6 Guns

I watch a lot of movies and have probably seen all modern westerns. I have also been a homeless young person and was raised on the streets so I know what is going on out there. I really bought into this one. The characters were believable. Sure, they don't show the whole mourning process of the woman who lost her family. No movie does. I wouldn't change a word of this movie and I would recommend it to any western buff. Especially if you look for "real" in a movie. The actors were brilliantly cast. The bad guys really fit the part, with different levels of sensitivity and hardness. The director has a great vision. I'd like to see other things this writer director and actors have done. Western lovers, watch this movie.

A through and through western revenge drama. Being filmed in 2010 do we expect more than we do from a classic like Hang 'Em High? Yes we do, and the film is lacking Clint Eastwood. Nonetheless taken at face value it's an hour and 30 minutes of overwrought entertainment.

The woman protagonist who's family has been murdered, of course learns gun craft in less than the time it takes to bake a cake.

Nice 20th century coins in the poker scene, BTW. The sheriff is a decent actor and gives the movie a bit of character, the bounty hunter is a stern father figure but is reaching. Almost all else is stilted and seems forced to a greater or lesser extent. Anyway, "bottles don't shoot back"..

RELEASED TO VIDEO IN 2010 directed by Shane Van Dyke (Dick's grandson), "6 Guns" stars Barry Van Dyke (Dick's son) in a Shane-like role. The plot is pretty typical for Westerns: A band of outlaws murder & rape a family, but the wife (Sage Mears) survives and, after overcoming her disillusionment, wants justice. She eventually enlists the services of a taciturn bounty hunter (Barry Van Dyke) to teach her how to shoot. Meanwhile the outlaws are on the prowl.

"6 Guns" is a quasi-remake of Raquel Welch's "Hannie Caulder" from almost forty years prior, but lacks that one's comical edge. There are some obvious elements of other Westerns, like "The Bravados" (1958) and "Pale Rider" (1985), but what else is new?

Barry is notable as the laconic bounty hunter as he fits the role of the rugged loner to a 'T.' He's akin to Eastwood in the Leone trilogy, but is an actual human character rather than caricature. Geoff Meed chews up the scenery as the main villain with gusto; it's obvious why his men fear him. Mears is quite good as the female protagonist, convincing and winning the viewer's sympathy, while Erin Marie Hogan stands out as the ravishing brunette saloon babe, Scarlet.

The vibe is nicely realistic and the locations smack of harsh Western authenticity. All of this is topped off by a great score by Chris Ridenhour, which definitely perks the movie up and gives it class. In fact, the movie's worth watching just for the score.

I'm only giving "6 Guns" 6.5/10 Stars because, even though it's a solid Western, it's also low-budget and kind of standard. If I gave it a higher grade people might expect something better than what it is. Still, if you like an occasional Western this one's worthwhile.

I was surprised to discover that this was made by The Asylum, a film company notorious for releasing cheap knockoffs of major releases to steal some of their thunder. The Asylum has certainly put out some cartoony dreck (e.g. "30,000 Leagues Under the Sea" and "Mega Piranha"), but they can also surprise you with some worthy low-budget stuff (e.g. "The Land That Time Forgot" and "Grimm's Snow White"). "6 Guns" ranks with the latter.

THE MOVIE RUNS 95 minutes was shot in California (Spahn Ranch, Chatsworth; Paramount Ranch, Agoura; and Snegoff Ranch, Topenga Canyon). It's rated 'R' for the brutal murder/rape scene.

GRADE: B- (6.5/10)

Really. What did you expect for a buck at Redbox? OK. So maybe Sage Mears might have shown more emotion after losing a nail than she showed after her family was massacred before her very eyes. But aren't most westerns a bit comical looking? It was a bit refreshing to watch a flick with no vampires or thumbscrews. The acting? It was decent. The story. Sure. Totally unoriginal. But Barry van Dyke pulled off the role of the reclusive moody aging gunslinger and the baddies were downright unlikeable. Please. Those who play the "worst movie ever" card too frequently will find the rest of us tuning you out. Lighten up and enjoy a simple story cheaply made.

Soo... What we have here. Typical low budget movie with typical western theme of revenge.

Action: You get your share of shootout, no worries about that. Though pace of the movie is slow.

Plot: 2 dimensional. Stereotypical. Nothing original.

Acting: Almost non-presented.

What we learn from the movie: 1) Sage Mears is beautiful. VERY beautiful. 2) She will never get an Oscar. NEVER. 3) To look as cool western hero, you must try to be as emotionless as possible and talk as little as possible, and never mind if time to time you look dumb because of that, instead of looking cool.

If you decide to watch this movie:

1) Ignore the plot holes. 2) Ignore all the pointless characters. 3) Lower your expectations to not be disappointed.