lotekguy-1
Joined Aug 2004
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lotekguy-1's rating
Among the thousands of TV and movie westerns I've seen, some have crossed over with sci-fi and the supernatural, like Cowboys & Aliens, Jonah Hex or a slew of totally forgettable flicks pitting cowpokes against vampires, zombies or other things that go bump in the night. This low-budget affair breaks a bit of new ground... more uniquely, perhaps, than laudably.
Red Ridge is a dusty, nowhere little town of dashed hopes, founded on the promise of a gold rush that never materialized, leaving a handful of bored residents. Even the local outlaw gang that harasses the folks can't rustle up a decent living. The sheriff (Owen Williams) and his deputy (Trent Culkin - apparently no relation to the other Culkins in the biz) seem like good guys, but hardly the stuff of which legends are made. Adding to the sheriff's sense of being overmatched are ghostly hallucinations that start driving him nuts. He sees dead people (none of whom look anything like Bruce Willis) and doesn't know why. Or handle it well.
There are a few holdups and shootings, with a couple of unlikely deaths. The gang gets smaller and the town's sparse population takes a few hits. The sheriff is more of a thinker than a doer. Oddly, his only book is about thermodynamics. But the most unusual part of this isn't the ghosties. It's the only western I can recall in which absolutely no one rides a horse! A couple pull the stagecoach in one scene. But no one's ever in a saddle, and none are even tied to hitching posts along the street. (Maybe the Equine Actors' Guild was on strike when the shoot was scheduled. As Westerns have gone out of favor, most of its members may be heavily saddled with debt, and that ain't hay. Jus' speculatin' here, folks.)
Writer Brandon Cahela and several of the credited producers filled supporting roles. Another sign of limited funding.
All in all, the film is a low-key curiosity that might work for you, now that you know not to expect much in the way of f/x or adrenaline stirring.
Red Ridge is a dusty, nowhere little town of dashed hopes, founded on the promise of a gold rush that never materialized, leaving a handful of bored residents. Even the local outlaw gang that harasses the folks can't rustle up a decent living. The sheriff (Owen Williams) and his deputy (Trent Culkin - apparently no relation to the other Culkins in the biz) seem like good guys, but hardly the stuff of which legends are made. Adding to the sheriff's sense of being overmatched are ghostly hallucinations that start driving him nuts. He sees dead people (none of whom look anything like Bruce Willis) and doesn't know why. Or handle it well.
There are a few holdups and shootings, with a couple of unlikely deaths. The gang gets smaller and the town's sparse population takes a few hits. The sheriff is more of a thinker than a doer. Oddly, his only book is about thermodynamics. But the most unusual part of this isn't the ghosties. It's the only western I can recall in which absolutely no one rides a horse! A couple pull the stagecoach in one scene. But no one's ever in a saddle, and none are even tied to hitching posts along the street. (Maybe the Equine Actors' Guild was on strike when the shoot was scheduled. As Westerns have gone out of favor, most of its members may be heavily saddled with debt, and that ain't hay. Jus' speculatin' here, folks.)
Writer Brandon Cahela and several of the credited producers filled supporting roles. Another sign of limited funding.
All in all, the film is a low-key curiosity that might work for you, now that you know not to expect much in the way of f/x or adrenaline stirring.
I recently discovered the light-hearted series Tropical Heat and streamed the whole enchilada. I was struck by resemblances between Rob Stewart and our beloved Bruce Campbell. Similarly handsome; Stewart's narration and his delivery of wisecracks and asides sound identical to Sir Bruce. Both have the same self-effacing comic flair, though Bruce became a legend by going over-the-top in horror flicks with Sam Raimi. Nick Slaughter's character and situation more closely remind me of Bruce's underrated Adventures of Briscoe County, Jr. And his co-starring role in Burn Notice.
The similarities extend here, as Stewart is stunned to find out he's a Serbian celebrity of almost heroic proportions, much like Bruce's emergence as a cult idol here. His trip to Serbia is full of warmth, humor and insight into their struggles throughout the 1990s, and the role comedic relief (largely from his old series) played in coping with oppression and hardship, and their ultimate success in establishing a freer and more democratic society.
Stewart's humility and appreciation of all he learned and experienced comes through convincingly. We like him! We really like him!
The similarities extend here, as Stewart is stunned to find out he's a Serbian celebrity of almost heroic proportions, much like Bruce's emergence as a cult idol here. His trip to Serbia is full of warmth, humor and insight into their struggles throughout the 1990s, and the role comedic relief (largely from his old series) played in coping with oppression and hardship, and their ultimate success in establishing a freer and more democratic society.
Stewart's humility and appreciation of all he learned and experienced comes through convincingly. We like him! We really like him!
I'm writing this mainly because the only other review is from one who denounces it as anti-Christian. That's absolutely wrong. It's anti-Zealot and anti-cult. The delusional, yet charismatic leader wants to reboot The Crusades, and gulls a bunch of young acolytes into taking up arms in support of his "mission".
When the protagonist team of archaeologists discovers relics in a part of England where shouldn't have been according to known history, the complications begin. Among them is a hunk of cedar that may have come from a crucifixion. Perhaps even THE crucifixion. It triggers a media frenzy and jump-starts the preacher's escalation from inflammatory words to violent action. Psychologically, the villainy could have just as easily been from fomenting any form of fascism or bigotry. This one fit with the artifacts and era they came from.
Along the way, he's denounced by many, including other Christians, making faith his excuse for megalomania, not the target of the story. Bottom line: don't trust zealots, whatever they're pushing.
When the protagonist team of archaeologists discovers relics in a part of England where shouldn't have been according to known history, the complications begin. Among them is a hunk of cedar that may have come from a crucifixion. Perhaps even THE crucifixion. It triggers a media frenzy and jump-starts the preacher's escalation from inflammatory words to violent action. Psychologically, the villainy could have just as easily been from fomenting any form of fascism or bigotry. This one fit with the artifacts and era they came from.
Along the way, he's denounced by many, including other Christians, making faith his excuse for megalomania, not the target of the story. Bottom line: don't trust zealots, whatever they're pushing.