Decent Story "B" western... The movie had a pretty good story line. I liked how they presented the viewpoints of different groups and people fairly and realistically, although a bit difficult to swallow at times. It looked like pretty low budget otherwise, but the actors were very well cast I think and most of them did a pretty good job. People have sort of likened it to a Cage movie where you can't quite decide if it's good or bad. But at the end, I'm glad I saw it. It had a realistic message which was explored somewhat with the interactions between the different groups and different interests. I think a good point it made is that getting along is largely determined on an individual by individual basis and how they've decided to fit in into an imperfect world. Sometimes the good guys had good points, sometimes the bad ones did. Nobody's perfect, and this was a good exploration into the complex communities which existed and vied for influence in the twilight years of the Wild Wild West. Some people will surely find it a bit cringe that any of us ever acted this way, but this is just fact. I didn't regret seeing it, let's just put it that way. I would give it 3-4 stars for the actual production, but the story/dialogue/performances really rose above the other issues with sets/wardrobe and were more like around a 6 or so. I'd say this is just about average all things considered; Acceptable.
14 Reviews
Unwatchable mess
Luv2Spooge16 January 2024
First of all, you can tell right away this is a low budget B movie by the cheap fake looking costumes. You may not realize it after seeing Danny Trejo on the cast and trailer, but remember so is Nicholas Cage in many lame movies.
Then there is the script. It is non-stop guilt tripping about the evil white man. At first you kinda think, well sure it is that time and place, and there is some of that I get it. Then after like 30-40 mins, you realize it is nonstop. Every few minutes, it just keeps bringing it up, every little situation, every dialog, just keep repeating the same political points.
People watch movies to be entertained, not to be lectured. And I'm not even white.
1/10.
Then there is the script. It is non-stop guilt tripping about the evil white man. At first you kinda think, well sure it is that time and place, and there is some of that I get it. Then after like 30-40 mins, you realize it is nonstop. Every few minutes, it just keeps bringing it up, every little situation, every dialog, just keep repeating the same political points.
People watch movies to be entertained, not to be lectured. And I'm not even white.
1/10.
A 2 hour social justice lecture with one redeeming factor
kuner-5902922 January 2024
One of many micro budget films with a washed up star plastered on the poster, The Night They Came Home pretends to retell the story of the real life Rufus Buck gang.
But instead of a western biopic, what we get are endless musings about race and white-man-bad. The writers did put some nuance into the dialogue though, and it's not as stupidly on the nose as a Disney production or something of the sort.
There are some moments of genuine tension (when they come across a man and his son who they hold an impromptu trial for), and some moments of nuance. After giving a long speech about the injustice of racism to a reporter, once the reporter is gone, the gang breaks out in laughter at the idea of the reporter having bought that cock and bull story.
It is a testament to the actors portraying the gang members, that the ridiculous writing can be brought to the screen at all.
Charlie Townsend as Rufus Buck has genuine talent and will hopefully receive better material in the future.
Production value is nonexistent here, color grading is awful for the most part, and the cheap digital look can make even nice landscapes look terrible. I get better looking shots on my Iphone.
The music is stock music quality as expected.
Danny Trejo has a glorified cameo as narrator so they could put him on the poster, but his scenes just suck the air out of what little narrative there is.
Overall it's quite terrible, but there's talent among the cast.
But instead of a western biopic, what we get are endless musings about race and white-man-bad. The writers did put some nuance into the dialogue though, and it's not as stupidly on the nose as a Disney production or something of the sort.
There are some moments of genuine tension (when they come across a man and his son who they hold an impromptu trial for), and some moments of nuance. After giving a long speech about the injustice of racism to a reporter, once the reporter is gone, the gang breaks out in laughter at the idea of the reporter having bought that cock and bull story.
It is a testament to the actors portraying the gang members, that the ridiculous writing can be brought to the screen at all.
Charlie Townsend as Rufus Buck has genuine talent and will hopefully receive better material in the future.
