The Old Way (2023)
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The story
In 1878 in the Montana Territory, Colton Briggs is a member of a posse organized to arrest and hang the brother of Walter McAllister, a notorious bandit. After a violent shootout leaves Colton and McAllister's son, James, as the only survivors, Colton is forced to kill McAllister in front of his son. Twenty years later, Colton lives a quiet life running a general store with his wife, Ruth, and daughter, Brooke. However, their peace is shattered when James McAllister and his gang arrive at their home, leading to a violent confrontation and the death of Ruth.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1878 Montana Territory, Colton Briggs kills the bandit Walter McAllister in front of his son, James, during a posse execution. Twenty years later, Colton lives a peaceful life with his wife Ruth and daughter Brooke. When James McAllister's gang attacks their home and kills Ruth, Colton takes Brooke on a journey to find the outlaws. They encounter U.S. Marshal Franklin Jarret, who knows Colton's violent past and fears he will be arrested. Colton eventually tracks the gang to Santa Rosa. After a series of skirmishes and a tense standoff, Colton kills most of the gang but is injured. James captures Brooke and forces a final showdown: Colton must kill James or James will kill Brooke. Colton shoots the gang member Eustice, but James shoots Colton. Brooke then kills James. Jarret arrives and agrees to testify that Colton was a hero rather than a vigilante in exchange for James's lockbox of money.
- First release year
- 2023
- Runtime (minutes)
- 95
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Brett Donowho
- Writers
- Carl W. Lucas · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Nicolas Cage · Colton Briggs; Ryan Kiera Armstrong · Brooke Briggs; Shiloh Fernandez · Boots; Noah Le Gros · James McAllister; Nick Searcy · Marshal Jarret; Abraham Benrubi · Big Mike; Clint Howard · Eustice; Dean Armstrong · Clark
- Genres
- Western
- Themes
- Revenge; Fatherhood; Justice
- Tone and mood
- Violent; Somber
- Setting
- Montana Territory, 1878
- Premise and plot tags
- Western; Revenge; Action
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews by critics.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 43 · scale: 100 · review count: 14
- Production trivia
- The film's crew members complained about property key assistant and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed's handling of firearms, including an incident in which she discharged a weapon without warning and caused lead actor Nicolas Cage to walk off set.; Filming occurred in Montana.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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