Outlaws and Angels (2016) User Reviews

JT Mollner's weird vision just did not appeal to my idea of a good western

[Ed-Shullivan · 4/10 · 5 April 2018]

Besides writer/director JT Mollner deciding to create his own unique vision of a western where the three fugitive bank robbers hold a preacher named George Tildon (Ben Browder), his wife Ada (Teri Polo) and two daughters hostage the bank robbers have a continuing dwindling posse chasing them and the story just gets weirder and weirder.

The posse chasing the bank robbers is led by Josiah (Luke Wilson) who tries to lead his posse through intimidation and with idle threats but quite frankly he cannot even protect himself from of all people, the preachers half dead wife? Then there is the leader of the bank robbers named Henry (played by Chad Michael Murray) who takes a shining to the preacher's youngest daughter Florence Tildon (Francesca Eastwood) who has some secrets she wants to share with Henry.

In other real suspense films, the director/editor will purposely lower the actors voice so as to hold the audience's attention but this director, JT Mollner took this approach to extreme with his star Henry (Chad Michael Murray). Not only does Henry's voice come to almost a whisper, he mumbles most of his dialogue such that I thought the film would need to include sub titles because the quiet language Henry was whispering/mumbling was certainly not English no matter how many times I attempted to rewind what the heck he was mumbling.

If you enjoy seeing faces and heads being riddled with bullets and brain matter landing on the shooters own face then maybe you could be remotely satisfied. Or maybe incest, or male on male anal sex is your thing, then this film may appeal to you. I found it disgusting for a western and I do not object to violence just to sensationalism for garnering false attention. The dialogue was also very boring and extremely slow moving but I still hung in there which is why I did not rate the film any lower than a 4 out of 10. At least the ending was a bit of a surprise which I will not divulge so that you can also sit through the entire film and see if you agree or disagree with my review.

Interesting Western brought down by tedious overlength and disgusting vileness

[Wuchakk · 4/10 · 23 October 2022]

In the New Mexico Territory, a gang of bank robbers holds up at the parsonage of a minister & his family as a posse tries to catch up with them. Even if the thugs make it to Mexico, who will survive?

"Outlaws and Angels" (2016) is cut from the same cloth as Tarantino Westerns "Django Unchained" (2012) and "The Hateful Eight" (2015), but with even less of a budget than "Bone Tomahawk" (2015), amazingly only costing $1,150,000. I say "amazingly" because the production values are quite good. In other words, the writer/director knew what he was doing.

The people look and talk like folks living in the challenging desert wilderness of the Old West, which harkens back to the ugly depiction of the Old West in "The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid" (1972) and "Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid" (1973). Meanwhile the plot is as old as Westerns like "Rawhide" (1951).

This is an interesting morality tale that covers everything from greed, lust, drunkard-ness, cowardly condoning, envy, hate and murder. It's not "anti-Christian," as some devout people have claimed in knee-jerk fashion. Rather, it's anti-hypocrisy. When parents don't live according to their own Judeo-Christian values they become fakes, which naturally causes rebellion in the kids.

The beautiful Francesca Eastwood is a highlight with Madisen Beaty and Teri Polo being effective. Chad Michael Murray, Luke Wilson and the other three male actors in the main cast are well cast and convincing.

Unfortunately, it's all brought down by unnecessary scenes that pad the runtime, not to mention wallow in gross depravity for no ostensibly reason. For instance, the puke-inducing jack-someone-off sequence and the perverted nod to "Deliverance" (1972). I thought this was a Western, not a sick porn flick?

"Less is more" is a proverb for good reason.

The film runs 2 hours and was shot in Santa Fe and Albuquerque in north-central New Mexico.

GRADE: C-/D+

LJ's QR: Decent Western with Intriguing Characters

[ljsmovies · 6/10 · 11 July 2016]

LJ'S QUICK MOVIE REVIEW:

"Outlaws and Angels", directed by JT Mollner, is a Western that takes place in the unforgiving American frontier. It follows the story of three wanted bank robbers that take refuge in a troubled family's home.