Production value is nonexistent here, color grading is awful for the most part, and the cheap digital look can make even nice landscapes look terrible. I get better looking shots on my Iphone.
The music is stock music quality as expected.
Danny Trejo has a glorified cameo as narrator so they could put him on the poster, but his scenes just suck the air out of what little narrative there is.
Overall it's quite terrible, but there's talent among the cast.
So bad it's embarrassing
fsqnndcm21 January 2024
One of the absolute worst movies I've ever seen. Terrible acting mixed with a terrible script. I can not believe I paid actual money to see this sorry excuse for a movie. The only redeeming thing is the scenery and I mean that is the only good thing worth seeing in the entirety of the movie. Not a part of this movie is any where close to believable and I'm never going to admit I watched it. Required characters in this review are still at 159 so I need to keep telling you how awful this movie is again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again.
cast characters that look like they BELONG in a western
joske10321 January 2024
For f sake why can't they make westerns anymore?! Everything looked way too clean and what's with the ikea furniture in this movie. The low budget props were terrible, just like the dyed yellow nylon rope. The waitress in blue with the giant duck lips and botox, c'mon! Try harder to actually cast characters that look like they belong in a western and not an adult film. This was insufferable to sit through. Not to mention the muffled voices and flat lighting this movie had. The story was also hard to keep up with as this movie was all over the place & would often jump around. Watching this movie was like listening to a little kid tell a story, horrible.
dog water film
phiup14 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
The opening scene features an african american man reading a bible have an monologue about how beautiful life is before you die.
This is an attempted bio-pic of the Rufus Buck gang and it's impact on the Muskogee and Okmulgee areas of Oklahoma.
However, this movie makes no attempt to clarify who is who or how their paths became interwoven. At one point I even considered that perhaps this director was seeking to feature black actors in to roles of native americans.
The lack of explanation and the directors choice to abstain from any explanation fueled the sloppiness of this story. Even place cards detailing the date and place of each of the set pieces could have elucidated that this was attempting to tell a real story. However the scene jumping, the bad acting, the terrible dialogue, the lack of chemistry, and the randomly introduced then killed characters...makes this movie fairly unwatchable.
I watched till the 40 minute mark under the pretense that the Rufus was a native american who just looked black. It wasn't until the confusion, forcing me to do an internet search for the historicity of the "Rufus buck gang" did I realize that this was just a terrible movie and not at all a recasting like the wiz.
Can someone pull this directors...director's license?
This is an attempted bio-pic of the Rufus Buck gang and it's impact on the Muskogee and Okmulgee areas of Oklahoma.
However, this movie makes no attempt to clarify who is who or how their paths became interwoven. At one point I even considered that perhaps this director was seeking to feature black actors in to roles of native americans.
The lack of explanation and the directors choice to abstain from any explanation fueled the sloppiness of this story. Even place cards detailing the date and place of each of the set pieces could have elucidated that this was attempting to tell a real story. However the scene jumping, the bad acting, the terrible dialogue, the lack of chemistry, and the randomly introduced then killed characters...makes this movie fairly unwatchable.
I watched till the 40 minute mark under the pretense that the Rufus was a native american who just looked black. It wasn't until the confusion, forcing me to do an internet search for the historicity of the "Rufus buck gang" did I realize that this was just a terrible movie and not at all a recasting like the wiz.
Can someone pull this directors...director's license?
Stands out against typical genre fair
OdinJ14 January 2024
This is not your typical western. It's more an exploration of the inner dynamics of a gang, as well as the racially driven turmoil of the country during its tumultuous expansion westward. This expansion runs roughshod over the existing cultures, creating a recipe for the violence we witness in the film. While the film does not excuse the atrocities committed by the Rufus Buck Gang, it gives insight into what compelled the gang to go on their rampage. In short, they see violence as the only means to take back power over their lives. In the end, they may face the justice of the rope, but the journey you take with them is not so black and white, and it exists in the gray area of multiple conflicting realities.
