Up Against the FRONTIER CRUCIBLE

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to 4K Ultra HD, Bluray, DVD and Digital from director Travis Mills and Well Go USA Entertainment is the ultimate western when up against the FRONTIER CRUCIBLE.

In the town of San Carlos, illness has broken out and Major O’Rourke (William H. Macy) needs medical supplies delivered, but not by the Calvary. Not wishes to bring attention to the wagon, he Merrick Beckford (Myles Clohessy) to make the journey on his own. On the road, Beckford comes across a group of people attacked by the Apache. Jeff Butler (Eli Brown) has been shot and wife Valerie (Mary Stickley) is trying to keep him alive.

She is not finding much help from Charlie McKee (Thomas Jane), his son Billy (Ryan Masson) and companion Edmund Fisher (Armie Hammer). Beckford agrees to help but makes it clear that the wagon and supplies are headed south to San Carlos. Almost immediately, he is met with hostility from Fisher and a momentary stand off lets the others know, Beckford isn’t to be trifled with.

What starts out as helping a group of people in need, quickly turns into serious problems that can’t be avoided with the Apache. Chief Victorio (Eddie Spears) is going to hold those responsible for murder the Apache way. Now the question becomes, who are the real savages?

Clohessy as Beckford immediately holds the screen from start to finish. He absolutely exudes the 1960s less-is-more speak and wary Clint Eastwood vibe and I’m not mad at it. Let’s be honest, the reason Beckford doesn’t get his ass handed to him is because he’s not playing from a stance of trying to gain anything from the others, he is focused and he sees each for who they are. He’s already seen it, experienced it and understands what is in front, as well as what is behind him. Meaning? No monologuing necessary! In FRONTIER CRUCIBLE, Clohessy gives Beckford control, quickness and a bit of heart.

Clohessy is not unknown to me as an actor having seen several of the television mini-series and work in the series The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin. That being said, he has also delved into directing and writing. Bringing those two talents together, see the 2022 film THE REDEEMER, nominated for several awards by the American Indian Film Festival.

Spears as Chief Victorio gives his character a very straight forward attitude. During this era of time, justice was based in traditional accountability. Spears’ Victorio did just that with this character, and literally for one character, an eye for an eye. More poignant is the connection between Beckford and Chief Victorio, probably the most momentarily frightful and eventual respectful scene of the film between the two. Representation of Native Americans in film is so important and taking writer Whittington’s work and putting it on screen Spears brings Chief Victorio back to the screen. The last time was 1953 in HONDO and with stereotypes of the time in film.  

Jane as McKee is the sneaky player in the trio game. He keeps his moves sly, underhanded and talks a big game. The mixture of that and trying to play Beckford, Jane does it so well with a bad-guy smoothness that adds a hint of, dare I say, fun? Then again, it’s all fun and games until Apache justice knocks him to the ground. Brown as Butler gives wish-wash vibes in that he’s fine being on Beckford’s side when he thinks he’s dying but the minute, he gets a better offer, he turns into a character I’d hold under the water till the bubbles stopped! That’s how you know you’ve done a good job Mr. Brown! Stickley as Valerie is a woman in the middle of wild west testosterone. Wanting to be a good wife, fighting off bad guys and feeling a pull toward Beckford, she definitely has her tin pan plate full. Giving weak and strong moments, Stickley gives exactly what one would expect from a woman trying to survive the 1800s.

Masson as Billy is the ultimate kid who wants to be as wild as the wild west itself. Playing that up, Masson’s portrayal is that of a kid caught up in the violence and pushing those limits, until the limits push back. Hammer as Fisher is the one that all of them need to keep their eye on. It’s always the quiet ones and, with the exceptions of a few intense moments, he has his own plan.

Shout out to Macy as Major O’Rouke.

Other cast include Zane Holtz, Juwan Lakota, Joshua Odjick, Leon Garcia, Derek Riley, Rurik Riley, Wambli Eagleman, John Marrs Travis Elliston, and Jay Hizer.

Well Go USA Entertainment is a theatrical and home entertainment company specializing in bringing the best Action, Genre and Independent films from around the world to North American markets. As a leader in independent film distribution, Well Go USA Entertainment’s titles can be seen across a variety of platforms including theatrical, digital, subscription and cable VOD, packaged media and broadcast television. Well Go USA Entertainment currently releases three to five films per month. To see more please visit www.wellgousa.com.

Bonus Features include Making of FRONTIER CRUCIBLE and Trailer.

FRONTIER CRUCIBLE is adapted from the 1961 Western novel by Harry Whittington entitled Desert Stake-Out. The film definitely gives off that 1960s western feel thanks to Clohessy. Dallas Sonnier of 2015s BONE TOMAHAWK fame is one of the producers of the film. Director Travis Mills knows exactly what a western should look like, then his 2024 piece THE LEGACY OF THE 12 WESTERNS is a great set up to his thought process. Beckford’s long gun reminds me of the trailer from the 1964 Sergio Leone film A FIST FULL OF DOLLARS with, “This long gun belongs to the man with no name” and the smoke in the first scene as well.

The opening scene lets the viewer know what they are in for! Buckle up and prepare to be transported back to the 1870’s, when there is no law around and ruthlessness is the unspoken law of the land. Each of the characters, thanks to a stellar cast, has a story to tell and Mills lets that happen throughout the film. What also doesn’t hold back is the brutality that caught me off guard yet, at the same time, didn’t surprise me. The old west wasn’t a pretty place and here it is, up close and personal.  

The story, cinematography, location – all absolutely stellar, then again, I am a complete fan of westerns in all forms. They are an iconic form of storytelling and, when done right, touch on so many themes that are in FRONTIER CRUCIBLE. It wasn’t called the ‘wild west’ because the title was cute, no, it was wild in violence, wild in expectations and wild in clashes between cultures – it just happened to be in the west.

It is a two hour and five-minute western that had me yelling at the screen, cheering for the certain characters (you’ll known when you know), giggling at a few lines in the film and loving the cast. The films score is a fantastic addition to the storytelling by singer-songwriter Sean Rowe. Gritty, raw and dark, just like the underbelly of the film. So, popcorn up and let FRONTIER CRUCIBLE remind you how westerns are an irreplaceable genre!

In the end – you don’t have to die to go to hell!