Trace Adkins is Michael, Jeff Fahey is Angel, former hooded hired assassins known as Terrors of the Territory before packing away their guns.
Now they’ve settled into a much quieter life on a small ranch near the mining town of Ruby in Arizona.
Then two church ladies — Victoria Pratt as Elizabeth and Spencer Locke as Kara — come calling, looking for assistance.
The miners in Ruby had gone on strike. The mine owners brought in Pinkertons, led by Thomas Barclay (James Rosso) to quell the revolt.
They wind up massacrering the miners and killing a priest (Tom Berenger) who tried to intervene on behalf of the striking workers.
The women witnessed it all, but managed to slip away. Now the Pinkertons want them silenced.
The priest left the women a satchel full of money. They offer it to their new acquaintances in return for their help.
So Michael and Angel decide to strap on their guns and take the women to safety.
After all, it represents a chance to kill some Pinkertons. And these two hate Pinkertons.
Trace Adkins as Michael, encountering strangers on his ranch in Among Wolves (2023)
Jeff Fahey as Angel, contemplating a final mission for the Terrors of the Territories in Among Wolves (2023)
Review:
Check out that cast list of aging actors and you might begin watching this with low expectations.
After all, that cast is led by Trace Adkins, and he’s appeared in his fair share of Western turkeys.
But this one is worth a watch, even if it drags a bit after a promong opening. Even if the action scenes and the climatic gunfight aren’t very well choreographed.
The also marked the sixth Western from director Justin Lee. “Badland” (2019), also featuring Adkins, remains his best to date.
Victoria Pratt as Elizabeth, fleeing the Pinkertons after witnessing a massacre in Among Wolves (2023)
Spencer Locke as Kara, fretting after being taken into custody by Pinkertons in Among Wolves (2023)
Directed by:
Justin Lee
Cast:
Trace Adkins … Michael
Jeff Fahey … Angel
Victoria Pratt … Elizabeth
Spencer Locke … Kara
James Russo … Thomas Barclay
Forrie Smith …. Marshal Jameson
Tom Berenger .. Father Michael Callahan
Bill DeLorenzo … Ed Finlay
John Marrs … George Holmes
Phil Burke … Colin Brixton
Ed Morrone … Rome
Kelly Lynn Reiter … Sondra Monet
E.M. McInterney … Peter Beragi
Runtime: 109 min.
James Russo as James Barclay, head of the Pinkertons trying to squelch a mine strike in Among Wolves (2023)
Tom Berenger as Father Michael Callahan, trying to intervene on the miners’ behalf in Among Wolves (2023)
Memorable lines:
Brothel owner to Sondra Monet: “Whatever struggle you have in your head with what you do here, that needs to get gone. Real quick, like.”
Rome: “Consider yourself lucky sheriff. If I had unleashed those two dogs on you, there’d be nothing left for your daughter and wife to recognize. You understand what I’m saying? Be thankful we’re allowing you to have a funeral for your family to attend.”
Father Callahan to Elizabeth and Kara: “Run! Run! Like the devil’s after you. Cause he is.”
Michael: “Compassion is an illusion for the ignorant who think it will provide safety in violent times.”
Elizabeth: “Michael, Angel, you are both very good men.”
Angel: “We’re a lot of things. But good we ain’t.”
John Marrs as George Holmes, one of the Pinkerton agents in Among Wolves (2023)
Phil Burke as Colin Brixton, owner of the whorehouse where the ladies take refuge in Among Wolves (2023)
George Holmes: “Anything you’d like to share with me before I open this door.”
Michael, pulling out his knife: “Yes. I fuckin’ hate Pinkertons.”
Elizabeth: “The Lord will protect us like he has done here.”
Michael, with disgust: “The Lord? The Lord did not kill those men out there. We did. And we took pleasure in it.”
Michael as he and Angel prepare to embark on their journey with the two “church women”: “Bible-thumping sermons will not be tolerated.”
Whore who stops at Elizabeth and Kara’s door: “If you need anything at all, come on down. I promise ya’ll: Us whores don’t bite. Hard.”
Barclay: “What the hell kind of town is this? You got a gallows without a rope?”
Michael: “I’m goin’ to hell I reckon. But maybe I can find a cool spot there.”
Forrie Smith as Marshal Jameson, questioning the Pinkertons tactics in Among Wolves (2023)
Ed Morrone as Rome, an old ally of Michael and Angel in Among Wolves (2023)
Spencer Locke as Kara, watching things go horribly wrong thanks to the Pinkertons in Among Wolves (2023)
Jeff Fahey as Angel and Trace Adkins as Michael, contemplating how to help two church damsels in distress in Among Wolves (2023)
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