The film lives and dies with the performance of Rufus Buck-- and Charlie Townsend gives a breakout performance in his portrayal of Buck, which keeps you glued to the screen. The supporting cast does a solid job with this dialogue driven movie. That said, the dialogue is strong and elucidates many of the complex themes being explored, such as racism, sexual abuse, childhood trauma, the pursuit of fame at all costs, and even the pros and cons of civilization itself.
While this is definitely a low budget film, it has the unique off-kilter vibe which is the upside of a good indie flic. It's clearly not the product of studio development, and as such, may be hit or miss with a general audience more used to Marvel superheroes than unpolished explorations of difficult subject matter. The film is based on the real life Rufus Buck Gang, and while it stays true to a general history of events, it takes some liberties in the name of dramatic storytelling.
As far as traditional western expectations, it delivers on shoot-outs and epic frontier settings, yet those are not the basis of what makes this film work. It's the scenes of the gang interacting with each other, trying to figure out what to do with the temporary power they've seized with impulsive violence that makes this all fly. Somehow, you see the humanity within these teenage criminals, despite their atrocities. You don't agree with them, per se, but you understand them. And each gang member has a distinct personality, a tribute to the actors cast and the writing itself.
Some recognizable names make appearances, such as Brian Austin Green and Robert Carradine, but it's Danny Trejo as the Grave Digger whose seen it all, who ties the movie together with his colorful narration. The female leads, Jolene Palmer (Kelsey Reinhardt) and Ellie Patterson (Anna Florence), are also strong, rising above the level of victims amidst the deadly assault on their families. As far as the lawmen, Tim Abel is a classic western archetype as Heck Thomas, and his Indian police partner Tommy Wolfe provides as nice counterpart to this. With all of the contention in the film, it's good to see two men from different cultures making peace with each other so they can deliver justice. Peter Sherayko plays the hangman Maledon, who is equally concerned with his own dime novel legend as he is with capturing the gang. That pursuit of fame provides a nice secondary theme to the narrative itself.
Because the film stands out against the typical genre fair, I am rating it high, despite some of it's lower budget issues and the limitations of what can be done on a more frugal production. The expressions of casual racism from a few of the characters may be a turn-off for some, while others may find its gritty realism noteworthy. Nothing is sugar coated in director Paul Volk's film, that is for certain.
The cinematography and moody score are exceptional strong points and the narrative, while chaotic at times, holds your attention until the final haunting image.
The film lives and dies with the performance of Rufus Buck-- and Charlie Townsend gives a breakout performance in his portrayal of Buck, which keeps you glued to the screen. The supporting cast does a solid job with this dialogue driven movie. That said, the dialogue is strong and elucidates many of the complex themes being explored, such as racism, sexual abuse, childhood trauma, the pursuit of fame at all costs, and even the pros and cons of civilization itself.
While this is definitely a low budget film, it has the unique off-kilter vibe which is the upside of a good indie flic. It's clearly not the product of studio development, and as such, may be hit or miss with a general audience more used to Marvel superheroes than unpolished explorations of difficult subject matter. The film is based on the real life Rufus Buck Gang, and while it stays true to a general history of events, it takes some liberties in the name of dramatic storytelling.
As far as traditional western expectations, it delivers on shoot-outs and epic frontier settings, yet those are not the basis of what makes this film work. It's the scenes of the gang interacting with each other, trying to figure out what to do with the temporary power they've seized with impulsive violence that makes this all fly. Somehow, you see the humanity within these teenage criminals, despite their atrocities. You don't agree with them, per se, but you understand them. And each gang member has a distinct personality, a tribute to the actors cast and the writing itself.
