The Outsider

In recent years there have been in the direct to DVD world a number of westerns made on very low budgets. This is one of them, and I think that despite it having a number of flaws, it is a touch above most other modern low budget westerns. Now, it IS very cheaply made, but I could see that the filmmakers tried very hard to hide this fact, such as with the use of limited lighting in a number of sequences. And they did spend some money when it counted, such as with the use of a rain machine in a few sequences, which does add some atmosphere. The filmmakers were also able to with the limited funds generate a few decent scenes of action and/or suspense.

However, these points of merit only take the movie so far. While the movie is atmospheric, it is undeniably VERY slow to unfold, made worse that the core of the story is simply a rehash of revenge westerns from the past. A quicker pace would have helped things considerably. Also, the movie is hurt by the fact that the central protagonist (played by Jon Foo) doesn't give a particularly good or engaging performance. There are also a few badly directed sequences that will momentarily puzzle viewers as to what exactly is happening in front of them, or what just happened moments before.

Despite these and other flaws, I admit that I wasn't at any time BORED by the movie, and while I may not be giving the overall results a passing grade, I do think that under the low budget circumstances, the filmmakers deserve an "A" for effort.

One last note, this one to fans of Danny Trejo: He only shows up for a couple of minutes.

It's too bad really. Trace Atkins is so much better than this dark, dank poorly written, pathetically acted 'old west' saga. What plot there is came from a half dozen movies past. Everything from KungFu to Bonanza. (You'll recognize them.) Add this weakness to fact the entire presentation takes place at night and the result is a half baked struggling concoction that's never going to rise past sad. The three stars I gave it are: one for Trace, one for Danny and one for the horses! Save the popcorn and two hours of your life. Miss this one.

Eh, the acting and scenes are pretty bland or shall I say "flat". No way near a classic Spaghetti Western like Sergio Leone's old westerns (as some ridiculous article tried to point out). Hell no! Now those were movies. This movie is lacking emotion, it tries to be dramatic, but it just doesn't connect with you, you just don't feel it. Like most movies coming out today, that are either straight to DVD or just blah. And the two lead actors (husband and wife) who are indeed Asian, look more latin or American Indian than anything else. Lol.

This movie is POORLY directed. TOOOO much of the movie is black, dark....as in "Not Enough Light"!!! Too many of the scenes (frames) are spend entirely too much "filler time" on any particular frame. Add more light to the dark scenes move from one scene a bit faster than 5 minutes and it "may" be a better film.

There's no bank heist or cowboys Vs indians in this movie, just a very tragic story about a chinese man (yes, a chinese man) seeking revenge. This is why most people hate The Outsider: because it offers nothing they were expecting after they read "western".

If you're just looking for a nice film, you'll find an interesting plot that switches gears about halfway through, so much that even the protagonist is not the same anymore. Looking at the cast Foo, Adkins and Flanery deliver good performances, while Trejo is in there for 5 minutes and quickly forgotten.

It takes an open mind to appreciate everything: if you're not too hardcore about westerns, you're gonna like this movie.