When women are portrayed in Western films, they’re typically relegated to the sidelines. Rarely do they get in on the action. “Brimstone” is an exception. Dakota Fanning’s character, Liz, is the protagonist of the story, and a newly released trailer for the film shows that she’s willing — and able — to load and point a gun.

The film’s official synopsis describes the Western as a “triumphant epic of survival and a tale of powerful womanhood and resistance against the unforgiving cruelty of a hell on earth. Our heroine is Liz, carved from the beautiful wilderness, full of heart and grit, hunted by a vengeful preacher (Guy Pearce) — a diabolical zealot and her twisted nemesis. But Liz is a genuine survivor; she’s no victim — a woman of fearsome strength who responds with astonishing bravery to claim the better life she and her daughter deserve.”

The trailer kicks off with the preacher quoting the Bible: “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, for inwardly they are ravening wolves.” He continues, “Jesus is the shepherd who protects you from those wolves. And I am his dog. His sheepdog that gets the lambs back on track when they stray off the path.”

The footage makes it abundantly and creepily clear that the preacher isn’t the benevolent sort. If he’s determined to get someone back on “the path,” he’ll do so by any means necessary. He seems to view Liz as someone who has strayed, but she continues to defy him, resisting his bullying and manipulation, and eventually seeking retribution.

“Brimstone” premiered at Venice Film Festival and will hit theaters and VOD platforms March 10. The film is written and directed by Martin Koolhoven (“Winter in Wartime”). Check out the disturbing trailer below.

Fanning’s recent credits include “American Pastoral,” “Effie Gray,” and Kelly Reichardt’s “Night Moves.” She’s signed on to star in Kirsten Dunst’s directorial debut, a film adaptation of Sylvia Plath’s “The Bell Jar.”