Some recognizable names make appearances, such as Brian Austin Green and Robert Carradine, but it's Danny Trejo as the Grave Digger whose seen it all, who ties the movie together with his colorful narration. The female leads, Jolene Palmer (Kelsey Reinhardt) and Ellie Patterson (Anna Florence), are also strong, rising above the level of victims amidst the deadly assault on their families. As far as the lawmen, Tim Abel is a classic western archetype as Heck Thomas, and his Indian police partner Tommy Wolfe provides as nice counterpart to this. With all of the contention in the film, it's good to see two men from different cultures making peace with each other so they can deliver justice. Peter Sherayko plays the hangman Maledon, who is equally concerned with his own dime novel legend as he is with capturing the gang. That pursuit of fame provides a nice secondary theme to the narrative itself.
Because the film stands out against the typical genre fair, I am rating it high, despite some of it's lower budget issues and the limitations of what can be done on a more frugal production. The expressions of casual racism from a few of the characters may be a turn-off for some, while others may find its gritty realism noteworthy. Nothing is sugar coated in director Paul Volk's film, that is for certain.
The cinematography and moody score are exceptional strong points and the narrative, while chaotic at times, holds your attention until the final haunting image.
When Bad Writing & Bad Acting Intersect
coreywilkins29 January 2024
As an avid fan of Westerns and always looking under that rock for the next great story-regardless of budget, i.e. "Bone Tomahawk"-I tried to give this one a chance. This one absolutely sucked from the first scene on; and kept getting worse. I stuck it out, but it's nearly two hours I will never get back. The dialogue was preachy and dumb. The camera work was erratic and novice, oftentimes looking like it was filmed on a iPhone. I'm amazed that shows like this make it beyond the pitch to production. This movie was absolutely horrible in every measurable way. I would rather take up crochet or eat a warm bucket of hamster vomit than sit through this hot mess of a feeble attempt at cinema.
piece of garbage
shazammatlast23 January 2024
Worst piece of garbage of social justice, of weakly written, poorly conceived, and stink up junk to waste film on. The costumer should be fired. The prop person should be fired. The writer should be fired. The director should be fired.
A low budget film can happen. Case in point: Bone Tomahawk. Obviously that movie was made on a dime. Some of the costumes were meh, but at least the dialogue sparkled with a sort of authenticity.
As an actor it must be torture to recite lines that are so poorly written, so full of anachronistic language.
About the only good thing in this flick was the gang's demise.
A low budget film can happen. Case in point: Bone Tomahawk. Obviously that movie was made on a dime. Some of the costumes were meh, but at least the dialogue sparkled with a sort of authenticity.
As an actor it must be torture to recite lines that are so poorly written, so full of anachronistic language.
About the only good thing in this flick was the gang's demise.
Very Good Movie
mikegaglio-261-92843614 January 2024
I have a horse in this race, but I do think my friends, who like an exciting Western Movie, are going to really enjoy this one!
Of course this movie is based on true historical events and adheres to a specific timeline and character description. Viewers have been impressed.
The writing and direction is detailed and specific, researched and pointed as known to history.
Great attention was paid to costumes and props so that they remained as close as possible to fit and serve within the correct time-frame.
The detail really shines on the screen thanks to the excellent photography.
(Plus you can actually hear and understand the dialog!)
I was certainly proud to have a part in this playing the infamous Judge Parker, tho, truly, the greatest thrill was being among such hard working film-makers and dedicated actors turning out first rate performances.
I bet you will enjoy this action filled and exciting movie; and thanks for supporting Westerns!
Of course this movie is based on true historical events and adheres to a specific timeline and character description. Viewers have been impressed.
The writing and direction is detailed and specific, researched and pointed as known to history.
Great attention was paid to costumes and props so that they remained as close as possible to fit and serve within the correct time-frame.
The detail really shines on the screen thanks to the excellent photography.
(Plus you can actually hear and understand the dialog!)
I was certainly proud to have a part in this playing the infamous Judge Parker, tho, truly, the greatest thrill was being among such hard working film-makers and dedicated actors turning out first rate performances.
