Stephen King-Backed Western, Killing Faith, Becomes a Sleeper Hit

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Ned Crowley wrote and directed the supernatural Western film Killing Faith (2025). It premiered at Beyond Fest on September 26, 2025, and became available to rent or buy digitally the following week, on October 3rd. In March 2026, the film was released on Hulu, reaching a wider audience and gaining popularity with both Western and horror fans.

Killing Faith is a noteworthy film that earned high praise from Stephen King, the famous author known for his thrilling horror stories. King has a knack for storytelling across many genres, so his recommendations carry weight. In this case, he’s spot-on – despite being a recent release, Killing Faith is quickly becoming recognized as a modern masterpiece, reminiscent of the work of Cormac McCarthy.

Stephen King Calls Killing Faith an “Authentic Shocker”

Just a few days after its debut at Beyond Fest, Stephen King shared his thoughts on the horror film Killing Faith via X (formerly Twitter). He called it a “quasi-supernatural Western” reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy, and praised the opening scene – featuring a child and a horse – as genuinely shocking.

Because of a character limit on X, King shared some insights about Killing Faith. While the film is often described as a supernatural Western thriller, King clarified it’s actually “quasi-supernatural,” meaning any supernatural aspects are likely there to mislead the audience and create a certain impression rather than being genuinely central to the story.

Describing the show as “quasi-supernatural” gives viewers a general idea of its tone, but the comparison to Cormac McCarthy really clarifies what to expect. McCarthy, famous for novels like All the Pretty Horses and Blood Meridian, was particularly known for his gritty, often violent Westerns. That gives you a good sense of the atmosphere and style of Killing Faith.

For fans of film, Cormac McCarthy’s novel about a man accidentally caught up in a disastrous drug deal is likely his most well-known work. The book was made into a movie in 2007, which went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Though Cormac McCarthy wrote many acclaimed novels, Blood Meridian, published in 1985, is widely considered his masterpiece. Despite its reputation for being difficult to adapt into a film, several attempts have been made over the years, but all have stalled due to the book’s intense violence. Currently, New Regency is working on a film adaptation directed by John Hillcoat, but there haven’t been any significant updates on the project since 2023.

While often noted for its extreme violence, Blood Meridian is more than just a brutal story. Beneath the bloodshed lies a powerful message about the dark side of human nature and the lengths people will go to for their own benefit. Though different from Killing Faith, both stories share a lasting and undeniable impact.

Killing Faith Focuses On a Slave & Her “Cursed” Daughter

Set in 1849, Killing Faith centers on a former slave named Sarah, her young daughter who appears to be white, and a doctor tasked with leading them through perilous lands. Guy Pearce stars as Dr. Bender, a doctor who has lost his faith, while DeWanda Wise plays Sarah, and Emily Katherine Ford plays her daughter, known only as “the Girl.”

I’m really worried about this little girl, Sarah’s daughter. It’s heartbreaking – everything she touches seems to wither and die. Sarah is convinced her child is cursed, and honestly, I can see why she’d think that. But Dr. Bender seems to have a different idea. He thinks there might be a medical explanation, some kind of illness the girl is carrying that’s causing these terrible reactions in everything around her. It’s a little more hopeful to think it might be something they can actually treat.

The central conflict of the story arises from the clash between Sarah’s belief that her daughter is cursed and the possibility that she’s simply ill. This highlights the tension between the supernatural and scientific explanations. Killing Faith intentionally explores the delicate balance between faith and science, as science often seeks to explain phenomena traditionally attributed to religion.

Sarah introduces Dr. Bender and his team to a faith healer, hoping to find a solution for her daughter’s illness. However, the situation becomes increasingly complex, and a growing number of people they encounter begin to believe the girl is cursed. This reveals the lengths people will go to for survival or to prove they are correct.

Killing Faith is a skillfully crafted film that keeps you guessing until the very end. It builds such a believable supernatural atmosphere that you might actually start to believe the central character is cursed. This clever approach allows you to connect with even the villainous characters, making the film incredibly engaging, though occasionally intense to watch.

Stephen King recently praised the new film Killing Faith on X, noting its instantly captivating and shocking opening scene. He suggests it’s reminiscent of the stark Westerns of Cormac McCarthy, a style we haven’t seen consistently since the 2013 releases of Child of God and The Counselor, which were based on McCarthy’s novels. After being available on Hulu for a few months, Killing Faith is proving to be a standout modern Western thriller, potentially one of the best in years.

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2026-05-13 19:16