Outlaws and Angels Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A bunch of outlaws hide out at a seemingly innocent family’s place, only to discover the family makes them look like choir boys.

🍿 Outlaws and Angels: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Desperate Escape

Following a violent bank robbery in New Mexico, the outlaw Henry and his remaining gang members are on the run. Pursued by a persistent bounty hunter named Josiah, they are in need of a place to lay low and escape the unforgiving frontier. Seeking refuge for the night, they stumble upon an isolated home belonging to the Tildon family, led by Pastor George Tildon. The outlaws force their way in, holding the seemingly innocent family hostage.

A Night of Rising Tensions

Trapped together under one roof, the tension between the outlaws and their captives escalates throughout the night. The film explores the dynamics within both groups and the psychological toll of the hostage situation. As the hours pass, the facade of the pious Tildon family begins to crumble, revealing dark secrets and unexpected complexities beneath the surface.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Henry (Chad Michael Murray): The leader of a group of outlaws who hide out in a frontier family’s home, leading to unforeseen consequences.
• Florence Tildon (Francesca Eastwood): The seemingly innocent daughter of the Tildon family who hides dark secrets revealed during the outlaws’ invasion.
• Ada Tildon (Teri Polo): The fiercely religious mother whose hidden complexities and true nature emerge when her family is taken hostage.
• George Tildon (Ben Browder): The pastor and father of the Tildon family whose life is upended when outlaws force their way into his home.
• Josiah (Luke Wilson): The determined bounty hunter who tracks the outlaw gang, serving as an external threat to their escape.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Henry: “Sooner or later, we all get what’s comin’.” – This line, also the film’s tagline, encapsulates the fatalistic and morally complex themes explored throughout the story.
• Henry: “We’re all just a bag of nails, George.” – Henry says this to the preacher, George, using period slang to imply that everyone, regardless of appearance, is flawed or broken.
• Florence Tildon: “I reckon I’ve been waiting for something like you.” – Florence speaks this line to Henry, revealing her hidden desires and dissatisfaction with her life, signaling a shift in dynamics.
• George Tildon: “We are a God-fearing family.” – George repeatedly insists on his family’s piety, a statement that becomes increasingly ironic and hollow as their dark secrets are revealed.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $1,150,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Outlaws and Angels Reviews

Personal Review

Wow, this movie was… a lot. I went into it expecting a typical Western shootout flick, but got something way darker and more twisted. It definitely kept me hooked, even when I felt uncomfortable. I thought the acting was surprisingly good, especially Francesca Eastwood and Teri Polo. They really sold the messed-up family dynamic. Some scenes in the house felt incredibly tense and claustrophobic. Yeah, parts were slow and frankly, pretty disturbing. The violence isn’t just action; it feels mean and real. And some plot points felt a bit out there, but I appreciate a movie that isn’t afraid to go to dark places and mess with your expectations.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of dark, psychological thrillers”
  • “Viewers interested in revisionist or unconventional Westerns”
  • “Those who appreciate character-driven dramas with intense themes”
  • “Audiences looking for controversial or challenging independent films”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic and excessive violence”
  • “Sexual content and themes (including implied and explicit sexual assault/abuse)”
  • “Disturbing and taboo subject matter (incest, depravity)”
  • “Strong language”
  • “May be unsettling or triggering for some viewers”

Professional Reviews

• Critically Inspired: “”Outlaws and Angels” attempts a gritty, intense Western steeped in atmosphere and brutal realism. While visually striking, thanks to the 35mm cinematography, its deliberate pacing and focus on transgressive themes may test the patience of some viewers. The performances, particularly from the lead cast, are commendable in navigating the material, but the film’s commitment to portraying human depravity can feel excessive, leaving the audience more repulsed than engaged.
• Critically Inspired: “Mollner’s ‘Outlaws and Angels’ is a polarizing beast. It’s a Western only by setting, delving into psycho-sexual dynamics more akin to a brutal thriller. The film builds suffocating tension within the confines of a single house, exposing dark secrets with shocking violence. Comparisons to Tarantino are inevitable but perhaps unfair; this film carves its own path into discomfort. It’s not for the faint of heart, but offers a unique, albeit bleak, vision of the frontier.

Audience Reactions

Viewers were divided, some praising its bold uniqueness and intense atmosphere, while others found the violence and dark themes gratuitous and the pacing slow.: The cinematography and visual style were often highlighted positively, along with strong performances from key cast members, especially the female leads. The unpredictable plot and departure from traditional Western tropes were either lauded as brilliant or criticized as pointless.

Overall Consensus: A highly polarizing film praised for its unique, dark vision and strong performances but criticized for its graphic content, slow pace, and bleak themes.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film was shot on 35mm film using Panavision cameras, specifically employing a 2-perf Super 35 format to achieve a gritty, authentic period look, similar to older Westerns.”
• “The director, JT Mollner, wrote the script years before other similar-themed Westerns like ‘The Hateful Eight’ were released, countering criticisms that it was a direct imitation.”
• “During the dinner scene, the Tildon family is mentioned as eating ‘cackleberries,’ a colloquial term for chicken eggs that was historically used.”
• “The word ‘bulldoze’ is used by one of the outlaws, a term that, while sounding modern, was actually in use in the American West as early as 1876, originally referring to giving someone a large dose of something, including a beating.”

🖥️ How to Watch Outlaws and Angels?

As a low-budget, independent Western, ‘Outlaws and Angels’ may not be available on major subscription streaming services. Check popular Video On Demand platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play Movies for rental or purchase options. Availability can vary by region.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Outlaws and Angels, you might like these similar films:

• The Hateful Eight (2015): Features a confined setting where violent characters are forced together, leading to intense dialogue, revelations, and betrayals, much like the dynamic in the Tildon house.
• Killer Joe (2011): Shares a dark, Southern Gothic/frontier tone, exploring depraved family dynamics, psychological tension, and shocking violence within a seemingly confined setting.
• The Wild Bunch (1969): A classic example of the revisionist Western, known for its gritty realism, moral ambiguity, and impactful, sometimes controversial, violence, influencing the style and themes.
• Bone Tomahawk (2015): Another modern Western that blends genre elements with horror-like depravity and graphic violence, focusing on survival and the harsh realities of the frontier.
• Badlands (1973): A cult classic exploring themes of crime, escape, and the psychological complexities of its violent protagonists on the run, featuring a distinctive, almost detached style.

🛒 Outlaws and Angels Related Products

• Outlaws and Angels (2016) – Digital Download: Own the intense Western thriller ‘Outlaws and Angels’ on digital. Experience the gritty story of outlaws and a dark family encounter anytime, anywhere.
• Essential Westerns Film Collection (Blu-ray): A curated collection featuring classic and modern Western films that explore diverse themes and styles within the genre. May include influential films cited in reviews.
• Red Dead Redemption 2 (PS4/Xbox One/PC): An epic open-world Western game renowned for its immersive environment, complex characters, and gritty, realistic portrayal of the late 1800s frontier.
• Outlaws and Angels Movie Poster: A high-quality print of the official movie poster, capturing the film’s dark and atmospheric Western aesthetic.

🎧 Soundtrack

Outlaws and Angels features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Gnossienne No. 1” – performed by Erik Satie

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Francesca Eastwood Works with Mother Frances Fisher in ‘Outlaws and Angels’

Ever wonder what it’s like when a mother and daughter share the screen? Check out this chat with Francesca Eastwood and Chad Michael Murray as they reveal how special it was seeing Francesca work alongside her mom, Frances Fisher, on ‘Outlaws and Angels’.

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