Dust Up! delivers raucous humor and balls-to-the-walls story-telling that studio films don't have the kahunas to try.
The story is relatively simple: A one-eyed former vigilante turned pacifist/desert handyman must summon his inner commando to rescue a young mother and her meth addict husband from a cannibalistic drug lord.
It's the execution and blend of story/character/music/violence/humor that makes this exploitation film so damn funny. Everything from the opening credit sequence to the exploding bar and the desert dance-off smacks of Tarantino on a tight budget.
This film takes characters you've seen before – the eye-patched warrior (a combination of Billy Jack and Kill Bill femme-assassin Elle Driver), the even-keeled, arrow slinging sidekick (Tonto of course, but played much more coolly by Devin Barry as "Mo"), and the out-of-control ultra-violent drug lord (name any memorable film where the bad guy was so awesome you loved to hate him, add some outrageous antics and you've got Jeremiah Birkett's "Buzz"). Toss in an attractive damsel in distress (Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Amber Benson) victimized by her husband's ineptitude and an adorable wide-eyed baby (Director Ward Roberts' daughter Bo)
and there's a lot to like and laugh about.
Even more impressive is that Writer/Director/Producer Ward Roberts pulled this all off on a micro-budget.
A great job all around, and a fun time to be had by all who dare to venture into the off-kilter mind of Mr. Roberts. Special kudos to Aaron Gaffney (who plays the protagonist one-eyed soldier Jack) and Jeremiah Birkett (the afore-mentioned despicable villain with a maniacal laugh).
