John C. Reilly feared for his life riding for new Western

John C. Reilly feared for his life while filming horse riding scenes for his new Western The Sisters Brothers.

The actor and Joaquin Phoenix star as a pair of assassin brothers, Eli and Charlie Sisters, in French director Jacques Audiard’s new movie.

During filming in Spain and Romania, John had to spend lots of time on horseback - an experience he tells Total Film magazine was an act of “blind faith”.

The 53-year-old was so fearful for his safety that he always ensured he would hug his chosen animal and bribe it with food to help build their relationship.

“There are a couple of moments where I almost died on that horse!” he exclaimed. “But every day I would hug the horse and say, ‘Thank you for keeping me safe!’ I would give it an apple and a kiss and say, ‘Until next time.’ I knew how important my relationship with that horse was.”

Despite featuring a pair of assassin brothers, John says the movie is not a traditionally violent Western.

“There’s no reason to make another bang-bang shoot ‘em-up cowboy movie,” he added. “There are so many already, so many great ones.”

One reason John believes the film, which earned its director a Best Director prize at last year’s (18) Venice Film Festival, has earned critical acclaim is the relationship he built with his co-star Joaquin.

“I think Joaquin is the greatest actor working now, and of course you want to be working with the best,” the actor gushed. “I knew it would have to be a very close relationship, someone that I had a good bond with.”

The Sisters Brothers opens in U.K. cinemas on 5 April.