Homestead (2023)

Brian Krause is Robert Smith, a man trying to make a go of a homestead with his new family on the Western frontier.

That family includes wife Beth and two step-children — Brian, who’s on the verge of manhood and Irene, a tomboy if ever there was one.

One day a stranger shows up. He says his name is Jonathan and that he’s surveying for the railroad.

He might even want an easement across Robert Smith’s homestead.

Irene takes an immediate dislike to the stranger. She figures the arrival of the railroad will bring trouble and spoil the ranch the family is trying to create.

Her mother Beth is much more welcoming. After all, visitors are rare in these here parts.

Turns out Irene’s instincts were truer.

Jonathan isn’t working for the railroad. He’s the newest member of an outlaw gang with a score to settle.

And they want to settle that score with Robert Smith — formerly known as Henry “The Head Hunter” Goodfellow — until he got tired of killing and left the gang, taking its loot with him.

Betsy Sligh as Irene, the 12-year-old girl just itching to meet a bandit in Homestead (2023)

Cavan Tonascia as Brian, coming of age alongside a tomboyish sister who’s more prone to violence in Homestead (2023)

Review:

A fine lesson in how to make a successful low-budget Western.

The ingredients: Find about about a half dozen actors and actresses who can truly act.

Then create a taunt little script that plays out in one rather modest setting. Heck, this one doesn’t even require a single horse.

But the film grabs your attention early, thanks largely to a fine performance by Betsy Sligh as a 12-year-old itching to kill a bandit.

And it holds it with a suspenseful story and well-filmed action sequences.

Brian Krause as Robert Smith, meeting a visitor to his new ranch while stepson Brian looks on in Homestead (2023)

Jamie Bernadette as Beth, listening to husband Robert’s plans for their homestead in Homestead (2023)

Directed by:
Ehrland Hollingsworth

Cast:
Brian Krause … Robert
Jamie Bernadette … Beth
Mike Ferguson .. Big Ben
Mike Markoff … Peter
Dallas Page … Lewis
Greg Kriek … Jonathan
Betsy Sligh … Irene
Scot Scurlock … Ezekiel
Cavan Tonascia … Brian
Mark Madeo … Enoch

Runtime: 79 min.

Scot Scurlock as Ezekiel, an outlaw leader with a score to settle with a former member of his gang in Homestead (2023)

Greg Kriek as Jonathan, the bandit who pretends to be a railroad surveyor to gain entry to Robert Smith’s home in Homestead (2023)

Memorable lines:

Irene, watching her brother practice his shooting: “Brian’s shaking. Afraid the cans are gonna get you?”

Irene: “So, you see a lot of bandits while you’re out surveying?”
Jonathan: “Not yet.”
Irene: “That’s disappointin’. I’d like to see a bandit.”
Jonathan: “And why’s that?”
Irene: “So I could kill one.”

Irene, introducing railroad surveyor Jonathan to her step-father: “Hey, pa, there’s a man coming up here to drive an iron bullet right through out slice of heaven on earth.”

Enoch as his fellow gang member nurses a stab wound in his foot: “Peter, I just want you to know I checked under everything. And I didn’t find any more little girls that might jump out at you.”

Dallas Page as Lewis, introducing his fellow gang members to Brian Smith’s wife and stepchildren in Homestead (2023)

Mark Madeo as Enoch, a member of Ezekiel’s gang, out for retribution in Homestead (2023)

Beth to her husband Robert, once his past is revealed: “You’re one real bastard.”

Ezekial, leader of the gang, mourning the loss of two gang members: “We came for respect. We stay for retribution.”

Beth: “I didn’t raise murderers.”
Her daughter Irene: “Too late.”

Brian: “Where you wanna go?”:
Irene: “I was thinkin’ we’d go kill our father.”
Brian: “That sounds real nice.”

Cavan Tonascia as Brian, practicing his shooting under the watchful of eye of his step-father Robert Smith (Brian Krause) in Homestead (2023)

Mike Markoff as Peter, a member of Ezekiel’s gang, threatening Beth and her children in Homestead (2023)

Mike Ferguson as Big Ben, a member of Ezekiel’s band of cutthroats in Homestead (2023)

Brian Krause as Robert Smith, after his past as a killer has been revealed in Homestead (2023)

Jamie Bernadette as Beth, pleading with her children to let her protect them in Homestead (2023)

Betsy Slight as Irene, realizing the only way out of trouble might be killing those responsible for it in Homestead (2023)