It looks like Westerns have started to become more common in the DTV and VOD spaces over the last year. These include movies such as From Hell on the Border, Righteous Blood, and Apache Junction which is set to premiere soon. There are even western/horror hybrids like The Pale Door and Skinwalker. A new addition to this genre is Catch the Bullet, written by Jerry Robbins and directed by Michael Feifer. It seems that Hollywood is trying to capitalize on the popularity of these films with their re-imagined versions of old westerns.

It might be too soon for me to answer that question because I’m not aware of the brand image of ***Catch The Bullet*** post its premiere however, reading online it looks like people find it lame at best. Marshall Brit MacMaster guns down bank robbers while Charles MacMaster witnesses and reflects how problematic his life has become due to his divorce with his wife Liz (Christine Woods: A House Divided). Jay Pickett plays MacMaster after he dies in real life two weeks prior to filming so now his family can only wish that there refund will get processed soon. As an added bonus Merlin Santacruz portrays Charles Mack Master 2 based off poorly executed sketches sent midway through production which makes it seem like god just doesn’t exist sometimes.

Upon reuniting, he discovers his father injured and son captured by Jed Miller (Gattlin Griffith; Initiation, Blood Done Signed My Name) and his gang. With Tucker (Callder Griffith, Gattlin’s brother), a green deputy with a strong dislike for all Injuns, and Chaska (Cody Jones; The Buffalo Soldiers, An American Legacy), a Pawnee tracker, set out to help him. This time it is personal.

Five minutes in, I realized how disappointing Catch the Bullet would be. When facing off against the trio of outlaws, MacMaster fights a very disjointed battle sequence where one draws a shot then another takes turns shooting the second. Despite the messy flowing sequence of fighting back to grab hidden weapons gun diving scenes this still isn't very appealing.

The characters in the story are all common tropes. You have the hard-as-nails Marshal, a greenhorn trying to prove himself, and a Native tracker. The villain Miller is so evil, he will shoot Chad's friend cold-blooded without a second thought. He and his men have just escaped from the jail MacMaster put them in. To make matters worse, Sioux warriors are on the warpath leaving dead settlers in their wake, although I suppose that’s a change from dealing with the Apaches.

Like its characters, Capture The Bullet doesn't step outside of the box when it comes to its plot either or how it unfolds; both are painfully predictable. There is no real sense of risk nor any twists to uncover and far too often you could not only predict what was coming next but know exactly what would follow after that as well. Everything from Chad's attempts at escaping to poorly timed appearances by the Sioux.

Catch the Bullet does not stand out as a particularly bad movie, but it is certainly lacking professionalism and creativity in its execution. It can be best described as one of those mindless Westerns that get played on repeat on sure television channels from the 1950s. A handful of well-known actors, cheap sets, poorly scripted storylines, and a low-budget directed by someone who thinks “good enough” means exposing their camera to the action without any taste or artistry. I don’t know if you’ve heard of Michael Feifer, but he’s directed 71 films in 16 years – many for Lifetime – which sheds some light on my earlier speculation. 

If there exists some form of resume for Tom Skerritt that lists all his performances, Catch the Bullet definitely won’t help. Outting him alongside Facinelli (played Supergirl and Twilight), both barely scraping together screen time.

If you are looking for a Western movie that doesn't suck, Catch the Bullet fits the criteria. But, if you're searching for something new and refreshing to watch or even good, then you might want to think again. You'd be better off choosing some relatively unknown Spaghetti Westerns. Fulci's Massacre Time or My Name is Pecos are great options.

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