Staring: Tom Berenger, Barbara Hershy, Kurtwood Smith, Steven Reevis, Andrew Miller, Gregory Scott Cummins, Mark Boone Junior
Release: 1995

Notes: This little melodrama is formula all the way. Complete with a stereotypical lost male bounty hunter Lewis Gates played by Tom Berenger, Self determined and equally lost female anthropologist Lillian Sloan played by Barbara Hershy and overly dramatic and misguided antagonist Sheriff Deegan (Gate's father-in-law) played by Kurtwood Smith. The narrative takes along a troubled storey line where a group of nomadic pure blood Cheyenne Indian tribe. The usual tension of "getting to know you and not get killed" takes place. With an over the top yet obvious reason to send Gates back to civilization to steal some medicine that is badly needed. Oddly they survived for close to a hundred years up till now without it.

In the intermixture of love, lust and a few well timed jokes about aspirin, we are told the Cheyenne had killed off three very cruel, heartless and evil escaped prisoners. The reaction is perhaps expected; Great news. Who needed such psychopaths anyway. Later as Gates and Sloan are allowed to wonder freely around the Cheyenne encampment; they come across an assortment of items collected from anyone the Dogmen (reference to the special fighters in charge of protecting the tribe) had come across and killed. These items are the only reference to the nameles victims of the tribes intent to stay hidden from the world. The casual comment is made "Wouldn't you kill to keep your secret and your people safe".

The Bible tells us that there will come a time when people will find any excuse to justify what was once deemed wrong. Evil will be dressed up to look not so bad if you just accept it. But that is not how it really is. A crime is still a crime and a sin is still a sin. No matter how you dress it up.

For light yet empty entertainment, much like reading an old fashioned Mills and Boon Novel, this might be what your looking for. Just don't bother looking for intellectual depth.

M J Flack