The movie's script features violence, crime, love, and revenge. As the movie progresses, the seemingly ordinary characters reveal darker and freakish sides to their lives. Emphasis is put on cynicism, human fears, and role of women in Western society. However, several characters never get the screen time they deserve. Their transformations often feel rushed and awkward.

Visually, the movie captures the essence of a Western. The colors and tone used in the film make for a very immersive experience. The movie is also shot using 35mm film, which adds to the gritty and grainy feel. Clearly, a great deal of effort was put into the detailed set-pieces, costumes, and makeup.

Overall, "Outlaws and Angels" is a movie with intriguing characters and high-quality visuals, but the flaws in its script and editing slightly compromise the experience.

LJ's Grade: C , 6.4/10

To be honest, Django Unchained and the Hateful Eight are better Westerns and were both released recently.

For more quick reviews, please visit LJ's Movie Facts on Facebook.

Garbage in the Absolute - Strictly for Troubled Minds

[vitaleralphlouis · 1/10 · 19 November 2016]

We love westerns, but lately the low-budget filmmakers have substituted brutality, cruelty and depravity for the previous heroism and brotherhood we've enjoyed for decades. May I tell you about this one>? (Spoilers!) While robbing a small bank, the robbers unknowingly murdered a teenage girl. After hightailing it out of town they meet an elderly couple they previously know. They shoot the man in the head, then as the woman runs away, they shoot her in the back, twice. (Sweet!) This was so they wouldn't "talk" although if they'd have talked they had no information to give the sheriff anyway.

From there they invade the home of a very poor preacher and his family. Make no mistake, the filmmakers really "get off" on the humiliation of these people, which anyone liking this film will appreciate. Here you'll see feminism 2016 western style: the rape of a 15 year old as her parents hopelessly watch. (Charming!) From there we have a teenage girl shooting her kid sister in the head. (delightful!) The promised unusual sex scenes include man-on-man rape as well as finger-rape (possibly a screen breakthrough worthy of an Oscar!).

At about this point, we left the depravity to others.

I noted that the movie had 14 Executive Producers (seriously). They must have emptied the nuthouse. I kept wishing Marshal Dillon would come along and shoot the whole bunch; along with those who rated this movie with high marks.

Outlaws and Angels: Love, Misery and Egoism.

[niutta-enrico · 7/10 · 23 March 2017]

The present movie is the final elaboration of a shorter piece called 'Henry John and the Little Bug', released about seven years ago by the same Author, JT Mollner, a peculiar kind of film maker.

The final full-length result is peculiar too, but very well acted and very well written. It deals with miserable beings living miserable lives and is a paradigmatic story of how misery, love and egoism can bring anyone to perdition, given the wrong circumstances.

There isn't much pity in Author's heart for his own characters and not many of them will make it through the end. But there is love, as in any great artist's eye, even though of a strange and desperate sort.

So VERY Sad

[johncochrane007 · 1/10 · 18 July 2016]

I'm constantly baffled how quality actors end up in horrible movies?

How does Luke Wilson, Terri Polo, and Chad Michael Murray end up is such an utterly unwatchable movie???

The acting by the supporting actors is dreadful, you can almost see the pain on the "real," actors faces.

The script is deplorable, and the pace of the movie shows no glimmer of hope for escape.

I felt like I had been watching this for hours, checked and it was only 22 minutes in.

Watch paint dry. . . you'll have a better time.

Not bad for low budget movie.

[TheCatman52 · 7/10 · 16 July 2016]

This is a OK movie, nothing great, but I think it had a small budget. I don't have any info on the budget,so if it is a low budget then that makes it hard to make a really good movie.

It was written and directed by the same guy mollner, and usually movies made like this with same guy writing and directing are really bad.

This one is bad in some ways, but some of it was good too. My advice to mollner, is stick to one or the other, but your not good enough to do both.

I thought the guy playing the sheriff was miscast, and did a poor job, and was also written poorly. His character, and the "posse" were really unnecessary.

