Director Michael Feifer's third western shoot'em up "Catch The Bullet," starring Jay Pickett, Peter Facinelli, and Tom Skerritt, shares something in common with his two earlier horse operas "A Soldier's Revenge" (2020) and "Wyatt Earp's Revenge" (2012). Feifer filmed all three on location in scenic wide-open spaces that clearly reflect his reverence for this untamed frontier. Watching the breathtaking landscape sweep beneath us as lenser Hank Baumert Jr.'s camera drones cruise above the sprawling mosaic of mountains, deserts, and streams enhances not only the epic splendor of this western, but it also dwarfs the horsemen threading through it. Specifically, Feifer shot "Catch The Bullet" at the TA Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. If you're searching for a vacation destination that would plunge you into the past, the TA Guest Ranch seems perfect. Historically, this venerable ranch lay within the arena of the notorious Johnson County Cattle Wars of 1889-1893. If you've seen either the Steve McQueen western "Tom Horn" (1980) or "Heaven's Gate" (1980) with Kris Kristofferson & Christopher Walken, you'll appreciate these larger-than-life locales. Reportedly, the wooden buildings still boast bullet holes from gunfights in that classic struggle. Primarily, these austere Wyoming settings provide "Catch The Bullet" with an authenticity no Hollywood backlot could duplicate. Westerns always seem more exciting when the good guys lick the bad guys in a grandiose setting that appeals as much to the eye as the imagination. While freshman writer Jerry Robbins' saga about the kidnapping of a veteran lawman's son by one of his enemies is hopelessly saddle-sore, the rugged, weather-beaten cast and the gritty dialogue they snarl strengthens this above-average, R-rated, 88-minute opus.
A serious-minded sagebrusher from fade in to fadeout, "Catch The Bullet" shuns comic relief and shows no compunction about killing off key characters. Feifer gets us in the mood with a showdown in a stable. Our grim, duty-sworn protagonist, U. S. Marshal Britt MacMasters (Jay Pickett of "Soda Springs"), corners three gimlet-eyed bank robbers at their ranch and blasts them out of their boots. Feifer tries to imitate Sam Peckinpah, but his gunfight reminded me more of "Gunsmoke." Nevertheless, our hero establishes his proficiency with firearms. MacMasters spent three months tracking down these dastards. Later, when he pursues his new quarry, this no-nonsense tin star acts as if he has a seventh sense when an assailant tries to shoot him in the back. Meantime, at MacMasters' own ranch, another confrontation unfolds between his elderly father Dex (Tom Skerritt of "Top Gun") and six desperadoes. The leader of the gang, Jed Blake (Gattlin Griffith of "Green Lantern"), sweated out five years in prison because of MacMasters. Now, Jed has broken out of prison and vows to kill the marshal. A brief gunfight erupts, and Britt's father kills one of the six ruffians but takes a slug in the shoulder. Jeb abducts the marshal's twelve-year-old son, Chad (Mason McNulty of "Assimilate"), and then shoots Chad's playmate Albert Hansen (Ryder Kozisek) in cold blood. This brutal act of murder evokes memories of Sergio Leone's masterpiece "Once Upon A Time in the West" (1968) when Henry Fonda gunned down a youngster. Earlier, Chad had whined to Albert about his prodigal father who let his lawman's duties supersede his role as a single parent. Jed and company thunder off with Chad stumbling in their dust at the end of a rope.
Basically, "Catch The Bullet" boils down to a father & son western. Naturally, when MacMasters learns about Jed, he tells Dex he'll find Chad. Interestingly, Jed left no message for the marshal about his intentions. Before MacMasters saddles up, Sheriff Wilkins (Peter Facinelli of "Twilight") insists his greenhorn deputy, Tucker (Callder Griffith of "Miracle in the Valley"), ride with him. Wilkins wanted to accompany MacMasters, but the marshal convinced him to stay behind. He fears Jed may circle back. Meantime, MacMasters recruits a savvy, half-breed Pawnee, Chaska (Cody Jones of "Hired Gun"), with a devastating reputation as a scout.
Feifer and writer Jerry Robbins pad out the running time with a bullet-riddled melee that pits both heroes and villains against bloodthirsty Sioux Indians. Predictably, the Sioux are angry because settlers have trespassed on their land. Not surprisingly, the Sioux-depicted as pugnacious phantoms in animal skins-suffer annihilation when Britt and Chaska unleash their firepower. By this time, Jed's hostage plot takes a bizarre turn. Chad infuriates Jed with two escape attempts. Incidentally, "Catch The Bullet" reminded me of O'Henry's classic tale "The Ransom of Red Chief," in the July 6, 1907, issue of The Saturday Evening Post magazine. In this short story, two crooks kidnap a child who turns out to be their worst nightmare. During one foiled escape attempt, Chad knocks Jed aside, and the outlaw smashes his face on a rock. This kind of hilarity undermines the villain and makes him look like a buffoon.
Generally, "Catch The Bullet" emerges as a tragic, but violent horse opera with a clench-jawed cast, superb production values, and impressive scenery. The outfits, firearms, and leather goods are particularly period friendly. Jay Pickett makes a convincing lawman who lost his wife in a tragic accident involving a stand-off with outlaws at a nearby ranch. This bitter memory keeps Britt away from his own ranch and his estranged father and son. Inevitably, father & son will reunite and reconcile themselves. Inexplicably, Feifer relegates both Peter Facinelli and Tom Skerritt to pitiful bit parts. Veteran lenser Hank Baumert Jr. Makes "Catch The Bullet" look striking, and the TA Guest Ranch is on my bucket list. The only drawback to the stunning aerial cinematography is the telltale tire tracks the filmmakers' equipment made that show up in the aerial shots. Presumably, Feifer and company hoped spectators would pardon them for this anachronism.
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