Apache Junction (2021)

Scout Taylor-Compton is lady reporter Annabelle Angel, sent to Arizona Territory post Civil War to report on efforts to clean up the frontier.

She winds up in Apache Junction, neutral ground where the cavalry has agreed not to hunt down outlaws or former outlaws in return for getting badly needed supplies that are shipped through the town.

But it’s still a dangerous place. And on her second day in town, Annabelle is accosted by a trio of soldiers intent on “raising her skirt.”

Former outlaw Jericho Ford (Stuart Townsend) saves her from that indignity. But he has to kill a soldier holding a knife to Annabelle’s throat.

And that soldier just happens to be the son of Capt. Hensley (Trace Adkins), the commanding officer in these here parts.

Declaring the neutrality ended, Hensley and his men begin searching for Ford, putting a $200 bounty on his head.

Since reports are that he captured the lady reporter, Hensley offers another $50 for her safe return.

A bounty man named Oslo Pike (Ed Morrone) figures killing Jericho Ford would be a nice feather in his reputation.

So he threatens Ford’s lover (Danielle Gross as Mary Primm) and visits his Indian friend (Ricky Lee Regan as Wasco) just to make sure Jericho Ford is hunting him as well.

Meanwhile, Annabelle — protected, not captured by Jericho — comes to the conclusion that this corner of the West isn’t nearly as inhospitable as its reputation would suggest.

And if it’s dangerous, that’s partly the fault of the men assigned the task of civilizing the frontier.

Stuart Townsend as Jericho Ford, ready for a showdown with the man who killed his friend in Apache Junction (2021)

Scout Taylor-Compton as Annabelle Angel, fearful of what will happen as Jericho sets out to avenge a death in Apache Junction (2021)

Review:

So let’s see if I have this right. A lady reporter arrives to write about how the cavalry is rounding up outlaws and sets up shop in the only town where they aren’t permitted to do that.

Then, one day, while searching for a river, she winds up in a barn, cornered by soldiers and nearly raped.

Then later, when she’s safely recuperating from a wound at Jericho’s place, he takes her back to Apache Junction with him where a climatic showdown is about to take place.

Don’t get me wrong. You’re going to find lots worse — and lots worse looking — 21st century Westerns.

But with plot devices like those, this is a bit of a disappointment and not a movie you’re likely to give a second view anytime soon.

At one point, our hero Jericho Ford tells villain Oslo Pike that he “talks too much.”

Truth be told, that’s a problem with many of the characters.

Trace Adkins as Captain Hensley, looking for information about the man who killed his son in Apache Junction (2021)

Ed Morrone as Oslo Pike, looking to boost his reputation by killing Jericho in Apache Junction (2021)

Directed by:
Justin Lee

Cast:
Scout Taylor-Compton … Annabelle Angel
Stuart Townsend … Jericho Ford
Thomas Jane … Al Longfellow
Ed Morrone … Oslo Pike
Danielle Gross … Mary Primm
Trace Adkins … Captain Hensley
Phil Burke … Boone Higgins
Edward Finlay … Ebb Foliet
Victoria Pratt … Christine Williams
Nicholas Ryan … Pvt. Henlsey
Mike Hagerty … George Heart
Ricky Lee Regan … Wasco
Dave Keonig … Buck Hansford
Josh Folan … Pvt. Stuckey
Dom Pordac … Gorn Hollow
Lorena Sarria … Maria Quintana
Carey White … Eleanor Brumfield
John Ellis … Reagan Beasley
David Hight … Tanner Breecher
Jason Koroll … Tennessee Red

Runtime: 94 min.

Ricky Lee Regan as Wasco, Jericho’s Indian friend, caring for a wounded Annabelle in Apache Junction (2021)

Danielle Gross as Mary Primm, the whore who’s fallen for Jericho Ford in Apache Junction (2021)

Memorable lines:

Captain Hensley: “I have a question to ask, Miss Angel. Do thoughts of death visit you often? Or are you just simple-minded?”
Annabelle Angel: “I’m sorry. I don’t understand.”
Captain Hensley: “Simple-minded would be the answer then. The reason I ask is that no respectable woman in her right mind ventures to these parts.”

Captain Hensley: “Stay away from big words, private. They don’t agree with you.”

Jericho Ford: “You’s just a mighty bit nosy, ain’t ya?”
Annabelle Angel: “It’s my job.”
Jericho: “Well, I’d be looking for a more respectable occupation, if you asked me.”
Annabelle: “Says the outlaw.”

Oslo Pike to Mary Primm: “I will make you so disfigured even dogs will walk away at the very sight of you.”

Annabelle Angel: “Pike, what are you going to do?”
Jericho Pike: “I’m going to see if the devil can bleed.”

Thomas Jane as Al Longfellow, saloon owner in the neutral town of Apache Junction (2021)

Victoria Pratt as Christine Williams, Longfellow’s outspoken assistant in his saloon business in Apache Junction (2021)

Scout Taylor-Compton as Annabelle Angel, announcing that she’s been wounded in Apache Junction (2021)

Stuart Townsend as Jericho Ford, visiting Longfellow’s Saloon looking for answers in Apache Junction (2021)