"May the children of Satan go to hell."
Pioneer wagons from Arkansas and Missouri arrive in Utah in September 1857 to be scrupulously eyed by Jacob Samuelson (Jon Voight), Mormon bishop, captain of the local militia, and mayor of the town. With 900 head of cattle, 200 fine Kentucky horses, and tired people, the caravan leader Capt. Fancher (Shaun Johnston) asked Samuelson for a place where they can rest and restore themselves and their stock. Samuelson grants them permission to encamp in Mountain Meadow.
Samuelson, suspicious of these Gentiles and angry that some were from Missouri where the Mormon leader Joseph Smith was murdered, claimed he received direction from the most powerful man in the American West, Mormon president Brigham Young (Terence Stamp), and visions of Joseph Smith (Dean Cain) and Hyrum Young (Ron Webber) to slaughter the pioneers.
By telling the Indians that the pioneers were a threat to both the Indian nation and the Mormons, Samuelson incided the natives to run rage upon the pioneers. After the attack, the Indians are angry that the pioneers had succeed in killing many of the Indians after Samuelson had assured them that God was on their side and none of their braves would die.
Samuelson then ordered the reluctant adopted son of Brigham Young, John D. Lee (Jon Gries), to murder the remaining pioneers.
In all, more than 120 men, women and children were lead to slaughter on that September dawn. The only survivors were the children too young to speak and remember. They were taken in by Mormon families in the area. Eventually, with the intercession of the American government, those children were returned to their families.
Interwoven through the factual information of the film, Samuelson's son Jonathan (Trent Ford) falls in love with Emily Hudson (Tamara Hope), daughter of the pioneer preacher (Daniel Libman).
Lolita Davidovich, Krisinda Cain, and Taylor Handley also appear.
Co-written and directed by Christopher Cain.
Run time: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Rated R for violence.
My personal rating: B
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