Netflix's ‘The Harder They Fall’ Is Poised to Be the ‘Black Panther’ of Westerns

After Black Panther, the studio released Captain Marvel, their first female-led superhero film, then took things up a notch in Phase Four by introducing Black Widow, a second female-led film; Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, their first movie with an Asian lead; and Eternals, which includes the first Korean superhero, the first openly gay superhero and the first deaf superhero in the MCU. It's almost as if Black Panther kickstarted this new wave of inclusive and groundbreaking Marvel films, and it's entirely likely that The Harder They Fall will have a similar impact on the Western genre.

Like MCU, cowboy films have been a popular vehicle for white male heroes, with emphasis put on Wild West legends like Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp and Butch Cassidy. But now, with The Harder They Fall, Samuel is redefining the genre by shedding some light on less popular Black figures, including Stagecoach Mary (Zazie Beetz), Marshall Bass Reeves (Delroy Lindo) and Jim Beckwourth (RJ Cyler).

Idris Elba also stars as kingpin Rufus Buck, a personification of the real-life gang, while Regina King and LaKeith Stanfield play Treacherous Trudy Smith and sharpshooter Cherokee Bill, respectively.

As expected, the performances are brilliant all around. Elba's Rufus has the air of a king who can shift the atmosphere of any room, and King shines as the unforgettable, no-nonsense gangster. But as stellar as this cast is, the film's biggest strength is that it stays true to the Old West genre without exploiting Black trauma. If you're familiar with classics like My Darling Clementine and Cat Ballou, then you know that the most popular Westerns tend to follow the same pattern: First, there's a heinous crime, followed by a hot pursuit of the notorious criminal until, finally, the sharp-shooting hero enacts their revenge in an ultimate showdown. The Harder They Fall follows that same plot, but with an all-Black cast and a fun twist that makes an old formula feel new and innovative.

The soundtrack is also phenomenal, which comes as no surprise, given Samuel's own music background and his collaboration with Jay-Z on the project. In a stark contrast to bluesy, old-time tracks from classic Westerns, this film incorporates modern hip hop and reggae tracks that elevate every single scene, from intense stand-offs to bloody shootouts. In fact, there's one particular memorable scene where Barrington Levy's "Here I Come" drops right as a newly-freed Rufus commands his crew to kill everyone on board a train. The imagery is quite brutal, but the song's tone fits really well with the image of a notorious kingpin who's stepping back out into the real world.

While it's incredibly refreshing to see a Black Western that has the potential to make waves in the film industry like Black Panther did, it's important to address the problematic casting of Stagecoach Mary (also known as Mary Fields). For those who don't know, she was the first Black female star-route mail carrier in the U.S., and the hard-drinking quick-shooter was actually dark-skinned and plus-sized. Although Beetz gives a solid performance, it's a bit disheartening to see that such a groundbreaking film still reflects Hollywood's history of colorist casting. Given how rare it is to see dark-skinned, plus-sized women in leading roles on the big screen, this could've been a great opportunity to highlight their beauty and make these women feel seen.

Still, with such a compelling story and dazzling lineup, The Harder They Fall succeeds at driving home the point that Black stories are still important. Like Black Panther has done for superheroes, the film has the opportunity to open everyone's eyes to a new interpretation of the Wild West genre—one that's sure to appeal to more fans and leave a big mark on the film industry. Here's betting this won't be the last Western that highlights Black characters.