Snappy script and powerful performance from Jeremy Renner give Wind River a great start — but it finishes with more of a whimper than a bang

INSPIRED by real-life events, Wind River is set on a Native American reservation in the desolate, snowy Wyoming mountains.

Cory Lambert (Jeremy Renner) is an expert tracker who stumbles across the frozen body of a local girl who has been brutally raped.

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It hits him hard, as his daughter went missing in similar circumstances. He assists the police in the hunt for her killer.

Written and directed by Taylor Sheridan – writer of last year’s Oscar-nominated Hell Or High Water – this is a tight and enjoyable thriller.

While the plot is somewhat lacking, boy, he sure makes up for it with some brilliantly written characters.

This is Renner’s best part for a long time. He has always been a solid and dependable lead, with the perfect blend of character actor and hunk.

But often he has been let down by the material. Here, Renner is given space to breathe. His chemistry with the excellent Elizabeth Olsen is evident.

The snappy script and beautiful scenery give the film a big head start, so it’s a shame it never fully delivers on its early promise.

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I felt it was gearing up to a twisty, turny ending.

But aside from an insane shoot-out, it left with more of a whimper than a bang. Not so much a tense investigation as a day-trip for people with guns.

But Renner’s performance – along with a mesmerising soundtrack by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis – is enough to carry it happily along.

Wind River (15) 107 mins
Rating: ★★★☆☆