Organ Trail

Why in the world would you have a fairly well known actor like Sam Trammell try to pull off an Irish accent? Good lort. It was a continual mixture of a flat American dialect, a American Southern Drawl, and a VERY BADLY DONE fake Irish accent. For the love of Pete it did nothing for the plot of the film, as all the men were to have been just recently released from their regiments in the American Civil War. So any American accent would do.

Otherwise, as a thriller or a gritty frightening western. That in itself was done well. This group of men are just what outlaws would really would have been. Old Westerns cleaned them up so much, making them have things they "wouldnt do". But TRUE horrible psychopaths and sociopaths have no invisible line that they won't cross. And that would include taking over a whole town and killing everyone in it. Or killing whole families on the Oregon Trail, pillaging their wagons, stealing the horses, and SA'ing the women. While so many stories through history tell you that wagoners on the Oregon Trail had to fear the Native American Tribes on their trek. Not much was said about our own citizenry doing much worse (and if you saw those hand made arrows, try to pin it on the Native American Tribes).

If you want something a little bit different and gritty to watch...this is a 7/10...has a little bit of "girl power" but it's not so in your face you'd be offended.

But my lort Sam Trammell. Never pretend to have an Irish accent ever again.

This was a solid western/drama/thriller and a little horror. One plus is it's filmed on location in Montana. It's a nice back drop for a dark and dreary period western.

Overall it's a bit long, some of the scenes are too extended and unnecessary. That being said the film is pretty well acted and directed. A lot of panning shots of Montana and some pretty good sfx, fire scenes and other elements.

There's also some pretty solid character build up and arcs which do take time to develop. It's definitely low budget and most of the actors are all still in their early stages of their careers.

Overall, enjoyable effort that drives some pretty good tension and the score isn't bad either 6/10.

I went into this thinking it was going to be a horror flick.

But it can be more aptly described as a low budget western thriller.

There isn't really a main character in the film.

Rather, the plot centers around a string of incidents, through which three groups of people collide - a family of settlers travelling along the Oregon Trail; a gang of violent raiders, who prey on such travelers; and a couple of black homesteaders, who just so happen to have settled in the area.

The gang uses a woman they have captured as bait, to lure benevolent settlers to their death (by their hands).

After which they raid their wagons for goods and women.

The gang consists of a leader, a sociopath, a follower, and a good man trapped in a bad situation.

And, when they murder the family we are introduced to, they end up taking their daughter prisoner.

However, she ends up escaping.

After which she is taken in by the black couple.

Only to steal their horse, so as to return to the scene of the crime, so that she can bury her family.

Not knowing the gang has sent their woman to track her; while the sociopath tracks her (because she is taking too long)- just as the black homesteader sets out to get his beloved horse back.

Inevitably leading their paths to cross...in what will turn out to be an incredibly violent turn of events.

The acting is actually quite decent across the board.

And the scenery is quite stunning.

Unfortunately, the plot relies on some extremely implausible events to drive itself forward.

With a couple instances of really poor CGI effects.

On top of that...the climax is rather underwhelming...culminating with an all too abrupt ending.

Which doesn't leave you satisfied.

But it's not a bad little film.

And is entirely watchable.

With some effectively disturbing moments.

Even if it doesn't quite live up to other films based on extreme ultraviolence.

I don't really get the title, though.

Because it never has anything to do with organs.

4 out of 10.

For most of its running time Organ Trail is a relatively grounded Western/thriller with some interesting moments and solid cinematography. There is a certain grittiness to the events - when faced with dangers, characters don't perform heroics but often panic and die abruptly or at least take a physical toll from their big or small mistakes.

Then, in the last act, Organ Trail turns into the pulpy horror movie which was suggested by its title, with a ridiculous invincibile cartoon villain shrugging off an absurd amount of damage.

Now, I have nothing against ridiculous invincible cartoon villains - in the appropriate venue. After the low-key first and middle act, this is just tonally off. It's like watching All Quiet on the Western Front and then suddenly one character starts performing Commando-like shenanigans.

6/10.

I really tried to like this movie because I like westerns, but this movie could have been about hikers, campers, or just people lost in the woods. Scenery and music does not "make" a movie, and although there is some decent scenery the aggravating score does nothing to help this clinker. The story seems to drag and would have made a good 20 minuter TV show, but not a full length movie. There were too many characters to develop in the time it took to drag this movie to a conclusion. A little more actual story and a lot less unnecessary shots of people walking back and forth in the distance might have made this a better movie. The bad guys just need to be bad guys, and not spend every scene proving how bad they are. This director should learn to tell a story, and not waste film. Sad... because this story had some potential but it got lost by actors trying to be evil Clint Eastwoods. There is a great deal of stupid and unnecessary dialogue that make this movie forgettable. A better title would have been Dragging Trail. Not one of my favorites by any means.