RATING: B+

Republic Pictures presents a SP Media Group production. Directed by James Bamford. Produced by Steven Paul. Written by John Thaddeus; story by Bill Sondheim. Cinematography by Frank Meyer. Edited by Tony Dean Smith.

Stars Charlie Weber, Katherine McNamara, Henry Thomas, James Oliver Wheatley, Charlotte Weston, and Jon Voight.

An Army Ranger turned sheriff finds himself in serious trouble when a routine stop leads to a showdown between himself and a criminal organization in this modern-day Western.

After serving in the Army, Sgt. Jacob “Jake” Wilcott has replaced his retired father, Ezra, as the new Sheriff of High Ground County in Colorado. Having been on the job for only six weeks, he has been experiencing some doubts about the job because of his military past. Ezra, as both the former Sheriff and as a father, tells Jake he will do just fine once he can get his doubts away. In addition, local waitress and sharpshooter Cassie has a crush on him.

When Jake gets to work, he discovers that his deputy Billy Gains has stopped and arrested an unidentified man for speeding in a stolen car across state lines. The man is eventually identified as Nathaniel Matheson, who is set to testify against his former boss, drug dealer and crime boss Marcus Novak. Novak, having a leak in the U.S. Marshals, discovers where Nathaniel is being held, and sets a trap that will eventually lead to a showdown between his organization and Jake and the small townsfolk.

This modern-day Western is quite a ride into a flawed protagonist who can’t let go on his military past but must confront his past demons to stop a criminal organization from wreaking havoc in his hometown. The film takes some twists and turns involving certain characters and a great finale that is explosive and has loads of action.

The film reunites The Painter stars Charlie Weber and Jon Voight. This time, instead of playing hero and villain, they play father and son. Voight plays the ex-Sheriff who is still respected so much in his hometown that the film sees him hosting a massive barbecue on his ranch. As for Weber (who almost looks unrecognizable without his beard in the previous film), we see him struggle a bit with his past but yet follows his father’s advice and motivation to do well as the replacement Sheriff. To be honest, it’s great to see Voight as a sympathetic character who not just helps his son try to overcome his issues, but after being a widower, may have eyes for local waitress Rosie, played by Charlotte Weston.

Henry Thomas, forever known for his role in E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, plays Nathaniel, the imprisoned federal witness who becomes a target from the film’s opening scene. He has seen the error of his ways and decides for the sake of his family to do the right thing, but knows there’s a target on his back. Quoting the Bible at times, one can question Nathaniel’s actions throughout the film as to whether he wants the Sheriff and his deputies to be hunted down as a means to escape, or find a way to seek redemption within himself.

James Oliver Wheatley is vicious as villain Marcus Novak. He brings a performance that brings a smooth talking style and sporting a look that the late Michael Nyqvist or Peter Stormare would look if they came out of the Sons of Anarchy factory.  His gang with a few exceptions are your typical henchman type in this film. As for Cassie, Katherine McNamara is a combination of beauty and badassery as she has this crush on Jake but is afraid to ask him about his past as she feels it might lead to them never getting together. But when it comes to helping Jake, she will go to great lengths to help him when it calls for it.

High Ground is a good modern-day Western that is a welcome reunion for Charlie Weber and Jon Voight; Katherine McNamara as a badass; Henry Thomas in a somewhat sinister performance and James Oliver Wheatley chewing up the scene in his villain role without having to go over the top. The buildup leads to a satisfying action-filled finale.