Unveiling the Brutal Truth of America’s Westward Expansion in ‘American Primeval’

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[This story contains spoilers from Netflix’s American Primeval.]

Director Peter Berg, along with executive producer Eric Newman and Indigenous Consultant Julie O’Keefe, emphasized in a meeting with reporters last October that to grasp our current situation, one should examine where we were before. This insight was shared during their visit to Netflix’s L.A. office as a preliminary glimpse into their project American Primeval.

The Netflix drama set in the West, premiered January 9th, departs from the traditional, romanticized, action-packed, occasionally overly dramatic portrayals of America’s beginnings as depicted by Hollywood. Instead, this six-episode miniseries delves into the role that human actions, both understandable and unexplainable, played in shaping a specific moment in U.S. history that eventually resulted in the creation of a nation.

The series is set during a particularly harsh and unyielding era of United States development – the 19th-century Westward expansion. It delves into the events leading up to and the aftermath of one of America’s most infamous massacres, the Meadows Mountain Massacre. Additionally, it portrays the transition of control at Fort Bridger from renowned army scout and mountain man Jim Bridger to the Mormons.

The bloody event unfolded in the Utah Territory during a conflict about territory and self-rule between religious leader Brigham Young, his followers, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints militiamen, the U.S. government, frontiersmen, settlers, and various Indigenous communities such as the Southern Paiute, Shoshone, and Ute. This multi-day carnage in the autumn of 1857 was largely orchestrated by a local LDS militia, with some assistance from the Southern Paiute people, resulting in over 100 deaths in what is now referred to as southern Utah.

As a gamer delving into my upcoming project, I can’t help but acknowledge that this era in American history was particularly brutal. It wasn’t the sole instance of violence our nation has witnessed, though; we’ve got a long and bloody past to contend with. Mark L. Smith and I felt compelled to delve into the complexities of such violence, and as we dug deeper, the raw, unfiltered truth of it all started to surface.

The massacre acts as the catalyst for the series, with Berg’s team showing little hesitation in portraying not only the immediate atrocity but also the broader struggle for survival experienced by Indigenous peoples, Mormons, soldiers, and settlers during this brutal time period. As Newman explained to the press during the October event, “This is how we began: with chaos, war, guns, violence.” If we were to soften that initial turmoil, I believe we would risk slipping into the same pitfalls as many romanticized history westerns.

In his observation, Berg acknowledged that the world’s reality can be harshly violent, and this brutal truth remains unchanged even in our contemporary world. However, during that particular period, the violence was particularly intense.

As a gamer, I’ve delved into the behind-the-scenes stories of the American Primeval cast, as shared in interviews at press events and with The Hollywood Reporter. Director Berg, along with Newman, O’Keefe, and several other cast members, spoke about their commitment to historical accuracy and creative intuition in bringing to life Hollywood’s depiction of the brutal history that shaped, and continues to influence, America.

Real History and a Healthy Skepticism of the Hollywood Western Inspired American Primeval’s Approach

Originally, Berg and Newman, who had already signed on, expressed interest in creating a project similar to the 1972 film “Jeremiah Johnson,” starring Robert Redford. They approached screenwriter Smith about this endeavor. In his office, Berg made an ice axe prop the centerpiece of his pitch, proposing a collaboration that would eventually follow a fictional frontiersman and mother-son pair as they journeyed through the Westward expansion. This concept would later be based on a real historical event that forms the core of the miniseries.

ERIC NEWMAN (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) In developing this universe, we aimed for genuine portrayal, extending beyond visuals to encompass the occurrences and characters as well.

PETER BERG (DIRECTOR) We stumbled upon the Meadows Mountain Massacre, which was a subject we had some basic knowledge about. However, it wasn’t extensive. This led us to an intriguing chance to delve deeper into Brigham Young, the Mormon faith, and their struggle for survival – a struggle that involved violence. A topic I was less familiar with before, but now I have a better understanding of.

