THE PLOT THUS FAR
Blaming her uncle for both her family’s troubles and the death of her father, a young girl vows to even the score and sets out on a quest for vengeance. To survive the Wild West, she becomes a ruthless killer, cutting down everyone who stands in her way. When their paths finally cross, only one can survive, but who will find redemption at the end of their bloody road?
WHAT WE THOUGHT
“Living by the Gun” wants to be a Western that examines the far-reaching impact of violence on people. However, it has the tone-deaf approach of a community theater production. I liked the moments of violence, but I didn’t care for the preachy nature in which they were framed. This isn’t the 1950s and an audience expects more. Cheap moralization and oft-kilter production values just call attention to the film’s shortcomings. It’s not like the movie needed any additional help showcasing its cinematic faults.
There is something about a DTV Western that just feels cheap. The genre itself has become a relic from another time that does make a few interesting advances into the modern era. Still, those few films that manage to buck the trend are like finding a Unicorn in the wild. There’s something all too familiar about “Living by the Gun” that won’t appeal to anyone outside of the AARP set. Moral ambiguity is a big pill and I don’t think that the filmmakers knew how to prescribe it.
The DVD comes with a Digital Copy, featurette and trailer gallery. The standard definition transfer is rather flat with a great deal of digital noise. However, the Dolby 5.1 track knew went to boom and set a stage. Truly amazing work for a DTV movie. In the end, I’d recommend a rental.
RELEASE DATE: 01/07/2014