Before Taylor Sheridan became the genius behind Yellowstone and Wind River, he had a skeleton in his creative closet—literally. Long before crafting epic Westerns, Sheridan dabbled in the world of low-budget horror, helming a movie so questionable he couldn’t help but roast it himself later. Think cheesy scares, questionable writing, and enough cringe to make even hardcore horror fans wince.
But here’s the kicker: this so-called “bad horror movie” was more than just a spooky detour—it gave Sheridan the creative chops to nail Wind River. Who knew crafting a flop could lead to a masterpiece?
From Low-Budget Chaos to Cinematic Triumph: How Vile Helped Taylor Sheridan Nail Wind River
“A friend of mine… wrote this bad horror movie,” Taylor Sheridan quipped about Vile, a low-budget horror flick he reluctantly helmed in 2011. Known now as the mastermind behind Yellowstone and gripping films like Sicario and Hell or High Water, Sheridan’s directing start was anything but glamorous. Yet, this scrappy horror project played a surprising role in shaping his critically acclaimed feature debut, Wind River.
Here’s the backstory: Sheridan was called in last-minute by a friend panicking over the chaos of making Vile. The 2011 project needed saving, and Sheridan stepped in to keep the ship pointed straight. While he downplayed his involvement, calling it a “thank you” credit, the experience gave him a crash course in filmmaking. He admitted,
A friend of mine raised — I don’t know what he raised — 20 grand or something, and cast his buddies, and wrote this bad horror movie, that I told him not to direct. He was going to direct it and produce it, and he started and freaked out, and called and said, “Can you help me?” I said, “Yeah, I’ll try.”
I kind of kept the ship pointed straight, and they went off and edited, and did what they did. I think it’s generous to call me the director. I think he was try to say thank you, in some way. It was an excellent opportunity to point a camera and learn some lessons that actually benefited me on Wind River.
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Fast forward to Wind River. Sheridan wrote and directed the 2017 crime thriller, determined to honor promises he made to the Native American community about its authenticity. He took the reins himself. The result? A haunting tale led by Elizabeth Olsen and Jeremy Renner, which cemented Sheridan’s status as a storyteller of grit and nuance. He explained,
This subject matter, I couldn’t trust that someone else would have the same vision for it that I would. I had made promises to people in the native community, that this would be done a certain way, and the only way to guarantee that it was done that way was to direct it myself.
I had to go, “Okay, look, even if it’s not good, at least it’s the way I promised I would do it.” Hopefully, people think it’s good. That’s always the goal, because the aspirations for a bad movie don’t matter, because no one sees that.
So, while Vile might not top anyone’s must-watch list, it was the imperfect stepping stone Taylor Sheridan needed. And that ethos? It helped him nail Wind River.
Sheridan’s Landman: Billy Bob Thornton’s Authentic Dive into Texan Grit
Billy Bob Thornton found a natural fit in Landman, a Paramount+ series set in the Texas oil industry. Taylor Sheridan created the role with Thornton in mind, crafting a character deeply connected to Southern roots.
Having spent years in Arkansas and Texas, Thornton embraced the role’s authenticity, channeling his connection to the region. The series marked his return to television after Goliath, this time exploring the corporate world from the inside.
Inspired by Christian Wallace’s Boomtown podcast, Landman blended Sheridan’s sharp storytelling and Wallace’s industry insights, delivering a drama rooted in grit, ambition, and Texan spirit.