Outlaws and Angels [Review]

There’s no denying that there’s been an influx of Western genre cinema as of late. Perhaps it’s not fair to slap the “horror” label on it, but as we’ve often discussed, horror takes on many shapes and sizes. That said, one of its most popular and realistic shapes is that of the Home Invasion Thriller. Maybe it’s the idea that the scenario you’re watching unfold could happen in the real world to you and your family–I’m not sure. But whatever it is, it’s typically an enthralling experience. The problem is that we’re beginning to tread the ever-familiar water of poor middle class families being stalked by madmen in various types of animal masks (seriously, what is it with all of the animal masks?). We’re due for a breath of fresh air, and I sincerely believe that Outlaws and Angels is the film that I’ve been waiting for–even if I didn’t know it.

First and foremost, Outlaws and Angels is a Western; even more so than the 2015 standout Bone Tomahawk. In fact, there are very few (if any) similarities between the two other than their shared era of choice. Director JT Mollner opted to shoot the picture on genuine film, which absolutely separates it from the pack. The amount of grit and grain present in each scene is almost enough to conjure the vile smell of body odor and shit that our antagonists must reek of. It’s that dedication to the “feel” of the project that makes the directorial and cinematography work nothing short of spectacular. Everything from the vibrant red title cards to the exaggerated zooms and pans feels authentic. Couple that classic presentation with the violence and shock of modern independent genre cinema, and we have something very special on our hands.

The performances turned in by Chad Michael Murray, Ben Browder, Francesca Eastwood, and even Luke Wilson go a long way in masking some of the supporting cast’s imperfections. But even when a supporting character may seem off-key or a tad forced in their delivery, it harkens back to the performances that you might encounter when watching a classic Western. So even when Outlaws and Angels is not at its best, it always feels genuine–and that’s kind of genius and utterly unfair at the same time. As a reviewer, I couldn’t help but be somewhat charmed even by the most mundane of events.

There’s also no denying that a large group of movie watchers will find the 2 hour run time to be slightly excessive, but I found it all to be imperative to the story. Could the fillmmakers have trimmed 30 minutes and told the same story? Yep. Would it have been even remotely as impactful? Nope. The final 30 minutes of the film almost serves as a gruesome coda that greatly benefits the previous hour and a half. You can call it slow, and I wouldn’t say you’re incorrect. But slow doesn’t mean uneventful or boring. At least, it doesn’t in this case.

It’s hard to place a finger on what it is about Outlaws and Angels that I enjoyed so much. After all, I’m not even a Western fan. I might be the exact opposite of a Western fan. But the combination of pure technical spectacle, a story that keeps you on your toes, a few all-star performances, and some genuinely disturbing and graphic violence makes it hard not to recommend this one to just about anyone that is a fan of cinema. Pick this one up, and prepare yourself for one gritty and brutal ride.

Outlaws and Angels is available July 15th on VOD platforms.