I was raised with a strong appreciation for Westerns, which I still cherish. However, I feel that these shows often present a cleaner version of a truly violent period in history. The title of the show, American Primeval, signifies this early stage of our identity. We are seven years before the end of the Civil War. This era was marked by an unrelenting violence that is still prevalent today. In contrast to Europe, where their attitudes towards guns, violence, and heroism differ significantly from ours.

JULIE O’KEEFE (INDIGENOUS CONSULTANT) By glossing over history, we overlook significant aspects of our identities. This is a common occurrence across all communities and cultures. What makes it intriguing is that the series presents a more subdued version of reality compared to what really transpired. We were not just struggling for existence but for a meaningful life… Our struggle as indigenous people was to find ways to endure in the face of an encroaching, forced way of life.

BERG During our investigation, we began to grasp the intricate relationships among certain indigenous groups like the Shoshone, Paiute, and Ute, as well as the Mormons, their militia known as the Nauvoo Legion led by Brigham Young due to constant persecution across the nation, who were defending their territory in Salt Lake City. Meanwhile, the U.S. military was present with the intention of expelling the Mormons and causing damage to some Native American tribes that we encountered.

Early explorers such as Jim Bridger eventually made room for figures like Brigham Young, who were able to rally large numbers of people. It’s important to note that the native tribes, who still exist although not in their original state, played a crucial role in narrating the struggle over what this region would ultimately transform into.

BERG We aimed to depict these diverse individuals as complex, nonbinary communities, rather than stereotypes. This includes various Native American tribes, Mormon settlers, pioneers, mountain men, and U.S. military personnel – all grappling with survival in a harsh environment. Their struggles for existence often put them at odds with other groups also fighting to survive, as resources seemed scarce to everyone involved.

Each character in our narrative was driven by an intense desire to safeguard their own families and themselves. This instinct to preserve, evidently persistent across the globe today, unfortunately often results in acts of aggression towards others due to sheer terror. Our intention with these characters was to portray the collective fear as a basis for the ensuing violence.

IRENE BEDARD (ACTOR, ROLE OF CHIEF PINE LEAF) In this specific work, the raw, unadulterated truth – the dirt, grit, and brutality – are powerfully combined. This overwhelming display of humanity’s harshness is something I believe people should witness. We, as Americans, all stem from such harshness, and it’s not far removed in our ancestry. This is the foundation upon which we were created.

NEWMAN Thematically, it was important to us that we are holding up something of a mirror. 

American Primeval Is “Factually Accurate,” Says Its Director, But It Also Relies on Fictional Composites to Tell Its Story  

Berg and his team visited the location of the Utah massacre, where they were accompanied by Mormon historians. They also invited Indigenous consultant Julie O’Keefe, who played a crucial role in guiding the entire production process across different departments. However, when it came to portraying the brutality of the massacre and some significant figures involved in the conflict, the TV series American Primeval drew from real-life incidents, fictional characters, and events, as well as employing violence depictions from both reality and fiction.

JASON To me, history feels more like gripping narrative than factual account when you consider certain events – some truly chilling incidents, such as the Meadow Mountains Massacre, being among them.

BERG As writers and filmmakers, we specialize in visualizing and conveying the true essence of violent scenes, including their sensations. In our debut episode and subsequent installments throughout the series, we aimed to accurately depict such experiences.

The characters portrayed by Taylor Kitsch (as Riek) and Betty Gilpin (as Elizabeth Fremont), were amalgamations of real individuals who had passed through these regions. A character we created during production, named Captain Dellinger, was a man from the East, a West Point graduate in the U.S. Army, who brought a thoughtful perspective to the chaos unfolding. He functioned somewhat as a commentator or observer. This character is inspired by John Gunnison, an individual who ventured westward during this era and held a progressive view of Native Americans and Mormons. However, the Mormons perceived him as a traitor, leading to his demise. While I’m not hinting at Dellinger’s fate, it’s worth noting that the message conveyed is that enlightened individuals are not tolerated in this place.