I bet you will enjoy this action filled and exciting movie; and thanks for supporting Westerns!
Death by Civilization.
nogodnomasters30 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
This is based on a true story of the Rufus Buck (Charlie N. Townsend) gang. Rufus convinced a few guys of Native American and African American mix that they could raise an army and combat the United States, keeping the Oklahoma Territory closed to white settlers. He led a reign of terror, at least we are told because the film shows very little of it. But the ghost of a dead drunk grave digger (Danny Trejo) tells us it was so. We see them hang a man and steal his horse and kidnap a woman, but they never rape her, the rapper other women instead as they want to sell her virginity. Virgins were as rare then as they are now. The film does address several cultural and civilization issues including a single mention of the infamous Carlisle, Pennsylvania school used to erase Native American culture.
The film was done poorly. It didn't show the injustices that caused the rise of the gang but simply mentioned it was a by-line.
Guide: No swearing or nudity. Rape scene.
The film was done poorly. It didn't show the injustices that caused the rise of the gang but simply mentioned it was a by-line.
Guide: No swearing or nudity. Rape scene.
"I tip my hat to the Rufus Buck Gang!"
jacobsenhart16 January 2024
THE NIGHT THEY CAME HOME is a 2024 western directed by Paul G. Volk and written by John A. Russo and James O'Brien. The film tells the story of the infamous Rufus Buck Gang who waged a campaign of violence from 30 July 1895 to 4 August 1896. Their crime spree spread across the Indian territory of the Arkansas-Oklahoma area. Their crimes included robbery, rape and murder. The young men who composed the gang were Creek Indian and African-American. While their activities appeared brutal and warrantless, there was a socio-political undercurrent that still resonates today.
The film opens with sunlight beaming through the bars of a jail cell. Young Rufus Buck (Charlie Townsend) awaits his own hanging. In this brief scene, it is made clear that Rufus isn't just another villain with a short temper. His countenance is mindful and his lamentations ring true, "Things look a lot more beautiful when you know it's the last time you're gonna see 'em."
Danny Trejo is then introduced as the Gravedigger, who serves as the film's narrator. Who he is and how he knows intimate details of the gang is never explained, adding a sense of grim whimsy to the proceedings. And while the Grave Digger illuminates the Rufus Buck story, he is decidedly vague about his own identity, "Digging graves is what I do. I like to think it doesn't define me. But it does."
The Rufus Buck Gang is a motley crew of cheerful rogues - the Lewis brothers, Sam Sampson, Maoma July and, later, Buck's cousin, Charles. They follow their charismatic leader without hesitation. They act as a single, decisive entity. Their presence is, at once, terrifying and genuine; the camaraderie is addictive. A tense introduction of the Rufus Buck Gang establishes an ominous tone for what is to come as they steal a horse from a local farmer (Brian Austin Greene) and his son. Rufus reveals himself to be a bleak visionary when he recounts how God punished the wicked with a great flood in the Book of Genesis. He concludes the sermon with a gloomy forewarning: "There just might need to be another flood."
It is revealed that, like so many Native children at that time, Rufus and his friends were inducted, against their will, by a Missionary School, where they were subjected to what one character calls, "Death by civilization." And that is the fuel that burns a vengeful fire inside Rufus. He is driven by ambitions to raise an army and push the whites back to Europe. His confidence is unapologetic as he declares, "Let 'em spread the word of the Rufus Buck Gang!"
In pursuit of the gang are a mismatched duo of historical lawmen, Deputy Marshall Heck Thomas (Tim Abell) and Marshall Paden Tolbert (Tommy Wolfe). They are commissioned by Cherokee High Sheriff Sam Sixkiller to bring the gang to justice, and to stave off any lynching. They form a sort of buddy-cop dynamic that adds to the fun.
