fractured identities.
A Gritty Queer Western Set in Post-War America
Set against the rugged backdrop of 1950s California and Nevada, On Swift Horses follows Muriel (played by Daisy Edgar-Jones), a newlywed trying to piece together a domestic life with her war-haunted husband Lee. But when Lee’s charismatic younger brother Julius (portrayed by Diego Calva) enters their lives, everything changes. Julius, a gambler with a mysterious past and reckless charm, becomes the catalyst for a simmering attraction that challenges societal norms and internal boundaries.
What sets this film apart is not only its exploration of queer identity during a conservative era but its unflinching embrace of intimacy and emotional vulnerability—especially between two men. Calva’s performance as Julius is both sensual and tragic, embodying a man torn between freedom and belonging.
Diego Calva and Sasha Calle Shine in Breakout Performances
Calva, best known for his role in Babylon, delivers a career-defining performance that cements his status as one of the most daring Latinx actors in Hollywood. Opposite him, Sasha Calle (DC’s The Flash) portrays a sharp and grounded character whose role expands significantly from the original novel. Calle brings quiet strength and emotional depth to her portrayal, adding a crucial layer to the story’s exploration of gender and identity.
Together, the film’s ensemble delivers on the tension between repression and revelation, with Minahan’s direction letting silences and stolen glances speak volumes. The chemistry between Calva and Will Poulter—who plays a love interest—has already been described as one of the most intimate and unexpected pairings of the year.
Queer Desire and the Myth of the American West
In a genre often dominated by white heterosexual masculinity, On Swift Horses queers the Western narrative. It asks: Who gets to desire? Who gets to escape? Who claims the mythos of the American frontier? By centering queer Latinx characters, the film not only subverts traditional tropes but expands the possibilities of what Westerns—and cinema—can be.
Screenwriter Justin Torres, author of We the Animals, brings a lyrical sensibility to the adaptation, allowing space for fragmented memory, fantasy, and yearning. The script’s tender treatment of its characters’ inner lives elevates the film beyond genre boundaries, placing it firmly within the canon of queer cinematic art.
Final Verdict: A Daring and Necessary Film
On Swift Horses is a landmark in LGBTQ+ and Latinx storytelling. With its lush cinematography, emotional performances, and fearless intimacy, it stands as one of the boldest films of 2025. It doesn’t just tell a queer love story—it gallops through it, leaving dust trails across the conventions it dares to outrun.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Have you watched On Swift Horses? Share your thoughts in the comments or check out our list of Top Queer Films of 2025.
