War Pony is not easy to get through. The film, helmed by first-time directors Riley Kough and Gina Gammell, is slow to move and tackles weighty subjects like poverty, child abuse, and cultural appropriation. You’d be forgiven for asking if it was all too much, especially as the film makes its 12-year-old lead (a stellar LaDainian Crazy Thunder, who plays Matho) perform appalling things children are usually protected from. But ultimately, it also feels necessary. Kough and Gammell co-wrote the script with real-life Rez residents Franklin Sioux Bob and Bill Reddy, whose personal experiences inform much of the film’s story. Additionally, indigenous actors inhabit most of the screen and turn in naturalistic performances, adding to the film’s sense of urgency. And War Pony also weaves traces of magic into its realistic tale, making it an awe-inspiring and beautiful (albeit heavy) watch. 

LaDainian Crazy Thunder and his co-lead Jojo Bapteise Whiting, who plays Bill, are the obvious standouts. These two carry much of the film’s weight between them. They’re naturals, despite this being their acting debuts, and they lend the film credibility, especially during heightened moments. Many reviews have (rightfully) dubbed Kough and Gammell as directors to watch in the indie scene, but Crazy Thunder and Whiting deserve just as much (if not more) praise for their breakthrough performances.