Forget the classic cowboys, their hats smudged and silent on horseback. In Americana, Tony Tosto's directorial debut, which hits theaters August 22, 2025, the cowboy world meets crime fiction, black comedy, and a dash of existential chaos. It's like Sergio Leone meets Tarantino on a wild Tinder date—and brings Halsey and Sydney Sweeney with him.
A film that had its world premiere back in 2023 at the festival South by Southwest, is now finally seeing wider distribution. And it was clearly worth the wait – American is a bold twist on the classic Western, in which cultural symbols, crime, and personal trauma intertwine into a story that is not only thrilling but also bitterly timely.
A holy shirt, a country dream and... the reincarnation of Sitting Bull?
At the center of the story is Penny Jo Poplin (Sydney Sweeney), a shy waitress with a speech impediment and – clearly – country star potential. When, somewhere between refilling coffee and daydreaming about the stage, she overhears a conversation about a stolen sacred shirt of the Lakota tribe, she and the eccentric Lefty Ledbetter (Paul Walter Hauser) embark on a dangerous journey. And not only dangerous in the Wild West sense, but also morally slippery – as if Dolly Parton were singing Nick Cava.
Alongside them, Halsey, in her acting debut, shines as Mandy Starr – a rebellious mother whose inner demons are almost as loud as her son Cal (Gavin Maddox Bergman), who firmly believes he is the reincarnation of Sitting Bull. (Yes, you read that right.) Entering the story is Ghost Eye (Zahn McClarnon), a member of the Lakota tribe who is not just a symbolic presence – but determined to return the sacred relic to where it belongs. Without leniency.
Tarantino ghosts and Coen absurdity
American has been met with rave reviews from critics – it currently has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (indeed, all seven critics applauded), and Metacritic has an 85/100. No wonder: the film skillfully balances social criticism and dark humor, while also managing to highlight themes such as cultural appropriation, the American myth, and the dream, which often ends up in a ditch by the roadside.
Comparisons with Tarantino and the Coen brothers are not exaggerated – American it has that wild narrative charge and the constant threat that at any moment someone will pull out a gun (or sing a song).
Why you'll want to see it
If you're tired of generic action movies and want something that simultaneously entertains, hurts, and leaves you with questions that Google can't answer - then this is it. American a must-see movie. Plus, you'll be able to say you saw Halsey act before she won her Oscar (or Grammy for best stand-up?).
💬 What do you think of Halsey as an actress? Are you tempted to see the movie just for the holy grail? Tell us in the comments!