The scenes at the beginning were poorly done, and amateurish. But after they get to the house, the movie was much better. That was the best part of the movie.

There is one scene that was again unnecessary and kinda gross, you will know when you see it.

The ending is a surprise, with a twist to be cool I guess, but it sort of made sense after thinking about it.

I can say it is worth seeing once, it is comparable to Bone Tomahawk movie with Kurt Russell.

The girl playing flora, is Clint Eastwood's daughter by Frances Fisher, and Frances was in the movie too, as old woman who gets slapped. Francesca did a good job as flora.

For a low budget movie, it was interesting, and watchable, which is more than I can say about other low budget movies, but mollner has a lot to learn to be a good movie maker.

I gave it a 7, and would have given more, but the sheriff, and the gross scene cost it 3 points. I have to wonder why mollner would want to include the gross scene ?? (has to do with one guy on another guy)

Chad did a good job as the boss outlaw, and the last 2 with him at the house also did a good job. Terri Polo as the mom was weird, I remember when she was a young looker !

I imagine many might give up on this before they ever get to the house, but try to hang in there.

You just wish that six shooter was aimed at you.

[Refulgeo · 1/10 · 18 July 2016]

Imagine Wood Allen Jr, dreaming about growing up to be Tarantino. As a viewer, It is a shame that you have to suffer a worse faith then 90% of the cast.

You spend most of your time with this movie just by trying to endure the dreadful first one and a half hours. By the end you realise that there are some small reflections of a story and the fact that Francesca Eastwood looks good wearing riding pants, while the star of the movie is actually a fly resting on Teri Polo's leg (seen at 1:34:22).

When you just cant bare to stand it anymore, you cant avoid the feeling of cringe when you come to the conclusion that the whole plot revolves around setting up for a sequel.

My only tought after watching this movie is, what sane person would ever take on the task and humiliation by producing the sequel.

Who is the worst Family Or Outlaw Gang?

[jadflack-22130 · 7/10 · 14 July 2017]

This is an unexpectedly grim, harrowing and extremely violent western.It is unpleasant and uneven. Starts off with a shock, then you get a rest period,then more bloody violence, long dull moments rudely interrupted by more splatter.A cross between a Sam Peckinpah western and " The Hunting Party". It's different and not for all tastes.

Horrible script - wanna be Tarantino with no grit

[filmtravel101 · 1/10 · 15 July 2016]

The story is slow and dull until finally the 3rd act it becomes a wanna be Tarantino twist similar to Hateful Eight. Rather pathetic since the DP did a wonderful job and the acting was quite decent but in the end you feel like it was too rushed and unbelievable, almost pointless.

Hard to imagine this film was even made based on the script. A sad commentary on American film makers once again trying to create bad ass blood thirsty violent Female lead characters.... truly pathetic. what is wrong with American film makers these days. And why did Luke Wilson get involved with probably the worst useless character in the entire film.

I give it a 4 mostly to the Crew and Cast esp DP. Otherwise it would be a quick B rated 1.

Let it Stand Alone

[brockleyavenue · 8/10 · 15 July 2016]

Personally, I was enthralled with this Western from the start and stayed that way. It delivers twists and turns that keep you planted to your chair, and after reading some of the reviews of others, I was surprised at the 'nic picking' that went on while comparing it with the 'Hateful Eight". This movie stands on its own, and if H8 hadn't of been out, then I feel the reviews would have been more favourable. I thought it was great...it certainly turned corners and ventured into areas that would/or may offend others, yet being a lover of good movies, this 'epic' kept me glued to the screen. It is certainly well worth the watch, so you can determine for yourself.

Great..

[mailman2097 · 7/10 · 8 August 2016]

With a bounty on their heads, outlaws take refuge in a pastors family home for the night. The pastors wife is a god fearing lady with one lovely daughter and another not so lovely daughter. The youngest daughter fancies the gang leader as expected and decides to follow her heart than stay with her family. The film is edgy and quite entertaining (I felt) but bit rough around the edges. It reminded me of Quentin Tarantino flick. Loved the performances from all characters. Its funny at times and with good supporting cast. Only downside would be the bounty hunters who just don't have a meaningful role, and a passable performance from Luke Wilson.

