Big Kill (Arizona)

Gunshots ring out in the square of a Mexican outpost just across the southern U.S. Border, disturbing the quiet, cool morning.

Inside, a cowboy's interaction with a sweet and young señorita is interrupted. And thus begins this western film.

Great cowboy movies, my favorites, don't come around too often. Perhaps once a decade or so. And, lately, not many at all. One I featured in this blog last August was Warner Bros.' 1972 film, The Cowboys, probably my second most favorite western movie ever, exceeded only by Columbia Pictures' 1985 Silverado reviewed in April 20, 2020. And, my third favorite movie, Film4 Productions' 2013, Slow West, was posted March 20, 2020. You can find my reviews using the search feature or scrolling down the list of “Union Suit Fans in the Limelight” postings along with at least another dozen western movies and tv shows which I have shared with the readers of this blog. I love westerns and grew up enjoying them.

The movie mentioned in the opening paragraph of this posting, was found wanting by several critics. But it held my attention and I thought it pretty good. I watched this 2019 Archstone Pictures film, shot in New Mexico, on Netflix.

That opening scene features two rather unscrupulous cowpokes who had somehow found themselves in a Mexican border army post. Travis Parker, played by Clint Hummel, is interrupted having pleasure with a beautiful Mexican niña. She turns out to be the General's (Danny Trejo) daughter. From the bedroom, Parker hears the gunshots which he figures most certainly involves his partner, Jake Logan (Scott Martin). Parker only has time to hastily pull up and button his red union suit and grab his boots, hat and gun before racing out to join his pal in the gunfight.

After sustaining heavy gun fire, the boys cover each other as both run for their horses, miraculously suffering no injuries, as they dodge dozens of bullets. 

Off they gallop, hoping to distance themselves from the general and his soldiers who chase them towards the U.S. border, nearly catching these misfits. Parker looks ridiculous in his red long underwear astride his horse. 

He and Logan manage to cross the Rio Grand, gambling that the Mexican army will not possibly follow them into the United States:

Boy, were the boys wrong. As they pause to catch their breath and momentarily rest their horses, they realize there is no stopping their pursuers. Through the shallow river come the general and his men in hot pursuit. The boundary is no longer an issue:

Mincing no words and wasting no time, the cowboys head for the U.S. border post where they dismount just in time to save themselves:

It is there after jumping off their horses and aiming their guns southward down the trail they had just traversed that they begin to catch their breath. 

They are soon joined by the post's federal troops who aim their rifles too, not sure of whom they are waiting to confront. With Parker still in his long underwear (his least concern), 

they anxiously await their adversaries who were not long in showing up with guns raised as well....a Mexican standoff:

The Mexican army troops are finally convinced they are not arresting the cowboys on U.S. territory and are advised to leave. But not before Parker and Logan are threatened to never return to Mexico or they will be "shot dead." 

Whew!  Saved with just the clothes on their backs!

You'll need to view this worthwhile film to see the rest of the boys' misadventures. The banter between Parker and Logan is exceptionally humorous and one of the best aspects of this film as is the fact that no one, not even the fort's presiding officer, seems to take notice or care that Parker is dressed in that red union suit underwear of his. 

Nevertheless, the story line and incredible music and scenery should keep your interest as additional characters and circumstances are introduced.

Click on the trailer below to see clips of the opening and additional scenes of this arresting film. Let me know how you like this movie: 

https://youtu.be/6tNtQFJezFI

View on Netflix, Dailymotion and other streaming services