Taylor Sheridan is best known for his gripping work on Yellowstone and the intense thriller Wind River, but before he became a household name in the world of modern-day Westerns and crime dramas, Sheridan directed a little-known, underwhelming horror film. In an interview, he described the movie as a “bad horror film,” acknowledging that it might not have been a success in the traditional sense. However, what Sheridan didn’t mention at the time was how this so-called “bad” film profoundly impacted the director’s approach to filmmaking, ultimately helping him hone his skills for his later, critically acclaimed projects like Wind River.
So, how exactly did this horror film lay the groundwork for the success of Wind River? Let’s take a deep dive into Taylor Sheridan’s lesser-known past and explore how the lessons learned from this early project helped him shape the haunting and compelling atmosphere of Wind River, which became one of his finest works.
Taylor Sheridan’s Early Career in Film: From Horror to Thrillers
How Sheridan’s Horror Film Came to Be
Before he became a famous writer and director, Taylor Sheridan worked in various roles in the film industry, including as an actor. His early career was defined by struggles and the desire to find his niche in Hollywood. During this time, Sheridan directed a horror film that, in his own words, didn’t turn out the way he’d envisioned. While the film itself may not have been a success, it offered Sheridan some valuable lessons that would shape his future work.
The horror genre, with its focus on suspense, tension, and atmosphere, turned out to be an excellent training ground for Sheridan. Despite the film’s lack of recognition, it served as a platform where Sheridan could experiment with storytelling techniques and pacing, skills he would later use in his breakout projects like Wind River.
What Went Wrong with Sheridan’s Horror Film?
While Sheridan has downplayed the quality of the horror film, there’s more to the story than just a “bad movie.” One of the main issues was the rushed production schedule. With limited time and resources, Sheridan struggled to get the atmosphere just right. The film may not have been a critical or commercial success, but it wasn’t all for nothing. Sheridan learned early on that creating suspense and tension, crucial elements of a good thriller, is an art. This realization helped him build the atmospheric tension in Wind River that made it stand out in the crime thriller genre.
The Evolution of Sheridan’s Filmmaking Vision
How the Horror Film Helped Improve Sheridan’s Approach to Tension
When Sheridan went on to write and direct Wind River, a gripping crime thriller set in Wyoming’s remote wilderness, he brought the lessons from his early horror movie with him. The horror film may have been poorly received, but it taught Sheridan about managing tension and maintaining an unsettling atmosphere, two critical elements in Wind River.
In Wind River, Sheridan crafts an intense, slow-building atmosphere that is as much about what’s not said as what’s on screen. He took the mistakes and challenges from his horror film and channeled them into creating a film that thrives on quiet moments, tension, and subtlety. Wind River is a film that makes you feel the cold, desolate surroundings of Wyoming, and the lessons Sheridan learned from his horror past played a significant role in this.
Moving from Horror to Thrillers: The Growth of Sheridan’s Filmmaking
While Sheridan’s horror film was undoubtedly a low point in his career, it laid the foundation for his growth as a filmmaker. As Yellowstone and Wind River proved, Sheridan is a master at creating tense, compelling narratives. His ability to build suspense in both film and television, especially in remote and desolate locations, stems from his early experiences in the horror genre.
The transition from horror to thriller wasn’t immediate, but the groundwork was there. Horror films often focus on drawing out tension and fear from the viewer, elements that Sheridan adapted into his future thrillers. The darkness of horror, combined with his developing storytelling style, ultimately led to the gritty, atmospheric world of Wind River.
The Impact of Sheridan’s Horror Experience on Wind River
Creating an Atmosphere of Unease in Wind River
One of the standout qualities of Wind River is the pervasive sense of unease that hangs over the film from start to finish. Set in the snowy, isolated terrain of Wyoming, the film explores the brutal murder of a Native American woman on a reservation. The film’s atmosphere is dark, foreboding, and intensely gripping—a perfect blend of tension, suspense, and drama.
Taylor Sheridan’s horror film, though a failure in the eyes of critics, gave him the chance to experiment with suspense and pacing. These elements directly informed his approach to Wind River, where every shot and scene is carefully constructed to maintain tension. The movie uses long silences and subtle visual cues to create an ominous feeling, something Sheridan learned to perfect during his earlier experiences with horror.
How Sheridan’s Growth as a Director Enhanced Wind River’s Storytelling
While his horror film may have lacked the finesse that would define his later work, it forced Sheridan to refine his abilities as a director. In Wind River, he proved that he had learned from those early mistakes. The film blends elements of mystery, crime, and suspense, but it is the human element that sets it apart. Sheridan focuses on the characters—their pain, struggles, and the harsh realities they face—which mirrors the emotional storytelling in Yellowstone.
The Role of Character-Driven Drama in Wind River
Much like his later work, Wind River thrives on its character-driven drama. The film isn’t just about solving a crime; it’s about exploring the emotional impact on the characters involved. The central characters of Cory Lambert (played by Jeremy Renner) and Jane Banner (played by Elizabeth Olsen) are deeply affected by the tragedy they are investigating. Sheridan learned from his horror film that to truly hook an audience, the human element of the story must remain central, even in the face of horror and violence.
What Sheridan Learned About Himself as a Filmmaker
The Challenges of Telling Dark Stories
Sheridan’s horror film forced him to confront the challenges of telling dark, emotionally intense stories. His growth as a director is evident in his later projects, particularly in how he handles sensitive subjects like murder, trauma, and loss. These are all themes that Wind River explores deeply, and Sheridan’s previous work helped him refine his ability to navigate these difficult topics.
Becoming a Master of Atmospheric Filmmaking
In a way, the horror film taught Sheridan the importance of atmosphere in filmmaking. Even though the film may not have succeeded on a commercial level, it provided the training ground Sheridan needed to perfect his craft. He took the eerie atmosphere he sought in his horror film and channeled it into his thrillers, making the setting an essential character in the story.
Conclusion: The Horror Film That Shaped Sheridan’s Career
Although Taylor Sheridan’s horror film may not have garnered the success he hoped for, it played a pivotal role in his evolution as a filmmaker. The tension, suspense, and atmosphere that he struggled with in his early work became the driving force behind his later masterpieces like Wind River. Sheridan’s ability to craft stories that are as emotionally rich as they are tense shows just how far he has come since those early days.
By learning from his mistakes and drawing on his experiences, Sheridan proved that even the most underwhelming projects can provide the foundation for future success. So, the next time you watch Wind River, remember that the gripping atmosphere and character-driven drama owe a debt to that so-called “bad horror movie” that helped shape Sheridan’s approach to filmmaking.
