The Reel Review
Following a terminal cancer diagnosis, a recently widowed, retired surgeon decides to journey with his beloved dog back to his boyhood home in Eastern Washington to end his life on his own terms. Unforeseen circumstances, however, change those plans. Tom Skerritt and Mira Sorvino star in this neo-western drama.
To most younger viewers, East of the Mountains will feel like a plot-free waste of time. There isn’t a lot of action and the pacing is very slow. But to viewers who are paying attention and old enough to relate to themes of loss and loneliness, this elegiac journey is filled with subtle, tender moments, as our protagonist reconnects with his past and ultimately, his long-estranged brother. A series of flashbacks reveal aspects of his earlier life.
Skerritt, who was in his late 80s when this 2021 film was made, proves he’s still got some gas in the acting tank, with a solid ensemble cast that includes Annie Gonzalez (Drive-Away Dolls) as a local veterinarian who helps him out and Oscar winner Sorvino (Mighty Aphrodite) as his concerned daughter. Director S.J. Chiro provides everything you’d want in such a film – solid acting, beautiful cinematography and an unpredictable story set to a gentle score.
REEL FACTS
• Seattle resident Tom Skerritt, 92, has appeared in more than 170 film and television productions, which include A River Runs Through It, Brothers & Sisters, Top Gun, Picket Fences and Alien. His latest film is the 2025 Western Broke, starring Wyatt Russell and Dennis Quaid.
• “East of the Mountains” author David Guterson co-wrote the film’s screenplay with Thane Swigart.
• This is only the second feature film from director S.J. Chiro (Lane 1974), who had a predominantly female crew on the film, still a rarity in the industry.
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