A series of quick reviews on several recently-watched modern Westerns.
Once Upon a Time in Deadwood (2019) by Rene Perez
Overall, this one wasn't too bad and had some likable factors involved. One of the better aspects here is the simplified and a rather fun storyline that sends him off on the mission which has a pretty stylish setup to force him on the clock to complete the task. The means through which he sets out to find the sister and her servant manage to provide a series of fun obstacles and confrontations along the way which is quite fun and brings about the finale where they get the chance to right the wrong featuring plenty of gun-play that has a lot to like. This does stumble in a few areas, namely the pacing where it's a lot of talk about what the poison is going to do and how to handle the group that's taken her, keeping the encounters to briefer aspects that pop in to disrupt the conversations before letting that take over. There's also the general low-budget nature of everything that makes it obvious that everything is done on the lower end of the budgetary restrictions which focus on putting the various technical features that showcase that lower budget in numerous centerpieces. It's not terrible but does have a bit that holds it down.
Eminence Hill (2019) by Robert Conway
This was a rather intriguing and rather enjoyable effort. Among the better aspects of this one is the rather impressive setup that provides a unique setting for the action, with the group of residents in the town matching the disparaging look of the town that offers up the kind of grimy atmosphere for what's going on. The brutality on display here with how they treat the others who stand up against their ways provides a great setup to the rather fun action here once the decision is made to take them on which turns this into the expected bloodbath that the genre wants and demands. That's quite well played out in the battles around the town in the quest to get the girl free which has a lot to like here in lifting it up over its flaws. This obviously looks the part of a low-budget Western with the look of the clothing and appearance of everyone as well as the effects-work provided, and with the rather gritty tone making for a rather anachronistic point at times that can throw some people off it does have some issues here even with the positives on display.
Hostile Territory (2022) by Brian Pressley
Frankly, this was much better than expected with a lot to like about it. That there's a fun storyline that allows them the opportunity to spend the time out in the west trying to track them down which provides a fun way to spend the time with the various people we come across and adds nicely to the immersion of the time period. That also allows for this to make a poignant statement about the futility of war and what it can do to a person's psyche with how the war has affected a person's turn towards peace following those events, all providing this one with a lot of nice setups to get to the action, later on, involving the race to get the kids free which all provide some likable features. There are a few issues here, mainly in the overall sense of pace here where it focuses on drama with their heavy-handed ruminations on race and how it divides us instead of driving us together which can make for a rather troubling time for those looking for more of a faster-pace setup. A lot of this comes off as cliched and rather unoriginal due to the frequent use of so many plot points presented here as well, which do hold this one down despite the positives.
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