January 25, 2026 (NYC)–   Thieves Highway is Modern Western Winner.  A Look at Thieves Highway, the new dramatic action film by filmmaker Jesse V. Johnson.  Thieves Highway is available now on Amazon Prime and other VOD services.

REVIEW:

Thieves Highway is a modern western about a topic I knew nothing about going into the film, cattle rustling.  However, the reunion of Chief of Station‘s Aaron Eckhart and Jesse V. Johnson gave me an indication that the film would be solid in many respects, and worth checking out.  I was not disappointed. Thieves Highway is a solid action film in the Western genre.

Johnson and Eckhart capture the finest elements of a classic Western in a contemporary setting. For one, the acting is really solid. Aaron Eckhardt is a seasoned actor.  Of late, he has really made a pivot towards more rugged, action themed roles.  In Thieves Highway Eckhart understands the task at hand and plays the role with strength and decisiveness. His modern Livestock Police Officer is not a caricature and he plays the part with realism.

The supporting cast is stellar. There are no weak links in this one. Lucy Martin really stands out in the role of Peggy.  In an otherwise male dominated cast she is a force to be reckoned with.  Devon Sawa plays the head of a crime syndicate with intensity, but without overplaying the villain.  Rapper, The D.O.C.,  provides a memorable performance as a reluctant do-gooder.   There is synergy in these performances .

Johnson’s Directing is always solid, and this is no exception. He is a great storyteller, and one of the most under appreciated Directors of our time. The action is gritty and the tension throughout is palpable. The movie is well filmed and well edited.

This is an action film; however, it is not only an action film.  Like many of Johnson’s films it has a socially relevant and interesting through lines, and characters that are, somewhat, weathered by the difficulties of their relative lives.   These characteristics make the characters real.  It is also, in its execution and performances, an homage to many classic Westerns.

Finally, the action in this film is very good.  Like any Western, it has its share of violence and gun play.  Johnson understands action and how to balance action and story in a way that is always satisfying the to the viewer.

I heard very little about this one’s release, which is a shame. I hope word of mouth helps get this the attention it deserves.

The film is a worthwhile and I highly recommend it.  At its core it has good storytelling, great action, acting, and Direction.

–review by Master Marc Zirogiannis