BERG Apart from our efforts to accurately portray Native American tribes in our work, the Mormons play a significant role here as well. However, there seems to be confusion about who exactly the Mormons are and aren’t. The mention of “Book of Mormon” often leads to jest, but if you’ve read it, you understand it’s not a joke. It’s a profound satire instead.

KIM COATES (ACTOR, BRIGHAM YOUNG) I wasn’t extremely knowledgeable about the Mormon faith, Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, prophecies, or the Prophet. To gain insight into this character, I read numerous books. When Joseph Smith was assassinated in an Illinois prison, he was only 34 years old. After his death, Brigham Young and 11 other apostles held a drawing to decide who would be the next prophet. Brigham Young emerged victorious from that contest, and it is said that on that day, his voice resembled Joseph Smith’s.

He played a crucial role in the survival and expansion of that religion, leading it from Missouri across the mountains to the Utah salt flats. Therefore, there’s no doubt that Brigham Young was the key figure behind that religion. To be in charge of an entire religion and a large group of people – whom he refers to as his flock – requires a certain level of toughness, power, and perhaps even a touch of divinity.

SAURA LIGHTFOOT-LEON (ACTOR, ABISH PRATT) I didn’t model Abish solely after one individual. However, the Abish you see on screen is a composite of many women from my personal life, along with insights gained from reading the book “A House Full of Females“. These women, often Mormon, would jot down their thoughts in diaries, on milk cartons, or whatever scraps of paper they had at hand.

The research I conducted had a more scholarly focus. It was both heartbreaking and eye-opening to grasp the characteristics of Mormon women living in 1857. Much of it drew inspiration from my grandmother who nurtured me during my early years. She was remarkable, displaying immense strength and resilience. My mother shared similar qualities. These powerful female role models guide me, sustain me, and seem to pass down generations within me.

O’KEEFE It’s impossible for any film or show to be completely true-to-life, but we must trust our Native American advisors and the entire production team to strive for the greatest level of authenticity.

DEREK HINKEY (ACTOR, RED FEATHER) [Shoshone warrior] The character Red Feather is inspired by my family lineage. I am a direct descendant of War Chief Numaga, the son of Chief Winnemucca, and the grandson of Chief Truckee – historical leaders who were involved in the longest and deadliest Indian wars in U.S. history. While Numaga was indeed a war chief, he was also a man who prayed for peace. He was taught as a child to show kindness towards people with lighter skin when they encountered them.

Derek Hinkey (the actor playing Red Feather) is descended from a real-life historical figure named War Chief Numaga, who led the longest and deadliest Indian wars in U.S. history. Despite being a war chief, Numaga was also a peacemaker who taught kindness to those with lighter skin when they crossed paths with him.

Despite the ongoing strife, he found himself unable to stay put and instead sought solace in a ritual at Pyramid Lake [in Nevada]. He spent several days in prayer there. Upon awakening, he shared his vision with others, declaring that war was inevitable. But when it comes, it will be like a dust storm, sweeping through everywhere I go. This is the theme I often explore in my book about my grandfather, titled “Sand in a Whirlwind: [The Paiute Indian War of 1860]”. It serves as an inspiration for me, particularly when creating characters like this one, to help me remember the ancestral strength and memory within us all.

In my creation, my character is inspired by a genuine figure known as Pine Leaf [Woman Chief], who participated in combat. Across numerous tribes, it was typically the women who held the power to initiate or prevent warfare. Among the Cherokee, there were the Beloved Women, a significant group from an Eastern tribe. This is not about the Western Shoshone, but rather a concept that questions the idea of “She can’t possibly be the Chief” and “Do we really need to consult this woman on these matters?” The portrayal of matriarchal roles and the matrilineal aspects of Indigenous cultures in Western genre narratives have often been distorted or overlooked due to colonization.

