A bawdy and violent western, Eminence Hill opens this Friday in select theaters around the county. The idea behind the script is rather good, but acting and direction are rather rudiment and in some cases uninspired. That said however, if you are down for a western with mainly some great cinematography, then give this one a try.
The year is 1887 in the Arizona Territory ad we find four riders on horseback forging their way across a rocky plane. At the Ackerman’s homestead the family of three are doing chores as the riders stop to ask for water and rest their horses. The leader of the gang of four is Royce Tullis (Clint James) a notorious killer and ridding with him are Gretchen James (Dominique Swain), Samson Sullivan (Cameron Kotecki) and Cyrus Pope (Louie Iaccarino). They bring a quick death to the parents and kidnap young Ruth (Anna Harr).
In the meantime in another town in the state, United States Marshall Quincy Foster (Owen Conway) is searching for Royce and needing a partner takes on Carson Garret (Charlie Motley). Garret is locked up in a holding cell and since he knows Royce, he’ll be an asset in arresting the dangerous killer.
Thus beings a tail of treachery, danger, killing and lechery as the two man posse travel to Eminence Hill to face off against the Royce gang. Director and writers Robert Conway and Owen Conway write a decent script filled with action, jeopardy and a trail of blood across the Arizona landscape. However, with that in mind, it’s not much more than most western fans have already seen. The budget seems low and special effects lack energy and surprise.
The cast includes the likes of Barry Corbin (over 200 acting credits including No Country for Old Men and TV series “Anger Management”) as the head of a religious sect at Eminence Hill. Also in the film is Dominique Swain (who has graced many films with her lovely figure) who plays the wicked gang member Gretchen James. Accompanying them with decent roles are Owen Conway as the gun slinging Marshall and Charlie Motley who sounds like Johnny Cash if you close your eyes and think about it. His role is pivotal and does make sense with his good western performance.
Eminence Hill has not been rated by the MPAA, but contains extreme violence throughout, language, sex and nudity.
FINAL ANALYSIS: An average western with a lot of violence. (2 out of 5 Stars)
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Barry Corbin, Dominique Swain, Lance Henriksen
Directed and written by: Robert Conway and Owen Conway
Genre: Western
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 1 hr. 40 min.
Opening Date: November 1, 2019
Distributed by: Uncork’d Entertainment
Released in: Theaters, Color
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
