Skinwalker

Wow! As someone that has been watching Westerns for over 60 years, this has to be one of the worst I've ever watched. Goodness, the casting director obviously went to the local Community College and picked up a van load of drama students and just said, " pick the character you would like to portray." All the white and perfect teeth would never have existed in the 1800's. The three young ladies were all to clean and proper and so was the log cabin.

If you're a lover of the old western classics, The Searchers, War Wagon, Shane etc, don't even bother to start this terrible attempt to make a good western.

Nothing about this movie strikes me as being remotely authentic. Of particular note is the crisp white fabric worn by the Indians, and the teepee that looks like it would be gone in a good gust of wind. The acting looks like acting. People saying lines they have memorised with no real emotion behind them. Unconvincing all round, like someone's final year project at drama school.

Why do so many horror films rely on "destroying the graves of the indigenous" to incite a supernatural power? Because every bit of land in the Western Hemisphere was stolen from indigenous peoples and they are buried all over the United States.

This film doesn't have a lot going for it in the monster department. The Skinwalker here seems to combine a rabies epidemic with some kind of werewolf zombie shapeshifter. It doesn't so much come in the night, but through the bite of those who encounter it. And it isn't even the real monster here.

The monster is the way people treat each other on the frontier, and how it turns good people bad. The good deputy kills an Apache who is trying to help. The woman with nursing skills and a good heart is married to an outlaw. The upstanding Mormon takes a child as his third bride. The outlaws help the people in trouble as much as the sheriff does. And children are turned into killers to help defend a city ravaged by plague.

The good guys aren't all good, and the bad guys aren't all bad. It's a place where everyone is both, and that in itself makes up for the flaws in the film.

Keep an open mind, but cheer for the Apaches.

I enjoyed this movie. Interesting concept, carried out admirably on a small budget. The "stars" are very briefly in the movie. The first is there for about the first 10 minutes (of which he is in and out, and then disappears without explanation) at most, and the second "star" (also the director and writer) is there for about 3.

The real starts are Dalton Jackson, charming rogue, and his beautiful wife, Maisie. Both are wanted by the law, along with their henchmen, including the excellent friend, Vern. Mr. Jackson loves his wife, and it shows in his portrayal.

The law is a dirt-bag marshal, and his green deputy, and they are played pretty well. Then there is the farmer with the 3 wives, and what a stud he must be, though we never get to see that aspect. This movie is free of nudity and/or sex, unlike Hell Hounds, the first of this team's movies I watched. The Indians are ably played by Mexicans, and the action is pretty good, as is the make-up. It's hardly Rick Baker, but it gets the point across. If i could have rated it 4.5, i would, but not a full 5, so watch for yourself and see what you think.

Western Horror is a strange genre. This movie itself is a bit strange. You have two or three good actors and that's about it. Some of the dialogue is so painful I had to put Bengay on my popcorn. A completely trite plot with a bit of a twist, grave robbers rob the wrong grave and get cursed. But, it's not just a curse, there's a snake bite. It explores polygamy, the grey area of outlaws, briefly touches on a marshall with convictions (before his deputy chews up the entire scene and spits it out) a strange attraction that goes nowhere, misused characters and, I'm sorry, one of the worst actresses I've ever seen in a movie. The majority of the cast tries to pretend like they're in the old west at some undetermined time. The lead actress sounds like she's ordering avacado toast. With almost every line delivery.

There are good parts. The marshall, the head outlaw and Red Feather the Native chief do a fine job. Others in the cast do a passable job for a western horror film. Near the end they try to push some messages, which are obvious. All and all, It's not everyone's cup of tea. It's much longer than it should be. The writing isn't horrible, the directing? Not bad. The acting is fifty fifty.

If you're looking for a western horror film, I'd suggest Bone Tomahawk.