“The Legend of Van Dorn” follows General Earl Van Dorn as his bold tactics win battles and a dangerous affair threatens to destroy him during the Civil War.
While another 2026 release, “Young Washington,” focused on a historical figure that everyone knows, “The Legend of Van Dorn” does not. This, in itself, is a major risk taken by director Shane Stanley. Those who are unaware of Earl Van Dorn may be unlikely to give this a chance, but there is a major draw. Jon Erwin’s film offered a sanitized look at George Washington’s rise to becoming one of the Founding Fathers; Stanley purposefully addresses the complicated nature of his titular character. He’s a womanizer. He’s obsessed with personal glory. He’s a bad Army commander. This leads to a well-rounded narrative that is more about drama than action.
Lee Wilson’s screenplay embraces this fact. It’s slow-moving by design, spending the first third of the 102-minute runtime examining the characters before the first battle scene. It’s this contrast between the private periods of intimacy and public moments of battle that makes Van Dorn’s fractured persona so clear. It’s similar to “Oppenheimer” and “Pressure” in this way, prioritizing scenes of dialogue over major events themselves. Nonetheless, the commitment to patience may become too taxing for viewers. Even as the movie enters its final 30 minutes, there’s little tension about the war itself.
And this sense of quietness never goes away. Is it going to be the conclusion that general audiences wish to see? Probably not. But it is consistent with the tone that Stanley strives for throughout the entire duration. The argument can be made that it does glamorize Van Dorn’s lifestyle, though. With narration from Ellie Patrikios (Jesse Peters) to tie a bow on the story, it feels like a sentimental finish that didn’t necessarily need to be.
“Not all fairy tales have a happy ending, and not all battles are won in a heroic fashion.”
Director of photography Joel Layogan lets Nate Griffin’s production design and Christian Micheal’s costume design shine. While expository sequences are made up of close-ups, there are also environment shots intermixed that highlight the 1860s setting. Stanley’s editing makes the short-lived scenes on the battlefield move in rapid fashion. Shot on location in Tennessee, “The Legend of Van Dorn” feels like an authentic period piece. It’s not only the visuals, as Steve Dorff’s score also incorporates a variety of “old-school” sounds. This includes string melodies, piano rhythms, snare drum beats and more. Each serves a different purpose in blending the different aspects of Van Dorn’s life together.
Wilson (General Earl Van Dorn) doesn’t portray a grandiose personality. Instead, his delivery remains straightforward, which sometimes prevents the character from living up to his controversial status. There are brief instances where he takes on a larger-than-life presence, however. Patrikios is the clear standout of the ensemble cast. While largely acting as a romantic interest for Van Dorn, Patrikios adds layers to her character. Also appearing are Joe Lando (Dr. George B. Peters), David B. Meadows (General Nathan Bedford Forrest), Darby Cappillino (Anna Daniels), Andrew Reid (Major Kimmel) and D.B. Sweeney (Stansted).
“The Legend of Van Dorn” is large in scale and compact in execution — less about the battles won or lost and more about the man himself. It’s a direct telling of history without the fluff.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
