Directed by Stephen McCurry and Josh Seat this old school Western is dynamically shot, effectively told, and celebrates the oldest of Hollywood genres by embracing conventional tropes. Stagecoach heists, crooked lawmen and put upon heroes getting out of tight spots are all in attendance. With a colourful cast of engaging character actors who deliver their dialogue with enthusiasm rather than eloquence, Vengeance Trail leans into its low-fi roots as the uneven quality of the performances on screen work in its favour.
With superior stunt work elevating this action adventure beyond its indie roots, audiences are encouraged to revel in the 70s era of American cinema Vengeance Trail evokes. In an effective opening sequence that sees masked shooters hold up a stagecoach, leaving only one woman left alive, McCurry and Seat throw down the gauntlet in Western terms. Forced to escape from an overbearing husband (Carl Walper), Annie (Stephanie Northrup) soon finds herself under lock and key for her own protection. With Sheriff Emery (Jeff Dolan) working the angles and his cohorts looking to silence this survivor before she gets to disclose information, Vengeance Trail will rarely surprise audiences with its transparent plot.
However, aside from the storyline never looks to reinvent the wheel, there is a tremendous amount of charm that carries things along. Echoes of Unforgiven and Sam Peckinpah efforts are evident for fans of cinema, as Western archetypes, from the heroic homesteader through to the lovelorn ex-girlfriend add an air of nostalgia to proceedings. Due to budgetary constraints production design may come across as rudimentary, but all this does is play into the frontier story on screen as simple shanty town settlements enrich those indie origins.
Stand outs from the eclectic cast include Jeff Dolan’s Emery, who bares more than a passing resemblance to the late great Jack Palance. Robert Kotecki also gets to make an impression as the heroic homesteader Jim Dawson, even if his screen time does feel a touch restricted. Peter Sherayko also makes a memorable impression as the town doctor alongside rough neck outlaw Garvey (Kevin Russell). Beyond the dust bowl dramatics that epitome this style of story, Vengeance Trail actively celebrates a genre which has fallen out of favour.
The most notable examples in recent memory have been relegated to television, where a long form format has seen titles including Yellowstone go from strength to strength. Exceptions to that rule would be Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog and Jeymes Samuel’s The Harder They Fall, both of which made high profile appearances on the festival circuit. Vengeance Trail shares more in common with the latter than its Benedict Cumberbatch counterpart, since it seeks to explore diversity within the Western genre, but also embrace those stylistic staples audiences are familiar with.
However, there is a degree of polished production design and the obvious inclusion of revered actors in The Harder They Fall, that raises the bar beyond Vengeance Trail. With deeper pockets and some savvy casting choices, there is no telling what this movie might have become.
Vengeance Trail is available to stream now.