One of the Worst I've Seen

[phm-209-625573 · 1/10 · 30 July 2016]

Spoiler alert-it sucks. Do something else with 2 hrs, please. The only type of individual I could see enjoying this is one of those sad, pathetic atheists who seems obsessed with hating Christians. They would love the crosses posted everywhere at the homestead where the disgusting, incestuous preacher and his miserable family live. The whole film seemed like it fell out of some silly, angry 18 year old's head. I wish I could think of at least one worthwhile element of the train wreck, but it's just not there.I generally like westerns, but this was something else.If you like slash flicks with the blood spatter overdone, well, there's that.

Outlaws and Angels should be OUTLAWED for viewing

[dgefroh · 1/10 · 10 August 2016]

Really people, would anyone with even half a brain rate this garbage better than a 2? I can't believe some of the reviews I've read on this site that actually can find even one redeeming quality with this crappy movie.

The writing is terrible, the acting is awful, the story line is juvenile, and the movie besides being complete and total rubbish, is so boring that even fast forwarding it won't get you to the bitter end fast enough.

When IMDb give this trite a 5+ rating we know all is wrong in the world. Those brain dead reviewers who pushed the rating for this crap should be banned for life from ever sharing an opinion ever again. Take it from me, this movie is so bad you'll be dumber just for even considering it.

Fantastic movie that kept me guessing the whole time... WOW!!

[isaacdiane · 7 June 2017]

I really enjoyed this movie!!... Loved all the twists it had. Also this really reminded me of a Quentin Tarantino movie.... Great Movie all the way!!!.I would Love to see more movies like this where the twists comes in.. I always know what's going to happen before it happens on most movies I watch, but this one kept me guessing and also kept me very interested. .

An Interesting Journey

[mjjmolina · 7/10 · 28 August 2017]

Other reviewers might tell you the movie is boring, drawn out, and gratuitous. This reviewer however will keep it short and simple. If you like character driven and dark inquiries into the human condition and blurred lines between good and evil, then this movie is for you. It may not be your typical action packed gritty western of white hats and black hats, but it makes up for it with intrigue, dialogue, and story line.

Poorly acted "Dirty" western wanna-be

[rhardy-390-701341 · 2/10 · 15 July 2016]

The acting was bad The storyline was bad The subplots were bad The setting was the only thing even close to being western-esque

Has to be the last time I let the name Eastwood, not relating to Clint, influence me to see a movie. Scott Eastwood seems to have SOME skill, albeit mediocre initially, but you can see the spark.

HOWEVER after seeing Francesca Eastwood's acting in Heroes reborn, I blamed it on the script and directing....until I saw this horrid tripe. No, she is not in even her brother's range of skill. The only thing she has down is that "Deer in the headlights" look...and nothing else. I foresee a LOT of bad horror/Sci-fi in her future.

The BIGGEST disappointment in this flick was Ben Browder. I mean he is one of those guys that has that specific way of talking, looking and reacting that can carry a bad scene up a level or 3...not this time. I am unsure if he is just tired of acting, disliked the director or was drunk the entire time, but he actually drug the movie down

Wilson!!!!!!!!! Yah, his bit parts were done as badly as can be. The catchy phrases they had him toss out MAY have resembled period specific jargon, but they were idiotic in delivery. I mean, Wilson makes me laugh. That snort snicker of his, sideways smile with the curled lip, THAT is his segue into a scene. In this flick he was just a monotoned, quip quoting character who's skill, it appears, was to carry every scene with no emotion of feeling

if I have not made it clear enough, I EXPECTED A LOT better from this movie and barring some bad writing, expected at least 1 or 2 actors to carry a bad script into the realm of bearable

I was sorely mistaken.

