The Devil Came on Horseback

I'm pleased to introduce a guest reviewer here on Society's Elite, my longtime friend Bernard Johnson. Among other things, Bernard makes some mean mojitos, and due to his stature, gets offers to be security for certain Canadian rock bands. Now, he contributes his critique for The Devil Came on Horseback.


The Devil Came on Horseback

I've been a movie buff for most of my life now, big budget movies, small priced films, anime, and even some occasional indie films. But after reviewing this film, I can add documentary to the list. Most documentaries open the backstage for events or people that we never really knew much about. However, "The Devil Came on Horseback" opened the world's eyes to events and actions that most of the world knew nothing about. The images and the events that were witnessed by the narrator and photographer, U.S. Marine Captain Brian Steidle, were that of pure horror and dismay. I would say that if the Marines keep producing men and women like this, those who can do this job and keep it together, then they're doing their jobs accordingly. He truly captures crimes against humanity in Darfur that would make one wonder what other dark parts of this planet do we not pay attention to, and to whom are they being done against. I would warn, that if you are of the faint of heart or produce waterworks by passing road kill on the highway, then stray away from this one. At the end of the film, Cpt. Steidle tries to get global attention for the cause, which was the saddest part of the film, because attention was needed to begin with. He accomplishes his goal, but not without opposition from all angles, including those from the third world hell who don't believe his stories or graphic pictures to go with them. As I turned my DVD player off, I couldn't help but wonder who were the real victims in this film, the poor people of Darfur or the people like me who get to even have a DVD player and go to bed with the promise to arise tomorrow.

-Bernard Johnson