Barston, chasseur de primes

This movie is a bit of an odd duck - it is sort of like an episode or two of "Twilight Zone" masquerading as a western. Nothing wrong with that, it's just that the various story threads in the movie never get developed to their fullest.

However, what this movie lacks in the way of compelling story development, it more than makes up for with a very rich, absorbing Old West atmosphere. There is just something about the feel of this film - the photography, the costumes, the weapons, the Old West sets and real western locales (New Mexico), the expressions on people's faces... Call it a victory of style over substance... In any case, I thoroughly enjoyed the "look and feel" of this movie from start to finish. Watching the movie, there were more than a few times where I felt myself being transported back to a different place and time. I just wish the rich story development of a good western-genre movie such as "Unforgiven" (1992) with Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman, could have been woven into "Into the Badlands," as that would have completed this film and would have ultimately made for one very awesome Western movie.

But even in its current configuration, this movie is definitely worth checking out. I think you will be suitably dazzled by the Old West atmosphere that is conveyed in the film. Just don't expect a dazzling story to complement it.

Some might describe "Into the Badlands" as a surreal tale of the Old West. I on the other hand would call the film a sleep inducing waste of talent and time. Sure Bruce Dern looks convincing as a bounty hunter, in his black duster and specs. Even the music is interesting and appropriate. Everything else is not good. It begins and ends with the story, which is disjointed and talky. The first part involves a gunslinger talking and talking with barroom whore Helen Hunt. The second is something about Mariel Hemingway talking and talking to a frontier neighbor before some unexplained wolves show up. Dern reappears in the final sequence killing a wanted baddie and then dragging his rotting body around the desert for the rest of the film. - MERK

The Sci-Fi channel screened this movie yet again last Sunday morning, and, since I liked it so much the first time, I watched it again - and was every bit as enthused about it (actually even more so) as I was the first time I watched it. I felt compelled to rethink my previous comments, and decided to kick them up a notch and submit them here.

For starters, I can't get over how utterly beguiling, or perhaps bewitching, this movie is. That was my initial impression, and it still remains after another viewing. Rich with atmosphere, this movie just plants its spurs in you, grabs you by the chaps, and whisks you off to a (slightly twisted) dreamland of a place called the Old West.

In addition to those things that I mentioned in my previous comments, I noticed several other things that thoroughly enchanted me. I loved the background music - sometimes stylized and lilting, sometimes melancholy and haunting, but always very "Old West", and right on the mark. I liked the oddly bemused twangy voice of Bruce Dern, who gives running commentary at various points throughout the movie. I liked the slow-motion running of the wild horses: vaguely symbolic of Heaven knows what, they were just mesmerizing. And I liked the attention given to minute details, like the sets of spurs and other paraphernalia hanging from the Bounty Man's dilapidated horse-drawn cart.

Last but not least (and perhaps that which I like MOST about this movie) is the persona of Helen Hunt. I'll say it right up front: she plays a character who is basically a tippling saloon whore - dying of consumption, no less. But... she comes across as so alluring and bewitching, so surreal yet so tangible, that I had to do several double takes. Her character in the movie, tragic beyond words, is so... well, let's just say her image quite literally haunted me and remained with me for weeks after viewing the movie the first time.

After the first viewing I thought the three stories that essentially comprise the movie were somewhat sparse and underdeveloped. But upon second viewing, I realized that they were perfectly played out. Just like the Old West itself, they were minimally set up, sparse on details, yet rich with hardscrabble verisimilitude and parable. Kind of reminds me of O. Henry short stories...

I won't say the movie is totally flawless. There are a few (but only a few) parts where "made for TV" production values glaringly show through. The part where Alma (Muriel Hemingway) is fending off the ravenous wolves at the window is one example that comes to mind. But these flaws are minimal compared to the overall satisfaction that I derived from this movie.

Finally, let me make clear to all who would listen: I'm putting forth these comments NOT because I want to hear myself blow a bunch of happy hot air, but because I really want the creators of this movie to know that their efforts in making this haven't gone by unappreciated. (In other words, I'd like to see more movies of this calibre).

I certainly can't guarantee that everyone will like this movie or see it my way... a thousand other people might see this movie and not even remotely agree with my reaction to it. Be that as it may, for those who really want a movie rich in Old West atmosphere and with hauntingly memorable characters, then this movie is one I highly recommend.

Unfortunately I have only - at this point - seen the last 35 minutes of this film but based on that it is undoubtedly the finest spaghetti western ever made - or the best not done to be funny parody of one. cinematographer, director , make-up and sets duplicated the look and feel of the Italian films, threw in some marvelous Felliniesque and neo-realism, as done the in the late 40's /early 50's, and made New Mexico pass beautifully as the plains/deserts of Spain. Have to have this in my collection!!! (Just in case, yes I know it is an American made film.) That is the only important thing that needs to be said about the film but read on if you must . Bruce Dern gives a quite interesting version of his bad guy persona (though he is the good guy) and the only flaw I personally found in the 35 minutes was in a bar scene where Dern has pulled back his coat to show an obviously well used gun and he stops when a bad guy shows he is holding a shotgun - by the barrel with the stock on the floor. Sorry guys (writing problem) from that position any halfway decent gunman could take out the shotgunner and at least one person of normal ability without concern. Ah well - it stretched the action a little!.

Yikes! I just kept waiting for something to happen. Never did! The old western atmosphere was the only thing worth anything. No story line, no plot, characters that go nowhere. You have to wonder what ever makes actors, a director or movie production company think this is going to be something worth spending money, time and talent on.