Eye For Eye

Unfortunately, some of the supporting cast of Eye For Eye is less than good. Blanco is never all that convincing, hurriedly getting her lines out instead of feeling each moment. Sean Eden Yi as Braddock’s yesman, Hong, is really bad, as are Derek Sorrell as Tall Horse and Jared Boxterman as Skunk. All three are part of the squad of villainous henchmen, and none of them are much of a credible threat.

In a slight defense of Yi and Sorrell, the script and direction do them no favors. Yes, this film is based on a book, but that’s no reason for the racist caricatures on display. Hong is an Asian servant and talks exactly as stereotypically as you’re imagining. The same goes for Tall Horse, whose broken English is cringe-worthy and more than a little awkward to witness.

“…fun, engaging…”

While these problems keep the flick from achieving greatness, Martin has still helmed a fun, engaging Western. Eye For Eye doesn’t contain an ounce of fat anywhere in its 104-minute runtime. Every scene serves a story or character purpose, culminating in a rousing climax during the last 10 or 15 minutes. As mentioned earlier, despite the overall production value being middling, the cinematography is excellent. Shoot in Montana, Martin and his crew take full advantage of the gorgeous landscapes and terrain the state houses within its borders. The natural lighting and sweeping vistas give the story a much-needed epic feel. Plus, the theme song, written and performed by Shane Clouse, is very catchy.

Eye For Eye has questionable portrayals of minorities, iffy acting from some of the supporting players, and looks like something that would’ve played on TV decades ago. But, the cinematography is incredible, and when paired with the score (it’s unclear if Clouse also did this or just the theme song), it gives the whole affair an epic feel. Then there are the lead actors, Savage and Clouse, who are spectacular and breathe life into their respective roles. Overall, if one is a big Western fan, Martin’s debut will offer much to enjoy.

Available now on Video-On-Demand. Visit the Eye For Eye official website for screening information.