Wichita

This was such an amazing project to work on and I have never been more impressed with a finished product. If you like complex characters and ongoing plot twist, this is definitely the film for you. There are few westerns done in the film industry and it is a great relief to see one done right. Never before have I seen a full let alone a western deal with issues that are all together too real, and often needed to be addressed. If this film is showing in your town do yourself a favor and invite yourself to a treat of excellent story telling and cinematic beauty. Nicholas Barton and his crew and actors brought a much needed realism to this noir telling of early America. As the story unfolds you find it hard to find a person to root for, as everyone has a quality that you want to stand by. Don't miss this.

After being in trouble not spending enough time with my girlfriend I took her to this movie and it totally got me out of the doghouse. She loved it, I loved it.

As the movie got going I found myself creeping onto the edge of my seat as it hooked us in. The characters where great, especially the older motherly actress in the film. She was REALLY impressive. We were thinking about it long after we left the theater.

The props and the sets were incredible. It was like getting in a time machine and it had subtle humor in a fairly serious movie at great times. There are many bad movies coming out these days and this is not one of them. Run, don't walk to watch this movie.

So let me say that WICHITA is not a western for the casual genre fan raised on GUNSMOKE and BONANZA reruns. Nevertheless WICHITA delivers for film fans as well as Western Fans.

While many of the traditional elements of "the western" exist, WICHITA was obviously inspired more by the darker, somewhat cruel film-noirish category of film. The black hat-white hat, play along at home game doesn't exist. Each character has his own demons. The story unfolds violently and deliberately. Much like the work of Sam Peckinpah and, Budd Boetticher the film adopts an unpretentious style, taking a relaxed approach to the story unfolding and letting the actors and screenplay drive the film.

It's not perfect by any means, yet it show promise for the film maker and the cast. It's a film that inspires discussion afterwards and probably has more sociological elements explored than the average western. Enjoy and then be prepared to discuss.

Many of people that have written reviews for this film have already talked about the plot, which as so many have already stated, is as intriguing as it is entertaining. So instead, I'd like to take moment to comment on some of the other aspects of this film.

All of the actors in this film do a fantastic job. The sisters, Samantha (Karina Wolfe) and Mary (Reylynn Caster) are definite standouts. Karina Wolfe is quite convincing in her role and really delivers an excellent performance. Her ability to play tough and tender at the same time is quite remarkable. For such a young actress, Reylynn Catser already has amazing range. The performances from these actresses alone are worth watching the movie for. But for me, it was Kenneth Mitchell as Deacon Miller that stole the show. His performance shows the maturity and the precision of a dedicated master of his craft. It was also a rare treat to see musician Uche as The Blacksmith and spotting director Nicholas Barton's cameo appearance was great moment.

The sound and soundtrack for this film was excellent and there were some nice visual moments throughout the film. For a period piece, the set design, wardrobe, and props are wonderful. Several of the scenes were actually filmed at the Historic Cowtown in Wichita, Kansas, lending an authenticity that has been preserved there for generations.

With fantastic locations and the amount of people involved in this production, "Wichita" has a great sense of scale for an indie film. Nicholas Barton and his team have put together a film that maintains the authenticity of the period while telling a story that is hip enough for modern audiences.

I usually screen movies privately but was lucky enough to be able attend "Wichita" at the premiere in Wichita, Kansas and witness the audience's engagement first hand. You know somebody is doing something right when a crowd of 1,000 people gasp, laugh, or stand up and applaud all at once.

'Wichita' is an engaging film, full of character and intrigue. While I am not typically a fan of Westerns, this movie feels more like a dramatic piece set in the Old West, rather than a genre film. It is a gritty tale of life on the frontier, where the greatest threat to mortality is not one's health, but the actions of others. To say that I couldn't predict where the story would go is an understatement! There were several surprising moments where the whole theatre gasped, and the ending was met with resounding cheers and applause.

'Wichita' is visually striking, and beautifully shot. It certainly depicts the time period, leaving the audience to focus on the story itself rather than the practicality of the production. There is a great sense of movement, fluidity, and life throughout the movie. Various lines of dialogue set up payoffs later on, with no indication at the time that the audience is being given clues. Watching the movie is an engaging experience, rather than idle viewing.

I would definitely recommend this independent feature, whether or not you are a fan of typical Westerns. It's a dramatic piece, and unlike anything Hollywood is putting out there!