The Shooter (1997/I)

Director:

Fred Olen Ray

Writer:

Tony Giglio (writer)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

The story is of a small town in the early west and of a 'shooter' of reputation that drifts into it...

Plot Keywords:

Prostitute | Small Town | Female Nudity | Sadism | Maverick

Cast

Michael Dudikoff	...	Michael Atherton
Randy Travis	...	Kyle
Valerie Wildman	...	Wendy
Andrew Stevens	...	Jacob
Eric Lawson	...	Paul
Robert Donavan	...	Pete
Cal Bartlett	...	Sheriff
Hoke Howell	...	Duncan
Libby George	...	Gina
Matthew R. Anderson	...	Deputy Casey
Peter Sherayko	...	Ed
Bill Langlois Monroe	...	Vince (as William L. Monroe)
Ryan Latshaw	...	Darien
Marc Vahanian	...	Tyler
Pete Walsh	...	Daniel

Also Known As:

Deadly Shooter (USA) (TV title)
Desert Shooter (USA) (alternative title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and a scene of sexuality.

Runtime:

91 min | Germany:82 min (cut version) | Germany:88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

South Korea:15 | Germany:16 (cut) | Germany:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Melody Ranch, Santa Clarita, California, USA

Company:

Amritraj / Stevens Entertainment

Goofs:

Anachronisms: After Atherton recovers and shoots up the guys in the barn, the surviving deputy runs and tells Kyle about it. The sole of Kyle's boots are obviously rubber, with a modern tread pattern.

Quotes:

Jerry Krants: Sounds like you're a brave war hero!
Michael Atherton: It could be possible.
Jerry Krants: It was time that we met.
Jerry Krants: Dead gunfighters need no guns!

As Michael Dudikoff movies go, above average

STAR RATING: ***** The Works **** Just Misses the Mark *** That Little Bit In Between ** Lagging Behind * The Pits

Mike Atherton (Dudikoff) is peacefully making his way in the Wild West when he spots a group of men mistreating a lady. Being a gentleman, he naturally steps in and puts a stop to this and in doing so kills the son of a nasty enforcer. This is just the beginning of a all guns blazing battle to the finish from which there will be only one winner.

M Dudikoff is an action star who's never truly managed to take off with me. Maybe I discovered him too late and after the other film I saw with him in it last Monday, The Human Shield, it was just another Dud (ha ha) added to the list. But I have a thing for westerns, being films that just sort of transport me to a different time and place and provide real escapist entertainment and with this Dudikoff has picked one of his better scripts, as his films go anyway.

The film hits a few low points in the shape of a naff central villain, sounding like a blank Marlon Brando and some generally ropey acting from some of the cast, along with the obligatory cheap looking sets. But if, for some strange reason, your life ever depended on watching a Dudikoff film, this would be one of your best choices. ***