Exploring Fact and Dramatization Helped the Team in Their Intentional Choices About What Violence They Depicted and Why 

The film American Primeval doesn’t hesitate to display a range of violent scenes, including a tragic massacre involving children and a gruesome scalping sequence. However, Berg, his team, and the creative minds behind the project, along with the actors, were thoughtful about the implications of these violent portrayals, both in terms of how they were filmed and what specific moments were chosen to be depicted. This careful consideration is evident in two assault scenes that steer clear of explicit depictions of rape, despite resulting in fatalities.

BERG People frequently ask me if there’s a boundary when it comes to the violence in the films I make. I always respond by saying yes, there is a limit. Sometimes, I can’t precisely define where this line lies, but I feel it when it’s been breached. This was the case with Deep Water Horizon, Patriots Day, and Lone Survivor. These were all movies based on real events, and I had to interact with and handle the families of those who perished. Often, they would inquire about this very matter. And my usual reply was, “I trust that I inherently won’t. We can discuss this further once you see an early cut of the film, and if you think I have overstepped, I will be open to discussing it and making any necessary adjustments.

TAYLOR KITSCH (ACTOR, ISAAC REED) When it comes to Isaac’s actions, he only resorts to a fight when it’s necessary to protect the children, Sara, or himself. This means that his actions were never motivated by violence for its own sake. In the initial version of the show, there was a scene where men approached him and he killed them without any real justification, which was more common in those days. If I wanted your coat, I would simply take it. However, if taking your life was necessary to get the coat, it was just an unfortunate occurrence. We chose to remove such scenes because they didn’t contribute to character development and were instances of violence merely for its own sake.

User It’s important to acknowledge the issue of violence against Indigenous women, as well as violence against women in general, which was often overlooked. However, it’s essential to understand that MMIW (Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women) and MMIP (Murdered and Missing Indigenous Peoples) are not recent phenomena. Instead, this problem has been deeply rooted within the system for a long time.

SHAWNEE POURIER (ACTOR, TWO MOONS) During filming of my scene, there were only a few people present, which I’m incredibly appreciative of. They didn’t have a large production team. Only those essential for the set and required for the scene. I’m immensely grateful for this setup because it was such a demanding scene. It drained me significantly. However, the intimacy coordinator was a reassuring presence. She ensured my safety and comfort, which was invaluable to me. For me, it was uplifting to know that Two Moons would eventually be released.

Betty Gilpin (as Sara Rowell, the Actress) hails from a society where a minor grammatical error, forgetting to wear a glove, or exposing the wrong part of an ankle can be profoundly shocking and horrifying. Such social faux pas could potentially be career-ending, and it seems the pressure is immense when one is thrust into a world filled with people whose heads are being blown off. To add to this, not only are ankles visible, but intestines as well. This stark contrast between her upbringing and the gruesome reality of her new environment must have been truly terrifying.

As a fan, I believe there are instances when our minds can conjure up far more chilling scenes than what we witness on-screen. Episode three serves as an excellent demonstration of this concept. The fate of Sara was initially scripted to be shown, placing us within the tent with them. However, my co-creator Pete and I discussed how, in a series that already shows so much, this might have been one of those rare moments where allowing the audience’s imagination to fill in the blanks could make for a more spine-tingling experience.

A thought I had was not necessarily expecting to fully grasp the entire ordeal of the assault, as it’s a deeply disturbing situation. The act of assault itself is distressing. However, I found the aftermath more perplexing than the event itself. Trying to comprehend what it would be like for a woman to endure such trauma and immediately regain her footing was challenging. My discussions with Betty on this topic were particularly impactful experiences for me, possibly the most significant of the entire series.

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You can now stream all episodes of American Primeval on Netflix. Check out THR’s first interview with actor Dane DeHaan and final interview with the show’s director, Peter Berg.

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2025-01-18 19:56