Pull on your vintage cowboy boots and grab your best wide-brimmed hat, darlin’, because On Swift Horses is galloping into theaters—and it’s turning up the heat in all the right queer ways.
This gorgeous period piece, helmed by the same director who delivered the steamy miniseries Fellow Travelers, puts a fresh spin on 1950s repression, clandestine affairs, and the longing to love freely at a time when simply existing as LGBTQ+ could land you in hot water.
A High-Stakes Love Story
Based on Shannon Pufahl’s 2019 novel, On Swift Horses trots us into the life of Julius (played by Euphoria heartthrob Jacob Elordi).
He’s an aimless Korean War vet hitchhiking west to bunk with his brother Lee (Will Poulter) and soon-to-be sister-in-law Muriel (Daisy Edgar-Jones).
You’d think that setup alone would create enough drama, but oh no—this is just the start of a wild, sexy adventure.
Once Julius splits for Las Vegas in search of a job (and a forbidden object of his affection), he meets colleague Henry, portrayed by Babylon star Diego Calva.
Sparks fly, bets get placed, and suddenly these two are riding off into a different kind of sunset: clandestine romance, smoky motel rooms, and whispered confessions that set the screen ablaze.
They’re both hustling to survive, but they’re also craving a life where their love can flourish in the open.
Where Queer Desire Can’t Be Tamed
Think of it as a ‘50s-era swirl of hidden letters and scorching glances, with each stolen moment of intimacy daring to crack the period’s buttoned-up facade.
What Fellow Travelers did for small-screen queer storytelling, On Swift Horses aims to do on the big screen—exploring the ways same-sex lovers found each other in a world that forced them to stay hush-hush.
We’re talking layered characters who yearn for an authentic life beyond the social mores.
And rumor has it these romances don’t just simmer—they boil over.
Diego Calva teased there’d be some “pretty hot scenes” with Jacob Elordi, which has the internet’s LGBTQ+ corner all riled up.
If your idea of a cinematic feast includes two men sneaking kisses in cheap motel rooms and living on the edge, well, sign us up.
+Related: Jacob Elordi & Diego Calva in Hot Queer Love Tale
Everyone’s Getting In On the Action
Not to be outdone, Muriel has her own exploration going on back in San Diego, discovering new freedoms (and possibly new loves) that go beyond the confines of wifely duties.
The entire movie seems to be a bold statement on how none of these characters fit into the 1950s box society tries to shove them into.
Each one is quietly (or not-so-quietly) raging against the era’s rigid expectations, seeking out connection wherever they can find it.
Hype from the Film Festival Circuit
On Swift Horses first kicked up dust at the Toronto International Film Festival and later made a surprise splash at Palm Springs, leaving audiences breathless—and perhaps a little flustered.
Word on the street is that everyone’s hooking up with everyone, making for a scandalous ride you can’t peel your eyes from.
With Sony Pictures Classics picking it up for U.S. release (and a stop at SXSW next), the countdown is on.
Giddy Up, Queer Cinema Fans!
If you loved the slow-burn tension of Brokeback Mountain or the swirling, hush-hush vibes of Carol, then On Swift Horses might just be your new obsession.
It merges forbidden romance and emotional stakes, saddling it all with a stylishly retro flair.
But don’t worry, there’s no shortage of edge-of-your-seat moments—both in the casino and in the bedroom.
So dust off those poker chips and get ready to see Jacob Elordi and Diego Calva steam up the screen in a story that dares to ask: How far would you gamble for a love you might never be allowed to show?
Here’s hoping these swift horses gallop straight into our hearts—and maybe even rewrite a little bit of Hollywood’s formula for queer storytelling along the way.
Because if there’s one thing we can’t resist, it’s a lush period drama where hearts and bodies collide under the hush of night. Yee-haw, sweetiesr!
+Related: Jacob Elordi & Diego Calva’s Steamy Hotel Room Prep for On Swift Horses