Justice - Frontier Style in this gritty Western

[t-dooley-69-386916 · 6/10 · 13 May 2017]

A gang of outlaws viciously rob a bank in Cuchillo, New Mexico and make off with the loot. Knowing they are being pursued they take a detour and go through an arid valley to throw off their pursuers.

They rock up at an isolated farmhouse and Chapel where they take captive the preacher, his wife and their two squabbling daughters. Over the course of the night secrets are unmasked and allegiances change in a constant ebb and flow of emotions and it seems that some scores just have to be settled.

Now this is a very good Western, it is realistic, well acted and does not pull any of its many punches. It starts off with the intention to shock and grab your attention and then keeps that up for the duration. There are a couple of points where you do question the on screen antics but to mention them runs the risk of being a plot spoiler. And in the final analysis they do not overly harm the full impact of this rather good and inventive film.

Let's Be Honest

[Foutainoflife · 5/10 · 17 December 2018]

This film follows a group of bank robbers, a posse chasing them and a family whose home the robbers invade.

Without giving spoilers, this has a decent story to it but you need to be a real trooper to make it to the end. The pace of this is painfully slow. I don't know, maybe the slow pace is meant to convey a psychological theme. It didn't work for me though because even if that was the case, it still could've moved along better. I liked the story and hated the pace.

Great movie. Full of twists and turns.

[thevector · 6/10 · 2 December 2019]

Director writer Mollner made quite impressive Tarantino-like brutality and pure evil character you may feel uncomfortable with and want to turn your head away.

A few incoherent behaviors of characters but I'm ok with. It was filmed in Kodak so the rough grains of the picture adds dry, sad, bitter, desperate moodiness.

And of course, Francesca Eastwood. I didn't know anything about her. But Like demonic version of Amanda seyfried she's beautiful and brilliant.

Highly recommend if you like creative violence and hate cliches and predictable dumb movies.

Instead of a typical western path, it took the long, hot road to Hell

[nappa195 · 2/10 · 28 February 2017]

This production nailed a few things. One, is the self-awareness that IT KNOWS that it's gone off the deep end. Every dust particle, dry shrub, and wooden panel amounts to a resounding portrait of this film's disdain of the west. The film is obsessive but subtle in its metaphorical foreshadowing and the groundwork laid out manages to prepare the audience for the 2-hour torture chamber.

The other are the unforgettable performances and chemistry (or intended lack of it). What these characters do to each other, and what they go through, transform into, is spiritually connected to the worst of the human nature we can relate to.

That's really the movie magic here. I wanted to see more of these characters, but I can assure you the meat the audience will chew off are the juicy performances of depraved humanity. There seems to be some sort of insatiable demand for this type of thing...

And now, the bad.

The blood effects are cheesy, some scenes are far too excruciating to sit through, the stereotypes feel more redneck-ish and not pioneer- ish, and the final result is a pointless exercise. I can tell the writers struggled with a satisfying ending to their half-baked escapade into nihilism.

The film could have very easily been set in the post-apocalypse. Those types of films intend to "hollow you out", westerns are supposed to "grind you down". Ask yourself, how many apocalyptic-themed films you've seen with unsatisfying ending, and how many westerns you've seen with satisfying endings? Challenge yourself to watch this film, and tell me if that distinction ISN'T clear to you.

This film reflects the losing battle the western has with Hollywood and the contempt it projects onto 19th century conservatism. This film reminded me that having characters sound like hillbillies and setting it in the desert, is not enough for it to be considered "a western". Outlaws and Angels doesn't spend enough time appreciating what made westerns special, and maybe not enough time appreciating what keeps the world together.

Superb but Sordid Western Thriller

[mojoguzzi-879-68498 · 10/10 · 11 March 2017]

I didn't expect much when I tuned into this movie and was more than pleasantly surprised. I was expecting another modern indie Western shot in some Wild West theme park with stunt men pretending to be actors and a half-baked script.

Outlaws and Angels blew me away. The psychosexual dynamics of the screenplay stretch the Western genre until it bursts apart at the seams. This is not a family film. It's not Shane, although it is something of a morality play, with several characters getting their just due at the end of a gun. There is plenty of violence and sexual content. Although the seedier bits are handled with care, prudes and squeamish viewers are advised to skip this one.