While the low-budget production is competent and nuanced - a hangman's living room is decorated with empty nooses. The acting is convincing with authentic performances by Abell and Trejo. But it is the young actors playing the Rufus Buck Gang who steal the show. Phillip Andre Botello, as real life gang member Lucky Lewis, delivers a character that is at once charming and chilling. And in a tour de force performance, Charlie Townsend commands every scene he is in, somehow making Rufus Buck - an unrepentant rapist and murderer - not only sympathetic, but a bit joyful! His men are loyal to him - one gang member even volunteers to be used as a decoy so the others can escape, inspiring Rufus to spout my own favorite line, "I tip my hat the Rufus Buck Gang!" The script by Russo and O'Brien is packed with terrific wordplay. Trejo practically sings his dialogue, spouting lines like: "Justice may be blind, but she's a cold ass bitch to the man in chains."
Paul G. Volk helms the film with bold strokes, balancing the gang's breezy attitude with their penchant for sudden, relentless violence. Volk casually asks the audience to embrace these killers despite their horrific faults in order that we may understand them. In the film's most harrowing scene, the gang nonchalantly draws cards to see who gets to rape a pioneer woman first. Volk challenges the audience to contemplate, not the vile act itself, but the reason behind it. Rufus and his men are convinced that "there is nothing innocent when it comes to whites." And Volk neither indulges in the cruelty nor condemns it; rather he simply asks us to look beyond the inhumanity and see the emotional motives for such heinous acts. The actions of Rufus Buck, though awful and malignant, are capitulated in one of his most compelling sentiments, delivered from behind bars to his white captors: "I hate y'all for not allowing this world to be the way the Great Spirit intended it to be."
While the film sports a fair amount of action, this is not a cut-and-paste shoot-em-up; and though the budget is sparse, this is not a B-movie. THE NIGHT THEY CAME HOME is a splendid drama and a compelling character piece. But most of all, it's a real western. I dare say it's a classic.
Closing with a haunting song by Rob Matthews called "Still I Try", the film invites introspection; and that is exactly what all the classic westerns do, from High Noon to Unforgiven. They cause us to consider our own morality and sense of compassion. And that is why I recommend THE NIGHT THEY CAME HOME to anyone who loves a great story, and everyone hankering for a true western. Congratulations to the cast and crew! This is a terrific film worthy of celebration!
The film opens with sunlight beaming through the bars of a jail cell. Young Rufus Buck (Charlie Townsend) awaits his own hanging. In this brief scene, it is made clear that Rufus isn't just another villain with a short temper. His countenance is mindful and his lamentations ring true, "Things look a lot more beautiful when you know it's the last time you're gonna see 'em."
Danny Trejo is then introduced as the Gravedigger, who serves as the film's narrator. Who he is and how he knows intimate details of the gang is never explained, adding a sense of grim whimsy to the proceedings. And while the Grave Digger illuminates the Rufus Buck story, he is decidedly vague about his own identity, "Digging graves is what I do. I like to think it doesn't define me. But it does."
The Rufus Buck Gang is a motley crew of cheerful rogues - the Lewis brothers, Sam Sampson, Maoma July and, later, Buck's cousin, Charles. They follow their charismatic leader without hesitation. They act as a single, decisive entity. Their presence is, at once, terrifying and genuine; the camaraderie is addictive. A tense introduction of the Rufus Buck Gang establishes an ominous tone for what is to come as they steal a horse from a local farmer (Brian Austin Greene) and his son. Rufus reveals himself to be a bleak visionary when he recounts how God punished the wicked with a great flood in the Book of Genesis. He concludes the sermon with a gloomy forewarning: "There just might need to be another flood."
It is revealed that, like so many Native children at that time, Rufus and his friends were inducted, against their will, by a Missionary School, where they were subjected to what one character calls, "Death by civilization." And that is the fuel that burns a vengeful fire inside Rufus. He is driven by ambitions to raise an army and push the whites back to Europe. His confidence is unapologetic as he declares, "Let 'em spread the word of the Rufus Buck Gang!"
