The Devil Came on Horseback (2007)
94%RT Audience Score: 90%
Awards & Nominations: 5 wins & 5 nominations
The Devil Came on Horseback is both a strong primer on the complexities of the situation in Darfur and a harrowing first-person doc.
The Devil Came on Horseback” is a documentary that will leave you with haunting images of the genocide in Darfur. Former U.S. Marine Captain Brian Steidle’s story is told through filmmakers Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern’s lens, and it’s a deeply moving account of his efforts to educate the world about the violence he witnessed. While the film’s political analysis may be clumsy, the faces of carefree children mugging into the camera provide a welcome balm on the wounds of systemic depravity. Overall, this documentary is a must-watch for anyone who wants to open their eyes and conscience to the horrors of the world.
Production Company(ies)
Break Thru Films,
Distributor
International Film Circuit [us]
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Sudan
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2008
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 28m
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Language(s):English, Arabic
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 25, 2007 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 30, 2007
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, Darfur, ethnic cleansing, African Union, former Marine, Brian Steidle, New York Times, Nicholas Kristof, photographic evidence, Ricki Stern, Anne Sundberg, Eileen Haag, Ira Lechner, Arabic, International Film Circuit, directed by Ricki Stern, directed by Anne Sundberg, written by Ricki Stern, written by Anne Sundberg, produced by Eileen Haag, produced by Ira Lechner, reviewed by Mark Holcomb, reviewed by Matt McNally, reviewed by Owen Williams, reviewed by Joshua Katzman, reviewed by John Monaghan, reviewed by Marrit Ingman, reviewed by Joanne Laurier, reviewed by David Lamble, reviewed by Debbie Lynn Elias, reviewed by Jeffrey Chen, reviewed by James Wegg, reviewed by Sam Jordison, genre: documentary, box office: $132.3K, MPAA rating: not rated, Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy With Time, Sir! No Sir!, Shake Hands With the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire, The Five Obstructions, Manufactured Landscapes, budget: unknown, critic names: Mark Holcomb, Matt McNally, Owen Williams, Joshua Katzman, John Monaghan, Marrit Ingman, Joanne Laurier, David Lamble, Debbie Lynn Elias, Jeffrey Chen, James Wegg, Sam Jordison
Worldwide gross: $134,495
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $185,262
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,944
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 20,203
US/Canada gross: $132,782
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $182,902
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,560
US/Canada opening weekend: $11,143
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $15,349
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,594
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Anne Sundberg – Director
Ricki Stern – Writer
Anne Sundberg – Writer
Omar Amanat – Executive Producer
Eileen Haag – Producer
Director(s)
Ricki Stern, Anne Sundberg
Writer(s)
Ricki Stern, Anne Sundberg
Producer(s)
Eileen Haag, Ira Lechner
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
5 wins & 5 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (54) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (52) | Rotten (2)
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Mark Holcomb
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
The Devil Came On Horseback sets out to shock. The images caught by Steidle’s camera will stay with you long after his personal story – given too much time in relation to events – has faded from memory.
April 11, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Matt McNally
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
A decent attempt at outling the crises but crucially lacking much depth.
April 11, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Owen Williams
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Filmmakers Ricki Stern and Anne Sundberg chronicle his burgeoning activism in the face of the U.S. government’s indifference as the government of Sudan works systematically to eradicate black Africans from the region.
January 4, 2008
Joshua Katzman
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
The Devil Came on Horseback is a documentary account of Steidle’s ongoing efforts to educate the world about the violence he witnessed as an unarmed military observer for the African Union in 2004.
October 12, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
John Monaghan
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
The film’s approach suits an audience broader than the usual documentary crowd, though it’s worth mentioning that those pictures can really stay with you.
September 22, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marrit Ingman
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
[A] deeply misguided film…
September 2, 2020
Joanne Laurier
World Socialist Web Site
Filmmakers Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern show us hauntingly beautiful aerial shots of Western Darfur.
May 26, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
Nick and George Clooney opened my eyes as to the horrors of the genocide in the Darfur region of the Sudan. Former U.S. Marine Captain Brian Steidle, together with filmmakers Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern opened my conscience.
November 7, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
This documentary stares truth in the face in more ways than one.
August 30, 2009 | Rating: 8/10
Jeffrey Chen
ReelTalk Movie Reviews
To balance the chilling reality of the powerful having their unabated way with the miserably weak, the faces of carefree children mugging into the camera is a welcome balm on the wounds of systemic depravity.
July 23, 2009 | Rating: 4.5/5
James Wegg
JWR
Clumsy filmmaking and political analysis do not detract from the horror of the events the film bears witness too, nor the importance of its message.
April 11, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Sam Jordison
Film4…
Plot
The tragedy taking place in Darfur as seen through the eyes of an American witness and who has since returned to the US to take action to stop it. Uses the photographs and first hand testimony of former U.S. Marine Captain Brian Steidle to take the viewer on a journey into the heart of Darfur, Sudan, where an Arab run government is systematically executing a plan to rid the province of its black African citizens. As an official military observer, Steidle had access to parts of the country that no journalist could penetrate. Ultimately frustrated by the inaction of the international community, Steidle resigned and returned to the US to expose the images and stories of lives systematically destroyed. We witness Steidle’s transformation from soldier to observer to witness and, finally, to passionate activist and moral hero.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Former Marine Capt. Brian Steidle is the main subject of the documentary, The Devil Came on Horseback.
Ricki-Stern.jpg
