Scrappy prostitute Juliette Flowers (well played with hard-bitten conviction by Lizzy Caplan) has the difficult task of retrieving the body of her slain outlaw lover Ransom Pride (a solid Scott Speedman) so she can transport said body from Mexico to Texas. Standing in Juliette's way are the vengeful Bruja (a memorably venomous portrayal by Cote de Pablo) and Ransom's hell'n'brimstone preacher dad Reverend Early Pride (an excellent enraged performance by Dwight Yoakam).
Director/co-writer Tiller Russell relates the absorbing story at a steady pace, maintains an appropriately grim'n'gritty tone throughout, presents a colorful array of grotesque characters, and brings a wonky editing style, a quirky sensibility, and a galvanizing flashy visual aesthetic that all add plenty of hopped-up energy and eccentric entertainment value to the overall oddball proceedings. The bang-up cast helps a lot: Jon Foster as Ransom's decent brother Champ, Jason Priestley as the unhinged John, W. Earl Brown as the no-nonsense Matthew, Peter Dinkage as a self-aware dwarf, Kris Kristofferson as the grizzled Shepherd Graves, and Blu Mankuma as the laid-back Sergeant. Juliette's determination to honor her promise to Ransom gives this film some real depth and poignancy. Recommended viewing for those looking for something different.
Director/co-writer Tiller Russell relates the absorbing story at a steady pace, maintains an appropriately grim'n'gritty tone throughout, presents a colorful array of grotesque characters, and brings a wonky editing style, a quirky sensibility, and a galvanizing flashy visual aesthetic that all add plenty of hopped-up energy and eccentric entertainment value to the overall oddball proceedings. The bang-up cast helps a lot: Jon Foster as Ransom's decent brother Champ, Jason Priestley as the unhinged John, W. Earl Brown as the no-nonsense Matthew, Peter Dinkage as a self-aware dwarf, Kris Kristofferson as the grizzled Shepherd Graves, and Blu Mankuma as the laid-back Sergeant. Juliette's determination to honor her promise to Ransom gives this film some real depth and poignancy. Recommended viewing for those looking for something different.