TV Review: BRING ON THE DANCING HORSES: Season 1, Episode 1: Pilot [Sundance 2022]

Bring on the Dancing Horses Pilot Review

Bring on the Dancing Horse: Season 1, Episode 1: Pilot TV show review from the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. Kate Bosworth plays an assassin dressed like the equivalent to a Quaker Oats woman in director Michael Polish‘s 10-part Western series, Bring on the Dancing Horses. The first episode of this very intriguing show is playing at the Sundance Film Festival. It’s darkly comic and very well paced as it keeps the viewer wondering where it is ultimately headed.

Right from the beginning, the show holds the viewer’s attention as the hitwoman played by Bosworth is shown as a young girl who relates her “hits” to songs on a jukebox. Bosworth’s character (as an adult) tells her victims that they are “transitioning” to the next stage. One of the most interesting conversations is between the mark, Sal (Joseph R. Gannascoli) and Bosworth’s assassin who informs Sal that denial is the first stage of the five stages he will go through until he dies. When the female assassin lets Sal take the gun from her, we know better than Sal does that he won’t be able to simply kill her and walk away. She’s too smart for that. It doesn’t take much for this hitwoman to get frustrated with her “victims,” yet she plays it cool and lets them talk themselves through to their ultimate demise. Sal may try to outsmart her. You’ll see if that works out or not. Um, no.

One of the biggest of the pleasant surprises found in Bring on the Dancing Horses is the inclusion of screen veteran Lance Henriksen as one of Bosworth’s character’s marks. This character played by Henriksen is more open to his fate than Sal and asks the hitwoman for some compassion when his young family members arrive at his large mansion type home. Bosworth and Henriksen have some short screen time together but play off each other like two masters of their craft and it’s great to see Henriksen on screen. He is, perhaps. best known for his work as Bishop in Aliens back in 1986.

There is another scenario in this first episode where Bosworth’s assassin takes a woman out of jail to help identify targets. This woman dresses up in a teddy bear costume to avoid being seen by one of the men she is going to recognize for the assassin. This scene felt odd, but it is in keeping with Polish’s distinct style in that it is peculiar and unpredictable. This outfit the woman wears gives the scene some character, however silly it may be.

The show takes us back to when Bosworth was a young girl again and she has her first period in a bathroom while waiting for her dad to make a “hit.” This scene led to some great surprises that will keep viewers eagerly anticipating more episodes. It’s unexpected how the events that take place in the bathroom play out and the direction by Polish keeps the viewer hooked and makes the events that occur seem somewhat plausible. It’s surprising how the show develops the character of the assassin so much in just one episode. One can only wonder what is to come in future shows.

Bosworth is fantastic in her role here adding depth and charm to a complex character. One ponders how this character keeps her composure. Bosworth holds the viewer’s attention as one can only imagine what the icy cold character is feeling throughout her journey as a hitwoman. She’s charismatic but seemingly has no genuine emotions. Or does she? I’m sure future episodes will reveal more to the viewers as to what makes this character tick. Of course, episode 1 ends, predictably, with a cliffhanger and it’s a really intense one that will definitely make people want to see episode 2.

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