classicsoncall Judging by the cast list, this looks like it was very much a family affair, with Barry Van Dyke in the lead role as bounty hunter Frank Allison, and his sons Shane and Carey portraying members of outlaw Lee Horn's (Geoff Meed) gang, Chris and Joe Beall. Financing for the movie was provided by Frank's dad, Dick Van Dyke, which had me searching my memory to recall if he ever appeared in a Western himself. Possibly one of the few big name celebrities who haven't done so.I didn't know anything about the production company, The Asylum, going in, and from reading other viewer comments it appears it's a cheapie film outfit that's had it's share of hits and misses. I didn't think this one was too bad, though it's routinely formulaic and pretty much a by the book Western effort. Sage Mears, who has the revenge seeking female role as Selina Stevens, has a look that one has to consider whether she's attractive or not, sort of like Sondra Locke in any number of her roles. For the most part I'd say she's pleasing to the eye, but not very credible as a female gunslinger, though I don't think that's the impression the director was trying to achieve. What she needed to do was pick up the gun and fire it straight ahead at a live target, which she managed to do successfully a couple times when it came time for the final showdownI did have to wince during a conversation Frank Allison had with Sheriff Barr (Greg Evigan) when they were discussing a location bordered by the Gila Trail. Both men pronounced the word as 'guy-la' instead of 'hee-la', as in Gila Monster. That was just such a bad pronunciation I had to laugh to myself. I mean, how could they get that one wrong in a Western.And speaking of Evigan's character, he was just such a wuss of a sheriff I didn't mind it too much when the bad boys mocked him before taking him out. That pretty much cut down the odds against Allison as five against one, let's say two if you count the inexperienced Selina Stevens. Allison had a good point about her being married to a former lawman and not knowing how to use a gun. Considering that Will Stevens (Brian Wimmer) didn't make much of a stand against Horn and his henchmen, I guess that wasn't a surprise. Fortunately, an element that didn't show up here was a clichéd romance between the embittered Selina and her gun slinging mentor, that would have made the story a lot harder to take.

Wuchak RELEASED TO VIDEO IN 2010 directed by Shane Van Dyke (Dick's grandson), "6 Guns" stars Barry Van Dyke (Dick's son) in a Shane-like role. The plot is pretty typical for Westerns: A band of outlaws murder & rape a family, but the wife (Sage Mears) survives and, after overcoming her disillusionment, wants justice. She eventually enlists the services of a taciturn bounty hunter (Barry Van Dyke) to teach her how to shoot. Meanwhile the outlaws are on the prowl."6 Guns" is a quasi-remake of Raquel Welch's "Hannie Caulder" from almost forty years prior, but lacks that one's comical edge. There are some obvious elements of other Westerns, like "The Bravados" (1958) and "Pale Rider" (1985), but what else is new? Barry is notable as the laconic bounty hunter as he fits the role of the rugged loner to a 'T.' He's akin to Eastwood in the Leone trilogy, but is an actual human character rather than caricature. Geoff Meed chews up the scenery as the main villain with gusto; it's obvious why his men fear him. Mears is quite good as the female protagonist, convincing and winning the viewer's sympathy, while Erin Marie Hogan stands out as the ravishing brunette saloon babe, Scarlet. The vibe is nicely realistic and the locations smack of harsh Western authenticity. All of this is topped off by a great score by Chris Ridenhour, which definitely perks the movie up and gives it class. In fact, the movie's worth watching just for the score.I'm only giving "6 Guns" 6.5/10 Stars because, even though it's a solid Western, it's also low-budget and kind of standard. If I gave it a higher grade people might expect something better than what it is. Still, if you like an occasional Western this one's worthwhile.I was surprised to discover that this was made by The Asylum, a film company notorious for releasing cheap knockoffs of major releases to steal some of their thunder. The Asylum has certainly put out some cartoony dreck (e.g. "30,000 Leagues Under the Sea" and "Mega Piranha"), but they can also surprise you with some worthy low-budget stuff (e.g. "The Land That Time Forgot" and "Grimm's Snow White"). "6 Guns" ranks with the latter.THE MOVIE RUNS 95 minutes was shot in California (Spahn Ranch, Chatsworth; Paramount Ranch, Agoura; and Snegoff Ranch, Topenga Canyon). It's rated 'R' for the brutal murder/rape scene.GRADE: B- (6.5/10)

Ben Larson Sage Mears is a very attractive actress. One would think she might get better roles. She is really the only one worth mention in this straight- to-video western. With the exception of 3:10 to Yuma, I didn't even know anyone way still making westerns, but here we are.There isn't a lot of great acting here, but how many westerns feature acting giants. It's the action you come for. There isn't a whole lot of that, either.It's a revenge movie. The bad guy (Geoff Meed) kills her husband (Brian Wimmer) and two sons and his gang rapes her. She becomes the town drunk until the bounty hunter (Barry Van Dyke) arrives in town. What happens next is not entirely believable, but it makes for a fairly good story. I can't say as much for the very end. That goes off into fantasy land.

usmcjam The acting was worst than a middle school Drama Club. Sock puppets show more emotion than anyone in the cast. The town and props were abysmal. In the days before Cowboy Action Shooting you could have gotten away with this due to cost, but when there is a cottage industry dedicated to making quality western wear at affordable prices, the only plus was nobody was wearing Levi's and Lace-up Justin Ropers. Nothing about this movie was worth watching it for free. I should have spent the time poking a mean dog with a sharp stick.P.S. Sage Mears should look into porn, but I don't think she has the acting chops.