A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

This movie makes no sense until the last ten minutes. Then it becomes apparent Eden took a fall to protect the two tiny children of the woman who was behind the wheel. Her grandfather(?) knew he was getting out of prison, didn't just appear with horses. This same elder just happens to be there again when he gets out of jail, in front of the Masonic temple. The movie theme is about keeping secrets, when to tell the absolute truth would destroy two innocent children's lives. Look for Masonic symbols, you may see them, especially around the Sheriff. The movie Tombstone comes to mind as another Masonic movie, but without the obvious message Soda Springs tells so well, of a fundamentally decent man who sacrifices a good part of his life to protect women and children.

I'm not sure I can find any flaws in this movie. The acting was very good, the direction by Michael Feifer was superb. The storyline was excellent, and unlike many indie movies I watch these days, it actually had a real ending, along with a few surprise twists. The characters were interesting and likable, and the chemistry between them was believable and grabbed my attention. The Idaho scenery was stunning. And the haunting soundtrack throughout was eerily mood-evoking. Possibly the only fault I could find was that I was left wondering for 38 minutes into the movie how long Eden had been in prison. But perhaps that was by design. The song Eden sang at the end was slightly corny, but then... for an amateur redneck performing at the local honkey tonk, it was about what you'd expect, I suppose. I loved Henry Darrow's role (am I the only one who remembers Manolito from The High Chapparal series in the late 60's?), and although his scenes were brief, his presence was richly felt. I don't give 10 stars lightly, but this one definitely deserved it, IMO.

Soda Springs is a movie I will want to watch many times. I'm always a Tom Skerrit fan, but I saw many more nuances in his role in this film than ever before. Jay Pickett was only vaguely familiar to me, but I will definitely be looking for him in more films. Initially I wanted to see the movie to enjoy glimpses of familiar Idaho scenes, but the sincerity and increasing depth of the drama captivated my imagination and leaves me wanting to watch this movie again and again.The theme I took from the movie was the work and patience required in rebuilding a life - work wasn't enough, patience alone wasn't enough - and everyone concerned had to contribute their own work and patience. How do you make work and patience and more work and patience exciting to an audience? It took a lot of skill and courage on the part of everyone who made this film! Through unexpected characters and careful pacing I sensed and then shared the frustration of the main character as he had to wrestle his life and reputation from the backbiters in his hometown.The casting was well done and the locations were wonderful. I had expected to be pulled out of the story as I recognized familiar places, but instead that just added to the connection I felt with the characters. I still want my husband to watch Soda Springs so he can tell me if that pick-up Pickett drives is the same make as one we see around New Plymouth. It all felt so real to me that I can still feel the dust of the baseball diamond, squint into the bright sunlight and smell the inside of the feed store.That feeling of connection is part of the reason Soda Springs lingers in my mind so long after watching it. It is also the reason I'm not at all surprised to hear of the awards this movie is attracting.

"Lock up your wives and daughters, Eden Jackson's back in town." Eight years after a terrible accident affected a small Idaho town the man responsible returns to start his life over. Almost instantly the town begins to treat him as an outcast and refuses to accept him back to the community. Slowly he begins to win his ex over and secrets start to come out that change the town forever. I have seen a few movies like this (I can't remember the names of them) but it has the feel of a movie like "Pure Country". An exiled resident returns to face his past and meets resistance. You have all seen that movie before so you won't be surprised. This movie is pretty cheesy but it is actually not bad and does have a twist at the end that isn't totally predictable but not unexpected. Without trying to spoil the movie I will let you know that Tom Skerritt is in the movie for about 2 minutes, so if that's why your renting it be warned. Overall, not really a whole lot to say about this movie. Cheesy but an OK movie that many will like. I give it a B.