Both co-writers/co-directors Josh Gilbert and Johnathan Paul make their feature debut with Harsh Treatment. The comedy western begins with two people, dusty, exhausted, and anxious, running into a church. They nervously listen to the preacher (Barry Corbin) give his fiery sermon about finding the “straight and narrow.”
After that, the would-be outlaws, Merle (Aaron Martin) and Earl (Sterling Gafford), return to their gang. The leader is disappointed in them again, as the cousins messed up their assignment. They went after a bank teller instead of looking out at Banks Mercantile, as the owner’s last name is “Banks.” Now they are kicked out, left with nothing but the clothes on their backs and a small trinket they consider worthless.
Merle and Earl wander to a saloon run by Galena (Cecile Cubiló), where not-very-good waitress Sammy (Kaci Fullinwider) cons the duo out of the trinket. This is bad news as the two are pursued by Whitewater (Jason Douglas) and his gang, including expert tracker Hard Sue (Jennifer Lynn). The only good thing, aside from the fact that Merle and Earl are still alive, is that the Native American hunter Skah (Rio Alexander) is helping them out as he, too, seeks the trinket. What is so valuable about the item that puts so many people’s lives in danger? Can Merle and Earl bumble their way out of this harsh situation, or has their time come?
“Merle and Earl wander to a saloon run by Galena, where not-very-good waitress Sammy cons the duo out of the trinket.”
Harsh Treatment is a western in the same manner as Ghostbusters is a horror film. Namely, the comedy comes first, but the expected genre elements are treated with respect and given time to play out seriously. There are real stakes here, as the Whitewater gang and Skah are violent and will retaliate against anyone who gets in their way. The MacGuffin is interesting because it is such a small item that it can be easily hidden or lost, which adds weight to the cousins’ attempts to retrieve it.
But, as with the aforementioned Ramis-classic, this is a comedy above all. Merle and Earl’s naivety and foolishness are very amusing. Sammy gets the best of the two by pretending to want both of them… in the middle of the woods. Earl keeps telling Merle to lose the trinket, but Merle always picks it back up for one reason or another. The cousins have no issue with stealing, but they draw the line at taking someone else’s horse, even when time is of the utmost essence. It is all very funny stuff.
Martin and Gafford are perfectly paired as the bumbling central duo. Their chemistry rocks, and they make each other funnier. Individually, they deliver strong performances that sell the danger and drama while keeping the humor at the forefront. Douglas is a fantastic baddie; menacing, creepy, and formidable. Alexander is believable as a skilled and violent hunter who really wants to do the right thing. Cubiló is sultry and mad at the same time, while Lynn is scary from the jump. Fullinwider is the right mix of hard-knocked and sweet to pull off Sammy’s arc and remain relatable and likable.
Harsh Treatment is a fun and funny ride back to the Old West. Gilbert and Paul maintain the delicate balance of tone perfectly throughout the 112-minute runtime. The comedy, drama, and violence all hit, and the whole affair looks strikingly beautiful yet dusty. The cast is great, funny, and engaging. This isn’t some Wagons East debacle wherein the comedy gets in the way of the genre trappings. No, this is a comedy western done with respect for outlaws and cowboys while still being side-splittingly hilarious.
For more information, visit the official Harsh Treatment site.
"…a western in the same manner as Ghostbusters is a horror film."
