Kiefer Sutherland — who made his screen debut with a brief appearance in his dad Donald’s comedy “Max Dugan Returns’’ 33 years ago — finally co-stars with the old man in this sturdy old-school Western.
The younger Sutherland plays John, a Civil War veteran who returns to his small hometown on the Wyoming frontier after a 10-year absence.
He gets a very cool welcome from his preacher father, William (played by Donald), who says his late wife was heartbroken by their son’s abandonment of them. The reverend also disapproves of his son’s postwar career as a gunfighter and doubts John’s promise that he’s done with killing.
John’s vow is promptly tested by McCurdy (Brian Cox), a foul-mouthed businessman who’s not above using hired guns to persuade local farmers — including the husband of John’s ex-girlfriend (Demi Moore) — to sell their land so he can cash in upon the arrival of the railroad.
The reverend is impressed when John endures a beating by one of McCurdy’s goons (Aaron Poole) — but the son is finally pushed too far and into a well-staged, rip-roaring gun battle that owes much to classic Westerns of the 1950s.
Tautly directed by Kiefer’s longtime “24’’ helmer Jon Cassar, “Forsaken’’ greatly benefits from the poignant teaming of its father-and-son stars — as well as Michael Wincott as an especially elegant and eloquent gunfighter who has great respect for John.