In pursuit of the gang are a mismatched duo of historical lawmen, Deputy Marshall Heck Thomas (Tim Abell) and Marshall Paden Tolbert (Tommy Wolfe). They are commissioned by Cherokee High Sheriff Sam Sixkiller to bring the gang to justice, and to stave off any lynching. They form a sort of buddy-cop dynamic that adds to the fun.
While the low-budget production is competent and nuanced - a hangman's living room is decorated with empty nooses. The acting is convincing with authentic performances by Abell and Trejo. But it is the young actors playing the Rufus Buck Gang who steal the show. Phillip Andre Botello, as real life gang member Lucky Lewis, delivers a character that is at once charming and chilling. And in a tour de force performance, Charlie Townsend commands every scene he is in, somehow making Rufus Buck - an unrepentant rapist and murderer - not only sympathetic, but a bit joyful! His men are loyal to him - one gang member even volunteers to be used as a decoy so the others can escape, inspiring Rufus to spout my own favorite line, "I tip my hat the Rufus Buck Gang!" The script by Russo and O'Brien is packed with terrific wordplay. Trejo practically sings his dialogue, spouting lines like: "Justice may be blind, but she's a cold ass bitch to the man in chains."
Paul G. Volk helms the film with bold strokes, balancing the gang's breezy attitude with their penchant for sudden, relentless violence. Volk casually asks the audience to embrace these killers despite their horrific faults in order that we may understand them. In the film's most harrowing scene, the gang nonchalantly draws cards to see who gets to rape a pioneer woman first. Volk challenges the audience to contemplate, not the vile act itself, but the reason behind it. Rufus and his men are convinced that "there is nothing innocent when it comes to whites." And Volk neither indulges in the cruelty nor condemns it; rather he simply asks us to look beyond the inhumanity and see the emotional motives for such heinous acts. The actions of Rufus Buck, though awful and malignant, are capitulated in one of his most compelling sentiments, delivered from behind bars to his white captors: "I hate y'all for not allowing this world to be the way the Great Spirit intended it to be."
While the film sports a fair amount of action, this is not a cut-and-paste shoot-em-up; and though the budget is sparse, this is not a B-movie. THE NIGHT THEY CAME HOME is a splendid drama and a compelling character piece. But most of all, it's a real western. I dare say it's a classic.
Closing with a haunting song by Rob Matthews called "Still I Try", the film invites introspection; and that is exactly what all the classic westerns do, from High Noon to Unforgiven. They cause us to consider our own morality and sense of compassion. And that is why I recommend THE NIGHT THEY CAME HOME to anyone who loves a great story, and everyone hankering for a true western. Congratulations to the cast and crew! This is a terrific film worthy of celebration!
Not your average Western
evelynkvolk16 January 2024
I really enjoyed this movie, the script is based on the true story of the Rufus Buck gang. I actually know about that part of history and the movie follows the reality pretty closely. The performances were exceptional, especially Charlie Townsend as Rufus Buck and Tim Abell as Heck Thomas, but everybody did a great job in this movie. The cinematography was exceptional too, and the wardrobe was totally authentic, I know this. The music was also wonderful, totally supportive of the dramatic performances of these fine actors. I was glued to the screen from the very beginning to the very end. I totally recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys westerns, and actually to anyone that just enjoys a great movie.
Solid Cast and Well Directed
shawnpobannon25 January 2024
Tim Abell carries this well-directed Western as Deputy US Marshal Heck Thomas and delivers his best performance yet as he brings this kickass, no nonsense lawman to life. Newcomer Charlie Townsend sells it soundly as outlaw Rufus Buck and it was good to get a cameo from Robert Carradine (The Long Riders). Considering it was based on a true story, there were some historical facts that needed to be explained, which may have affected the pace but stories have to be told and that takes time. Production value was solid. All in all, it was a well-told story with great action sequences, and far better than some recent Westerns with bigger budgets. Well worth a look!
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