The direction and editing are crisp and tight and the production values are excellent. Locations and costumes are authentic - there are no actresses with bleached hair and Maybelline blush and no cheap polyester duds on the dudes. The soundtrack is the most inventive in the genre since Ennio Morricone's signature work on spaghetti Westerns.

The cast is superb and matched perfectly with their characters. All the actors are totally believable and appealing, but Francesca Eastwood steals the show with her quirky beauty and nuanced performance.

If you like intense action thrillers like Sicario, check this one out. I can't wait to see what this director does next.

Spaghetti Western Redux

[david-546 · 6/10 · 17 June 2018]

Criminales e Angelis! That might as well have been the name of this film that oddly pays homage to the classic Spaghetti Westerns. Unsavoury characters, ultra violence, twisty plot, offensive scenes it had it all. You couldn't like any of these people. Even the supposed lawmen were unsavoury. One almost expected everyone in the film to be dubbed except for a few main characters. Dubbing might have helped (or subtitles) as it seemed that almost everyone mumbled but you got the drift.

A band of outlaws (criminales) rob a bank in some dusty unnamed western town complete with hoods. Innocent people get killed (they are just bystanders after all). They escape but one of them is hit as they leave town. From there on its a rough ride as they wind up holing up with a christian family and everything becomes twisty, and ugly with gore and scenes enough to make you cringe. But the sets are great and the feel of being trapped in a place with a band of outlaws, a screaming christian mother and the very unsavoury minister of a father with their two daughters.

To give it even better feel of a being a spaghetti western there is the Clint Eastwood connection. Clint's former live-in Francis Fisher plays a somewhat hysteric christian woman while the daughter of Clint's and Francis's years together Francesca Eastwood is the the Angeli of the title. And what an Angeli she makes. Francis Fisher also played Ruth Dewitt Bukater, Rose's mother in Titanic and Strawberry Alice in Eastwood's Unforgiven.

As gore piles upon gore and cringing scenes pile on cringing scenes and the body count rises one is reminded that others can do what Tarantino and Peckinpah have done before. You can't like any these characters but you do admire the way the actors play them making it all seem too real. Just like the old spaghetti westerns.

Porno Unchained

[mike3386 · 2/10 · 2 January 2017]

As an aging Western fan, just consider me a lone sentinel standing watch against this current spate of other movie genres masquerading as Westerns. THIS MOVIE IS NOT A WESTERN.

This movie contains a purely pornographic plot and script, even if the visuals might somehow escape an XXX-rating . . . its R-rating makes a joke of the MPAA film rating system.

It is almost impossible to find a shred of redeeming value in this movie . . . perhaps it was the oddity of finding the beautiful daughter of Clint Eastwood, Francesca Eastwood, appearing on screen with her mother in a cameo role, Frances Fisher – "Unforgiven" (1992). Well, the dialog was so mumbled, so garbled, so poorly delivered and edited that much of it was unintelligible . . . and that is a good thing.

This movie works diligently to destroy everything we Americans regard as sacred, e.g., parenthood, Christianity, family, home, and childhood. Retribution? There is none.

Director J. T. Mollner's first full-length movie, and maybe his last?

Fetishist's Gorefest and waste of a few hours.

[robbyme566 · 1/10 · 28 November 2016]

This movie was awful enough to inspire me to do a public service and warn others away. First let me say the acting is decent as are the shots but this movie quickly devolves from exciting to excessively drawn out soft core porn with a gore furled orgy of an end except that it's not the end, it just keeps going and going with it's awkward out of place music as it tries to be artsy. I guess it worked based on the surprisingly positive reviews.

Don't worry no spoilers if this is your thing, if you like this style of movie then enjoy. The bandits themselves are entertaining at times so at least it had that going for it but the bounty hunters trailing them will undoubtedly leave you wondering what the hell happened on the journey.